One month into our Maitland acquisition, and it already feels like I’ve been working with this team for much longer.
We’ve welcomed eight new team members into Presence Haggarty & Co, and I’ve loved getting to know the people behind the roles, their personalities, their goals and what matters to them.
This is the first full business acquisition I’ve been involved in from the beginning through to bringing everyone together. There’s been plenty to work through: onboarding, informing clients, documenting processes and introducing the way we do things at Presence.
My biggest priority has been helping the team feel supported and comfortable enough to ask questions, share concerns and have a say as we find our rhythm together.
And they’ve embraced it so openly.
Daily huddles, weekly meetings, new systems and different ways of working. That’s a lot of change in a month, and I’ve really appreciated their willingness to give things a go and contribute along the way.
They’ve also been so generous in expressing their gratitude for the support they’ve received. In the middle of a busy month, those little conversations and thank yous have meant a lot.
A special shout-out to Liv Bloch, who has been incredible throughout the onboarding process and in working through the very long task list. Liv, thank you for everything you’ve put into helping bring this together.
I’ve learned so much about communication and change management. About listening before jumping into solutions. Being open about what I’m still figuring out. And being present, yes, the pun comes with the brand.
There’s a substantial task list, but spending time with the team has been just as important as getting through it. Understanding what they enjoy, where they want to grow and how we can help them see a future for themselves within Presence.
I love people, and this past month has reminded me how much I enjoy this part of leadership. Getting to know a team, working through uncertainty together and seeing everyone start to find their feet.
It’s been a big month. I’ve loved the challenge, and it’s been incredibly rewarding.
With another acquisition on the horizon, I’ll be taking these lessons into the next one, refining the process and continuing to learn.
To our Maitland team: thank you for welcoming me so warmly and embracing this first month together. You’ve made it a pleasure.
