As the Mahindra Satyam-Tech Mahindra merger is in process, the Mahindras have handpicked 150 key leaders from the two firms for a foreign trip.
It, however, is not a party time for these executives who fly to Bangkok during April 20-22.
The broad agenda for this “offsite” is two-pronged – to lay a roadmap for the next three years for the combined entity and to tell the top leaders not to protect their turfs.
About 70 each from the two firms representing different layers across business segments will go to Thailand. The remaining 10 are from the managing team.
“We would like to tell them that change will be minimal. It is not about individual tribal dialects. It is about aligning with people and common goals. If there are any language gaps, let us address them,” Mr C.P. Gurnani, Chief Executive Officer-designate of the combined entity, told Business Line .
The idea is to make the top executives understand the challenges and goals. “It will be a two-way process. It is not just we resolving and listening to complaints. We expect them to bring new ideas. It will be a brainstorming session. If they are ignited, they will communicate the message down the stream,” he said.
“We should do it collectively, collaboratively for a common purpose. Our aim is to get positives out of the negative,” Mr Gurnani said.
Though the two companies have been working closely for the last three years, there are concerns and heartburns in the middle-level leadership. Although they expect better prospects in the merged entity, some expressed fears on likelihood of change of roles or exits.
Top brass of Mahindra Satyam-Tech Mahindra would be there to interact with the second-rung leadership. The list included Mr Vineet Nayyar, Chairman of Mahindra Satyam, Mr Sonjay Anand (Chief Financial Officer designate of MSat-TechM), Mr K. Sarkar (Chief Legal Consul designate), Mr Vasanth Krishnan (Chief Transformation Officer designate) and Mr Hari T (Chief People's Officer designate).
Stock exchanges' nod
Meanwhile, the two firms have received the go-ahead for merger from the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange. “We have already received the shareholders' nod. It (the merger plan) is working exactly as per the plan,” he said.