Control market power and profitability, or be controlled. Anything less isn't negotiation, it's surrender
Board and CEO Services
- Profitability is a negotiation outcome, not a revenue figure. Winning firms do not just scale—they negotiate supplier terms, pricing structures, and operational efficiencies that lock in competitive advantage.
- Market control is built through negotiated barriers. The best firms do not just enter markets—they negotiate exclusivity, regulatory advantages, and competitor disadvantages that shape long-term positioning.
- Capital discipline is secured at the table. Sustainable profitability is not an accounting function—it is a product of negotiated cost structures, financing terms, and risk allocation.
- Internal misalignment weakens external leverage. A CEO’s strategy is irrelevant if business units, investors, and leadership teams have not negotiated internal priorities first.
- Speed without negotiation intelligence leads to losses. Rushed acquisitions, reactive price cuts, and unstructured expansion erode profitability when they lack negotiated safeguards.
- Expansion without negotiated control is corporate risk. CEOs who fail to lock in supplier power, partner obligations, and retention mechanisms find that growth dilutes rather than strengthens their position.
2x
TSR outperformance when we partner with clients on negotiation strategy
Top-performing CEOs and boards treat negotiation as a leadership discipline those that don’t face eroding market influence and financial stagnation
Executive Insights on the Cost of Poor Negotiation
We failed to bring investors on board effectively, and it cost us the deal’s credibility
Carly Fiorina, Former CEO of HP
The right negotiation approach in partnerships can define whether you innovate at scale or get left behind
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
Every deal we make is a negotiation, and the wrong approach can cost billions
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase
Executive Deals Powered by Dealbook
Vodafone & Mannesmann (2000) The largest M&A deal in history at the time ($183B) saw Vodafone “overpay significantly” due to weak negotiation, resulting in years of struggles to justify the acquisition cost.
Corporate Negotiation Strategy
Shape investor, partner, and portfolio deals that redefine success.
Investor Relations
Build trust and maximize shareholder value
“A misstep cost us $2B in trust,” warns a CEO.
- Weak investor terms risk 10-15% of company valuation (PitchBook, 2023).
- Strategic investor engagement drives valuations up 10-15% (PitchBook, 2023), strengthening market confidence and long-term growth.
JV & Partnerships
Structure alliances for maximum value
“One bad deal wiped out $300M in value,” says a board chair.
- Poorly structured joint ventures lose $200-300M (McKinsey, 2024).
- Companies that master JV and partnership negotiations unlock 20-30% higher synergies (Bain, 2023), ensuring strategic alignment and sustained returns.
Portfolio Negotiation Strategy
Optimize assets for growth and resilience
“A divestiture misstep cost us $400M,” warns a board chair.
- Poor portfolio decisions slash returns by 10-15% (McKinsey, 2024)—$200-300M lost on $2B.
- Firms that excel in portfolio strategy boost returns by 10-15% (McKinsey, 2024), aligning assets with core strategy and maximizing long-term value.
Business Negotiation Strategy
Secure regulatory, ESG, team, and contract victories for tomorrow.
Regulatory Negotiation Strategy
Manage risk and unlock value with regulators
One miss cost us $5B in growth,” says a CEO
- Gaps drain $150-200M yearly (BCG, 2024).
- Firms with a well-executed regulatory negotiation strategy cut fines by 20-30% (Bain, 2023), securing financial stability through strategic engagement.
ESG negotiation
Balance performance with responsibility
ESG stumbles hit us harder, says a CEO.
- Weak ESG practices cost 10% in margins (Bain, 2023)—$100-150M on $1B.
- Companies that excel in sustainability-driven strategies can lift margins by 10% (Bain, 2023), embedding ESG principles into commercially profitable terms.
Government Negotiation Strategy
Win high-stakes contracts and drive public-sector growth
“A weak bid lost us $5B,” says a VP.
Firms that master government contract negotiations secure $5-10B in wins (PitchBook, 2024), leveraging strategic engagement to maximize value and minimize risk.
Go-to-Market Negotiation Strategy
Forge strategies that outpace the future
“A flawed market entry cost us market leadership,” recalls a CEO
- Ineffective strategies can delay profitability by 12-18 months (McKinsey, 2024).
- Companies with robust go-to-market strategies achieve 1.5x faster revenue growth (Bain, 2023), capturing market share and establishing a competitive edge.
Top Team Strategy
Align executives and boards for swift value
“Misalignment cost us $150M,” a CEO confesses
- Effective strategy execution cuts delays by 20% (HBR, 2024), turning alignment into speed and decisions into results.
CEO Advisory
Board Effectiveness
Executive Selection
Executive Development
Corporate Negotiation – How Weak Negotiations Are Crippling Your Growth
It’s a common refrain, and a critical vulnerability. In today’s hyper-competitive market, even a 5-10% overspend (BCG, 2022) can devastate your margins, turning hard-won deals into profit drains.
"If only we could pick up all the money we are spilling...It’s...in the tens if not hundreds of millions," head of legal at a Global 500
They’re right. In today’s volatile market, a single misstep in negotiation can trigger a 20-30% valuation swing (PitchBook, 2023), derailing your entire strategy.
But what if you could turn negotiation from a liability into a strategic advantage?
For FTSE 100 leaders, securing growth, navigating complex compliance, and maximizing returns on acquisitions, mergers, and strategic alliances isn’t just a goal—it’s an imperative. Since the 1970s, we’ve empowered these leaders to achieve just that. Our journey began with a pioneering partnership with Heriot-Watt University, and our expertise has been forged in the trenches, working with industry giants like Shell, Scottish & Newcastle Breweries, and more recently, HSBC, Zendesk, and WIPRO.
Corporate Negotiation Learn More
The Solution: Precision Negotiation Powered by Proven Methodology
We don’t just advise; we equip you to win. We help you plan, strategize, and execute corporate negotiations, identify the right negotiators, and build high-performing teams. By deploying the Kennedy negotiation methodology, you unlock tangible results:
- Growth Secured with Precision: Imagine achieving 20% synergy gains (McKinsey, 2021) on your acquisitions, joint ventures, and partnerships. Our proven framework makes it a reality, driving measurable expansion.
- Compliance Achieved Efficiently: Navigate the regulatory maze with confidence. Our structured approach ensures compliance, delivering substantial savings—like the £15 million our clients saved on public sector contracts.
- Returns Maximised Effectively: Eliminate post-transaction setbacks and optimize capital allocation. Our disciplined process ensures that every deal delivers flourishing, high-value outcomes.
Stop leaving your growth to chance. Transform your negotiations and unlock your true potential.
Commercial Negotiation – How Pricing Weakness Is Eroding Your Bottom Line
"Sometimes my colleagues give away too much to close a deal, leaving my team with less to work with," a CFO bluntly observed.
It’s a common refrain, and a critical vulnerability. In today’s hyper-competitive market, even a 5-10% overspend (BCG, 2022) can devastate your margins, turning hard-won deals into profit drains.
Are you leaving money on the table with every negotiation?
Protecting pricing and executing deals with precision is the cornerstone of commercial success. We’ve witnessed firsthand how weak terms bleed revenue across industries. The good news? It doesn’t have to be this way.
Commercial Negotiation Learn More
The Solution: Strategic Negotiation for Maximum Profit
We empower your teams to transform negotiation from a reactive necessity to a proactive profit driver. We assist in planning, strategizing, and executing commercial negotiations, identifying the right negotiators, and building high-performing teams. By deploying the Kennedy negotiation methodology, you’ll achieve tangible, measurable results:
- Deal Execution Perfected: Imagine transforming strategy into larger, more profitable sales, achieving 10-12% revenue increases. Our proven, evidence-based methodology makes it a reality.
- Pricing Margins Protected: Stop giving away your value. Our focused approach empowers your teams to maximize the value they create during sales, preventing costly concessions and securing profitability.
- Discounting Reduced Consistently: Combat the discount dilemma. Our structured practices sharpen negotiation effectiveness, delivering substantial savings—like the £40 million our clients save across portfolios annually—ensuring your revenue and profit goals are met.
Stop letting pricing weaknesses sabotage your success. It’s time to negotiate for the profits you deserve.
Operational Negotiation – How Operational Negotiation Weakness Is Bleeding Your Profits
"Every pound saved is vital, yet our operational talks falter," a COO lamented
The evidence is clear:
Money saved through better negotiation appears immediately on your bottom line.
Operational Negotiation Learn More
The Solution: Streamlined Operations Through Strategic Negotiation
We empower your teams to transform operational negotiation from a cost center into a profit driver. We assist in planning, strategizing, and executing operational negotiations, identifying the right negotiators, and building high-performing teams. By deploying the Kennedy negotiation methodology, you’ll achieve:
- Savings Captured Directly: Secure significant supply chain and contract savings, achieving $5-10 million in reductions annually (client data) that enhance profitability instantly. Our systematic approach also ensures strong supplier relationships.
- Risk Controlled Accurately: Minimize operational disruptions and ensure compliance. Our disciplined framework delivers 10-12% efficiency gains (McKinsey, 2023) and robust continuity.
- Efficiency Enhanced Decisively: Strengthen cross-functional alignment and eliminate inefficiencies. Our proven methodology secures operational resilience.
Team Effectiveness – The Internal Friction: How Collaboration Failures Are Sabotaging Your Success
"Teams that fail to decide or collaborate undermine our profitability—it’s a concern," a manager remarked
Internal alignment is as critical as external success. Indecision and silos disrupt execution, creating costly gaps. A 10-12% loss in potential efficiency gains (McKinsey, 2023) can damage your culture.
Internal alignment is just as important as external achievement. Indecision and silos can reduce results
Team Effectiveness Learn More
- The Solution: Unified Teams Through Strategic People Negotiation
We empower your teams to transform internal interactions from points of friction to engines of collaboration. We assist in planning, strategizing, and executing people negotiations, identifying the right negotiators, and building high-performing teams. By deploying the Kennedy negotiation methodology, you’ll achieve: - Decisions Unified Rapidly: Enable swift, cohesive choices, delivering a 5-10% customer satisfaction lift (client data) and driving execution. Our structured process ensures alignment.
- Collaboration Strengthened Reliably: Secure reduced cost overruns and foster a culture that advances your strategy. Our disciplined approach ensures internal cohesion.
- Performance Elevated Effectively: Transform disconnection into strategic success, enhancing profitability with clear team alignment. Our evidence-based methodology drives results.
