- Value Creation & Portfolio Impact
- 8 Oct 2025
Building Culture in the First 90 Days After Acquisition: Lessons for Search CEOs
When a new CEO steps into a company after acquisition, they inherit more than financial statements and customer contracts — they inherit a culture they didn’t create.
And in the ETA world, where leadership transitions are often abrupt, how you handle those first 90 days determines whether people lean in… or pull back.
Here are the five key lessons we’ve seen across successful Search CEOs and expert operators on the Five Experts platform.
1️⃣ Start by Observing, Not Announcing
Every new leader feels pressure to “set the tone.”
But in the first few weeks, the most powerful move is to listen.
Meet with employees at all levels. Ask what they’re proud of, what frustrates them, and what they wish leadership understood.
The goal isn’t to fix yet — it’s to understand why things are the way they are.
💡 Pro tip: Hold 1:1s with at least 10% of your workforce (more in smaller companies). Summarize themes, not names. This builds trust faster than any all-hands speech.
2️⃣ Define What You’ll Preserve Before Defining What You’ll Change
Culture erosion often starts when new leaders unintentionally erase identity.
Before introducing new systems or goals, identify 2–3 “non-negotiables” worth protecting — values, rituals, or customer commitments that make the company special.
💬 Example: “We’ll upgrade tools and reporting, but our customer-first mindset stays.”
This gives stability and signals respect.
3️⃣ Connect Culture to Performance Early
Culture without accountability becomes chaos.
Tie your first cultural messages to outcomes — speed, quality, customer retention, or growth.
💬 Say: “How we work together will determine how quickly we create value — for our customers and for ourselves.”
This helps employees see culture as a system for execution, not just a slogan on the wall.
4️⃣ Bring in Fractional or External Expertise Carefully
Search CEOs often need specialized help early — in finance, GTM, or HR.
When bringing in outside experts, position them as partners in value creation, not “consultants sent by new ownership.”
Make introductions personally. Clarify their role and celebrate their wins publicly.
At Five Experts, we’ve seen fractional operators accelerate growth and retention when they integrate into culture — not sit on the sidelines.
5️⃣ Communicate Small Wins and Connect Them to the Vision
People watch closely to see if the new CEO delivers momentum or just meetings.
Celebrate early wins (a smoother process, a faster sale, a team member promoted).
Each small success is a signal: “This change is working.”
💬 Example: “Our first 30 days showed how quickly we can move when we align around clear goals. Let’s keep that rhythm.”
🔁 In Summary: The 90-Day Culture Blueprint
| Phase | Focus | Key Question |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–30 | Listen, observe, and identify core strengths | “What’s working that we shouldn’t lose?” |
| Days 31–60 | Align vision, values, and early execution goals | “How do we connect culture to performance?” |
| Days 61–90 | Reinforce accountability, celebrate wins, and set cadence | “What rhythm keeps us improving together?” |
Final Thought
Culture doesn’t live in a slide deck — it lives in the daily choices leaders make about how work gets done.
If you can align values and velocity early, you’ll not only retain your best people — you’ll create a culture that compounds value over the hold period.
