Workshop case study

Aligning Finance, HR & Legal into One Corporate-Affairs Powerhouse

One-day kick-off workshop · Germany · July 2025

Item

Details

Client

European holding subsidiary of a publicly listed company in the energy sector

Participants

9 leaders (Head of Corporate Affairs + Directors Finance, HR, Legal, Compliance & key experts)

Facilitator

Andras Iványi, external workshop & group-dynamics specialist

 

1. Business Context

•Finance, HR and Legal were merged into a new Corporate Affairs unit.

•New Managing Director favours rapid, top-down decisions → legacy directors felt bypassed.

•Rising risk of inconsistent benefits policies, regulatory re-work and eroding morale.

 

2. Core Challenge

Create a “one-team” mindset and a governance mechanism that catches financial, legal and people impacts before decisions hit the market.

Pre-Workshop Symptoms

Strategic Risks (as perceived)

• Mood trending sharply downward

• Late discovery of risks → cost & compliance exposure

• Skip-level escalations straight to MD

• Credibility loss with staff & investors (listed company)

• No cross-functional forum

• Re-work after public announcements

 

3. Workshop Objectives

1.Surface shared history, emotions and hidden tensions.

2.Agree on a draft six-word purpose for the new department.

3.Convert individual needs and offers into cross-team commitments.

4. Kick-off quick-win projects and outline a Steering Committee proposal.