Buy-and-Build in the AI Era: The Acquisition Playbook Every Platform Company Needs

In this AMPLIFY 2026 session, Consero Global COO/CFO Ashley Honeyman and Quantum Rise Managing Director Louise Keely explore how AI is reshaping add-on acquisition readiness for private equity-backed companies. The conversation covers what it means to be truly add-on ready, why data strategy is now a CEO-level priority, how AI can improve sourcing and diligence, and what companies need to consider when integrating acquisitions at scale. Gain practical insight into building a stronger acquisition playbook, identifying AI-related risks and opportunities, improving post-close integration, and using AI to accelerate value creation without losing sight of leadership alignment, communication, and people readiness. https://conseroglobal.com https://quantumrise.com Timestamps: 0:00 - 1:24: Introduction & Speaker Backgrounds 1:24 - 2:54: The PE Playbook and Add-On Acquisition Risks 2:54 - 6:53: Four Keys to Being "Add-On Ready" (Old School Perspective) 6:53 - 9:29: Why Data Strategy is a CEO Priority & AI Foundations 9:29 - 11:15: Why AI Adoptions Succeed vs. Stall 11:15 - 14:13: Change Management & Workforce Readiness for AI 14:13 - 16:41: Finding Value-Ad Targets & Sourcing Diligence 16:41 - 21:24: AI-Enabled Sourcing: Marketing Hype vs. Reality 21:24 - 24:04: AI-Specific Risks to Evaluate During Diligence 24:04 - 26:26: Real-World Example: Technical AI Due Diligence & Technical Red Flags 26:26 - 29:31: Managing the Integration Burden: Alignment, Communication, & Speed