Corp Dev In the Age of AI
From deal sourcing to diligence, AI is streamlining corp dev.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming corporate development (corp dev) — from how deal teams identify targets to how they manage due diligence and post-merger integration (PMI). In this episode of The Dealist podcast, Alessandro Cozzi, a director at Korn Ferry with extensive dealmaking experience in sectors including Media, Telecom, Information Technology, Fintech, Automotive, Aerospace, Mobility, Digital, Luxury, Oil & Gas, Energy, Manufacturing, Hotels & Leisure, Retail and Life Sciences, and Ronjohn Dadd, a senior director of product at SS&C Intralinks, discuss how AI is reshaping this critical business function across the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape.
Together, they explore how corp dev teams are applying AI to source smarter deals, accelerate due diligence and reduce risk — including how platforms like DealCentre AI (DCAI) are helping dealmakers work faster and with greater confidence. The discussion also touches on the evolving role of technology in dealmaking, how organizations can adapt their workflows to maximize the benefits of AI, and what new skills are emerging as essential for corp dev professionals.
Listen to learn:
- How AI is changing corporate development strategies and streamlining execution
- Real-world examples of AI-driven efficiency — from deal sourcing and due diligence to board presentations
- How DCAI and similar platforms enhance accuracy, speed and insight in M&A
- Why adaptability, data literacy and training are critical to AI adoption
Subscribe to The Dealist: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Timestamps:
0:57 Guest introductions
3:28 How corp dev team structures vary between companies and industry
8:06 Lessons from working on a corp dev team that averaged five deals a month
11:34 The anatomy of a deal, from scouting to closing
12:16 Where AI accelerates the M&A process
12:50 Using AI to strengthen board presentations
14:28 Could the benefits of AI bring about more M&A?
15:33 How AI allows deal teams to be more strategic
15:55 Smarter deal sourcing, due diligence, Q&A and PMI
17:01 DealCentre AI spotlight
17:57 How AI adoption and training in corp dev is evolving
Further reading
Download 8 Ways GenAI Is Shaping Corp Dev, Legal and IT here.