Mergers and Acquisitions with Hercules

Task Nine: Acquisition of the Girdle of Hippolyte

The challenge of acquiring the celebrated girdle of the fragrantly fierce Hippolyte was one fraught with political rather than physical danger. The girdle itself was a symbol of Amazonian sovereignty and capturing it represented mounting a challenge to one of the most significant power bases of the ancient Greek mythos. This was the corporate equivalent of closing or restructuring an entire regional or functional division.

Hercules’ first move was to assemble a powerful leadership coalition. Theseus, Telamon and Peleus were persuaded to join him in a combined attack on the Amazon queen. Interestingly, Hercules’ first tactic was flirtation and a mild seduction of Hippolyte which could well have been successful in acquiring the girdle were it not for the intervention of Hera, a sworn enemy of Hercules amongst the gods on Mount Olympus. (Hera was the wife of Zeus betrayed at the time of Hercules’ conception.)

Faced with Hera-inspired political resistance from the Amazons, Hercules reverted to forceful type and slaughtered a few of the warrior women before making off with the girdle. Victory at all costs was declared but his entrenched enemies remained at large.

The Hippolyte girdle incident represents Hercules in his role as change manager tasked with overcoming entrenched political positions by fair means or foul. He makes all the right initial diplomatic moves but when confronted by a show of real resistance, reveals his hard core managerial instincts and bulldozes through to the required and pre-cooked solution. No more Mr Nice Guy.

Task Ten: Capture of the Cattle of Geryon

Hercules’ tenth labour involved taking on the triple-bodied monster, Geryon, who controlled extensive head of cattle on the island of Erythia and as such represented a lucrative takeover target. This was a classic case of corporate acquisition of a vulnerable stock. Flock.

Hercules’ takeover strategy was head on. He stormed the island and took on the monstrous shepherd, Geryon, and his hideous dog, Orthrus, and defeated them both in a simple trial of strength. Thereafter began the real problems with this attempted merger: quarrels with the regulatory authority, Apollo the Sun God; hostile takeover bids from the predatory giant, Cacus; legacy claims from the sons of Poseidon; courtroom battles with the litigious King Eryx; constant political sniping from Hera, still bitter over the Hippolyte girdle debacle.

Hercules overcame all these challenges with the calm task-focus of the uber-manager that he had become, secure in the belief that he was operating under higher guidance and with a rapidly approaching retirement date in mind.