2026: The Year Everything Shifts—Are You Ready?

2026 isn’t about more strategy, it’s about sharper execution. Are you ready to turn predictions into measurable results? 

The organisations that win, will embed AI into the operating rhythm, align teams around clear plans, and stay deal ready while closely tracking rates and geopolitics. 

At Active Directions, our consultants don’t just forecast trends, we help you act on them. Here’s what to expect this year and what to do next.

Jim Scollon — Family Business M&A & Succession 

Why it matters: Succession timelines, private capital, and practical AI are shaping deal activity in family businesses. Governance and readiness will separate premium outcomes from average ones.

2026 Predictions:

• M&A activity among family businesses will accelerate as succession pressures rise.
• Wealth transition and governance will be front and centre. 
• AI investments will focus on practical, high return use cases, not big bang tech projects. 

Top Tip: Prepare for M&A readiness with clean financials and a clear growth story. Formalise succession plans and start small with AI. Choose 2–3 workflows that deliver measurable ROI. 

Gareth Gammon — Marketing & Growth 

Why it matters: Marketing, sales, and operations can no longer operate in silos. AI driven insights are powering smarter decisions from campaign to close.

2026 Predictions: 

• Data driven marketing will dominate the sales cycle, with AI insights guiding campaigns and conversions. 
• Smarter, structured marketing replaces “more marketing”, as businesses commit to 12 month aligned plans. 
• AI becomes an everyday tool, embedded in workflows to sharpen decisions and optimise time. 

Top Tip: Align marketing and sales, stick to a structured plan, and use AI sensibly for consistent, predictable growth. 

Andrew Sinclair — Strategy, Talent & Deals

Why it matters: AI and digital are now core drivers of speed and margin. Smaller, accountable teams outperform silos. M&A activity is set to accelerate, but execution remains the difference.

2026 Predictions: 

• AI and digital transformation become core growth drivers, shaping speed, efficiency, and margin improvement. 
• Talent and workforce models are reimagined, with small, accountable teams replacing rigid silos. 
• M&A markets remain resilient despite uncertainty, as businesses seek scale and capability through accelerated deal activity. 

Top Tip: Integrate AI for agile execution, build clear ownership and collaboration in teams, and continuously monitor, measure, and adapt to stay ahead. 

Kevin West — Market Reality Check 

Why it matters: Markets are uneven and confidence fragile, but AI use is maturing quickly. The bigger risk is waiting while competitors invest.

2026 Predictions:

• AI use evolves from experimentation to real solutions, as businesses seek answers in operations and decision making. 
• Markets slow under inflation and uncertainty, creating uneven growth and cautious confidence. 
• Future focused investment becomes critical, as companies that delay risk being left behind when conditions shift. 

Top Tip: Invest now in strategic projects and AI enabled capabilities to stay competitive when the market rebounds.

Angela Swinbourne — Macro Watch 

Why it matters: Rate movements and geopolitics, especially in the US and Asia, will shape financing, supply chains, and demand in 2026. 

2026 Predictions:

• Interest rate movements will shape financing costs and valuations, influencing deal activity and growth strategies. 
• Geopolitical shifts in the US and Asia impact trade and supply chains, creating ripple effects for global markets. 

Top Tip: Monitor rates and foreign policy closely and build flexibility into financing and supply chain strategies to stay resilient.

Michael Vincent — Deals & Valuation 

Why it matters: High quality, resilient businesses should command stable to higher pricing. Expect strong private capital participation as dry powder seeks deployment. 

2026 Predictions:

• Pricing for high quality businesses remains stable to higher, driven by strong stock market performance, CEO confidence, and expected rate cuts lowering acquisition costs. 
• Private capital plays a major role in acquisitions, with private equity firms and investors deploying significant undeployed funds into privately owned businesses. 

Top Tip: Position your business as resilient and high quality and engage with private capital networks early to maximise valuation and deal opportunities. 

The Bottom Line for 2026 

Winning companies will: 

• Embed AI into daily decisions, not just pilots 
• Run structured, 12 month plans with clear ownership 
• Be succession and deal ready with clean data and governance 
• Track rates and geopolitics and act decisively

Work with Active Directions 

Ready to make 2026 your most disciplined and profitable year? Get in touch with the Active Directions team today for a confidential conversation about your business goals.