How's this for your first 100 days... [updated]

By Alex Manchester, Editor, The Internal Comms Hub (Australia), Melcrum

Barely into your fourth month as CEO and you announce talks on the biggest financial merger in Australian history, with the proposed new company being the biggest bank in Australia (which would demote the long-term #1 to #2 spot) and a combined employee force of over 35,000 including over 50 internal communicators - all in a time of disruptive and uncertain economics.

This was what happened here today as new Westpac CEO, Gail Kelly, in the job since February, announced merger talks with former employer, St. George. It's sent shares into overdrive.

And, it does seem that mergers are all the rage at the moment. Last week we had the collapse of the proposed Microsoft-Yahoo! deal. The week before we saw the Delta and Northwest Airlines announcement that will create the biggest airline in the world, and this week we'll also see policy holder approval for BUPA to buy MBF (Australia's largest healthcare fund) - creating the largest healthcare firm in Australia.

In times of uncertainty, is consolidation your best bet? Anyone care to have a bet on what's next?

Update: And so, 24 hours after talks were announced, the merger has been agreed. Mighty fast work.