The Next Step

A merged Dell-EMC creates a huge portfolio with reach across several key market segments and allows for significantly boosted R&D spending, but it's not going to happen overnight, say the two executives in charge of integrating the two IT giants.

Howard Elias, EMC's president and COO, and Dell COO Rory Read were tapped to lead the integration of the two companies as soon as the blockbuster $67 billion merger was unveiled in mid-October.

They say the integration will be complete within nine months of the closing of the deal, which is expected between May and October. Read and Elias recently spoke with EMC employees, and a transcript of their remarks was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

"Job one is to protect the revenue and profit pools we have today; that is the most critical thing coming out of the chute," Elias said. "Let’s just make sure we’re focused on our customers and our partners, and to do that we have to have excited and motivated employees -- so that employee experience, we’re going to make it as good as we can on day one."

Here are seven things Read and Elias shared with EMC employees about the merger and their integration efforts.