Skadden’s head of shareholder engagement and activism, Elizabeth Gonzalez-Sussman, joined Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg Deals” to discuss how market volatility is creating new opportunities and challenges for activist investors — and what defines a successful company response.
“Activists can buy in a little bit more quickly at a lower price, and that’s always attractive,” Ms. Gonzalez-Sussman said. “But in a volatile market … you may not be able to affect the strategic change that’s going to increase the stock price, which is what ultimately the activists want.”
Elizabeth noted that strong stock performance is the clearest marker of success, but external factors like macroeconomic conditions can complicate the picture. That is why trust and dialogue matter: “You do need to also have genuine engagement. … The trust between management, the board and the activists becomes really critical, so that you can explain why the stock price isn’t being reflective and what other steps we can take together.”
Watch the clip below: “Activist Investing Picks Up in 2026,” April 8, 2026.