As Trump signs executive order targeting ISS and Glass Lewis, experts say change is already happening
‘Unbeknownst to many Americans, two foreign-owned proxy advisors, ISS and Glass Lewis, play a significant role in shaping the policies and priorities of America’s largest companies through the shareholder voting process,’ wrote US President Donald Trump on Thursday as –…
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‘If you’ve worked in politics, the stock market doesn’t scare you’: Håkan Tribell on swapping writing a prime minister’s speeches for managing IR at AAC Clyde Space
Most people’s route into IR follows one of two predictable paths: either a start on the sell-side, where they gain an aptitude for understanding financial research, or via an internal route that may take in financial planning, treasury or accountancy roles. For Håkan Tribell, it was a career writing speeches for the Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson that set him up perfectly to join satellite technology and services company AAC Clyde Space as its head of communications for investor relations and public affairs earlier this year. In July, that role expanded to take on ‘the full spectrum of marketing and…
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As Trump signs executive order targeting ISS and Glass Lewis, experts say change is already happening
‘Unbeknownst to many Americans, two foreign-owned proxy advisors, ISS and Glass Lewis, play a significant role in shaping the policies and priorities of America’s largest companies through the shareholder voting process,’ wrote US President Donald Trump on Thursday as – after weeks of rumor – he signed an executive order targeting the two firms. In it, Trump advises everyone from the SEC to the Federal Trade Commission, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Labor to put a regulatory spotlight on the big two. The rhetoric leading up to the signing was fierce: SEC chairman Paul Atkins talked about the ‘weaponization…
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‘I have a love-hate relationship with earnings season’: Stonehage Fleming’s head of equity funds Tom Jeffcoate on working with IR
When Stonehage and Fleming Family & Partners merged in 2015, the resulting institution became one of Europe’s largest multi-family offices which today manages more than $175 bn on behalf of some of the world’s high net worth dynasties in 14 geographies. Tom Jeffcoate, who serves as the fund’s head of equity funds today, joined Stonehage before the merger in 2009, working side-by-side with Gerrit Smit, global best ideas lead fund manager and today head of the company’s global equity offering. Now he oversees company research within the equity management team, with a special focus on in-depth, bottom-up research covering firms…
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Inside IR at Itron: ‘Part of IR’s DNA is being immune to being surprised,’ says Paul Vincent
How do IROs leverage their expertise within their companies? For Paul Vincent, VP of IR at Itron, the core of IR lies not only in conveying the company’s message but doing so in a way particular to each investor and analyst. Itron supplies innovative technologies that help utilities and cities manage energy and water. Vincent believes IR should help management shape strategy based on its own best judgment, not by deferring to investors’ views. IR’s job, he says, is to understand every individual investor and analyst so thoroughly as to communicate management’s thinking in the way each is prepared to…
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The CFO: ‘I always tell my team to respect the conversation,’ says UEM Sunrise’s finance chief Hafiz Sulaiman
Occupying the CFO chair is a significant challenge in itself. But what happens when your company calls on you to also fill in for the CEO when they unexpectedly resign? This is exactly the situation that Hafiz Sulaiman, CFO at Malaysian property developer UEM Sunrise, found himself in. Just a few days after speaking eloquently at an event in Singapore about the power of IR to make a lasting impact on companies, he was unveiled as the officer in charge (OIC) at the company after the departure of former CEO Sufian Abdullah.
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‘We have radically rethought how to look at sustainability’: Christian Granquist on AP7’s new outlook
Christian Granquist joined AP7, one of Sweden’s national public pension funds – into which some 6 mn Swedes pay – in August 2025. Working alongside Jessica Eskilsson Frank, Granquist is senior portfolio manager, impact investments, climate transition at the globally invested fund that has total assets of around $150 bn. Before joining AP7, Granquist – who has a master’s in economics from Uppsala University – had a 10-year stint at Lancelot and worked at Handelsbanken for 13 years in a number of roles including chief investment strategist and co-head, equities. He talks to IR Impact about how the fund is…
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Tesla: How do you get support for a $1 trn pay package? Give shareholders a slice of the pie
ISS is recommending against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $1 tn compensation package. Glass Lewis too. CalPERS and NBIM, manager of the world’s most valuable sovereign wealth fund, have each come out publicly against. But with the Tesla AGM happening today online and at Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas, one small, family-run proxy advisory firm – whose ESG-skeptic voting guidelines are offered by ISS, and which boasted the $57 bn Texas Permanent School Fund as the first state fund to sign up – is backing Musk’s compensation. ‘We’re strongly focused on the alignment of incentives,’ says Jerry Bowyer, CEO of Bowyer Research, who…
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The IR Benchmarking Report 2026 Global & Europe
RESERVED FOR ADVANCED SUBSCRIBERS Sign in or upgrade to our My IR – Advanced to access this exclusive content. Gain access to expert research, best practices and exclusive intelligence designed for senior IR professionals, team leaders and those transitioning from the sell-side. Subscribe now for everything in our free plan, plus: The latest IR benchmarking […]
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The IR Benchmarking Report 2026 Global & North America
RESERVED FOR ADVANCED SUBSCRIBERS Sign in or upgrade to our My IR – Advanced to access this exclusive content. Gain access to expert research, best practices and exclusive intelligence designed for senior IR professionals, team leaders and those transitioning from the sell-side. Subscribe now for everything in our free plan, plus: The latest IR benchmarking […]
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Governance Playbook: From compliance to confidence: Proxies that win trust and votes
The proxy statement is no longer just a compliance document, but a strategic communication tool that reflects your company’s governance priorities, transparency and responsiveness to stakeholder expectations. The 2025 proxy season introduced a wave of new practice, from evolving ESG and DE&I disclosures to heightened attention on cybersecurity and AI. As investor demands grow more sophisticated, companies must respond with greater clarity, depth and strategic foresight. This playbook offers a comprehensive, actionable framework to help your organization elevate its proxy disclosures. Learn how leading companies are navigating the changing landscape and positioning their proxy statements as both regulatory assets and…
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Playbook: How to conduct impactful scenario plans
Scenario planning allows IR teams to give investors and analysts and indication of how various events (e.g. interest rate changes, a global conflict, a change in political regime) will affect it in the future. It also takes into account how peers and competitors are communicating around these scenarios, too. In making sure you can give your shareholder community a long view on various outcomes, it means they have more confidence in you and your interactions with them. In addition, it allows IROs to have a seat at the strategic table and help their companies plan for the future. S&P’s platform…
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Forum – AI & Technology Europe
About the event Stay ahead. Harness AI. Transform IR. In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, AI is transforming how IROs engage with investors, analyze market sentiment and deliver insights. Yet, many IR teams face challenges in understanding and employing these tools effectively. WHEN WHERE America Square Conference Centre, London The…
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Think Tank – West Coast
Our unique format – Exclusively for in-house IRO’s The IR Impact Think Tank – West Coast will take place on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Palo Alto and is an invitation-only event exclusively for senior IR officers. Our think tanks are free to attend and our unique format enables participants to network extensively, and discuss, debate and dissect…
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Awards – US
About the event The IR Impact Awards – US will take place on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 in New York. This very special event honors excellence in the investor relations profession across the US. WHEN WHERE Cipriani 25 Broadway, New York Celebrating IR excellence Since the annual event first launched…
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