Doug Wilburne, vice president of IR for Textron, has been elected chairman of NIRI and will take up his new role at the annual meeting in December. IR Magazine caught up with Doug after the announcement was issued to see what his priorities will be.
Reflecting on the past couple of years of recession and declining membership, he is optimistic. ‘As the economy recovers, I’m looking forward to getting back into a growth mode with NIRI,’ he says.
He also sees NIRI’s influence growing through issue advocacy, information dissemination and professional development. Finally, Wilburne says that ‘it’s time to take another look’ at NIRI’s strategic plan. The board will host a summit of chapter leaders and other constituents at the NIRI annual conference in June to solicit their thoughts about the organization’s direction.
With a background in electrical engineering and finance, IR stints at AMP and Bell Atlantic before Textron, and a CFA designation, Wilburne’s diverse career path will serve him well as chair, he believes.
Side-stepping the never-ending debate about whether IROs should have a finance or a communications focus, Wilburne compares the role to that of CEO, where business acumen is paramount. A good IRO may ‘not be an expert in any one area, but is a really competent business person, immersed in all aspects of the business, and thinks about the company in a strategic way,’ he explains. ‘The diverse background I have gives me perspective that’s inclusive and reflective,’ he adds.
Acknowledging the heavy time commitment the chairman’s role entails, Wilburne says his management is supportive of his new role. ‘It’s a great growth opportunity for an individual. I’m just delighted to have been elected. I, like a lot of people in this profession, feel indebted to NIRI for my career, and all the benefits I’ve enjoyed. It’s a huge opportunity to pay back that huge debt to NIRI.’
Wilburne is a member of the Boston chapter, though he confesses a strong allegiance to the Philadelphia chapter as well, where he began his IR career; he ends the conversation with an emphatic: ‘Go Eagles!’
