The US investor relations community gathered yesterday evening at Cipriani New York for its yearly celebration of the profession’s highest achievers.
A hint of suspense was palpable at the awards ceremony, now in its 21st year, as host Ramy Inocencio unveiled who would be filling the shoes of serial top award-winner Covidien, which was purchased by Medtronic last year. The medical equipment firm and its dynamic IRO Cole Lannum has been a permanent fixture at the IR Magazine Awards –US, with the company topping the charts and Lannum taking home the award for best investor relations professional for the past five consecutive years.
But last night it was General Electric, former grand prix winner in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, that found itself back in pole position in this year’s rankings, as well as winning the grand prix for large caps and the best in the industrials sector award. JPMorgan and Honeywell, both awards regulars, came second and third, respectively. The banking major snatched the prize for best financial reporting and best IR in the financials sector, while the Morris Plains, New Jersey-headquartered Honeywell placed second for best corporate governance and best IR in the industrials sector.
The grand prix in the mid and small cap categories went to Citizens Financial and Wright Medical, respectively.
Broadcom claimed the prize for best IR during a corporate transaction for its communications around the merger with Avago Technologies in February 2016. This year’s best growth company IR award was taken by Nasdaq-listed pizza chain Papa Murphy’s.
New to this year’s list of accolades, the people’s choice award for innovation, a self-entry category recognizing outstanding contribution to best IR practice, went to Old National Bank.
As far as rankings are concerned, this year saw notable upwardly moves from Salesforce.com, jumping from 39th place to fifth; Anadarko Petroleum, previously ranked 111th and now taking ninth position; and Hilton Worldwide, which enters the top 20 at joint 12th after skyrocketing 132 spots.
CSX Corporation, Boston Scientific and Verizon Communications, all ranking somewhere between 60 and 80 last year, also displayed significant progress this year, climbing to 17th, 18th and 19th, respectively.
Click here for a full list of winners at the IR Magazine Awards – US 2016
