Plus new IROs at Allfunds, Sun Life and StandardAero
Debbie Hancock, the former senior vice president of investor relations at toy maker Hasbro, has taken up a new IR role at French fry producer Lamb Weston.
Hancock, who left her position at Hasbro in February 2024 after 15 years at the company, has a career in investor relations that spans 30 years, including a 15-year stint as director of IR at APC by Schneider Electric. She has been a member of NIRI since the mid-90s.
In an announcement posted to LinkedIn, Lamb Weston writes: ‘With 30 years of experience in global consumer and tech industries, Debbie will play a key role in communicating the company’s strategic value proposition and financial results.’
Also writing on LinkedIn, Hancock says she is ‘excited to be part of the team!’
Over in the UK, Caroline Dawson has joined health and hygiene goods firm Reckitt as its new head of corporate access and investor relations.
Dawson was previously investor relations manager at London- and New York-listed hospitality group IHG Hotels and Resorts and investor relations manager at UK utility National Grid.
She previously told IR Impact about how an early pivot to virtual meetings – and a virtual roadshow in June 2020 – made a huge difference to National Grid’s corporate access efforts.
Elsewhere, wealth management platform Allfunds has announced the appointment of Carlos Berastain as its new global head of investor relations, replacing Silvia Ríos, who is stepping down to pursue new opportunities.
According to Allfunds, Ríos will remain at the company for a few months to ensure a smooth and orderly transition.
Berastain joins the firm from Spanish bank Santander, where he served as head of investor relations since 2017. During his tenure, Santander won several IR Impact awards, including the prizes for best annual report (large cap) and best use of multimedia for investor relations at the IR Impact Awards – Europe 2023.
‘We are grateful for Silvia’s outstanding work, dedication and contributions over the years and we wish her success in her next career steps. We look forward to welcoming Carlos as he leads our investor relations initiatives and strengthens communication with our shareholders and the broader financial community,’ says Álvaro Perera, CFO of Allfunds.
In Canada, Sun Life Financial has brought in Natalie Brady as its new vice president, capital management and investor relations.
In her new role at the TSX-listed financial services firm, Brady will manage engagement strategy and relationships with Sun Life’s institutional investors, sell-side analysts, rating agencies and other key external stakeholders.
Finally, NYSE-listed aerospace services firm StandardAero has appointed Rama Bondada to serve as its vice president, investor relations.
Prior to this role, Bondada was vice president of investor relations, corporate strategy and US corporate development for Lilium Aviation, where he also served as interim CFO before its recent privatization.
‘Rama will play a critical role in articulating the StandardAero narrative, vision and strategy, and educating the investor community in our inaugural year as a publicly traded company,’ says StandardAero CFO Dan Satterfield.
