Plus new IROs in place at Willis Lease Finance Corporation, Burberry and Kormit Digital
Karen Blomquist has joined NYSE-listed materials science developer Albany International as its new director of investor relations.
Formerly an investor relations consultant for BD Emerson, Blomquist joins Albany after two years as vice president of investor relations at P3 Health Partners.
She also previously held various IR roles at C&S Wholesale Grocers, The Timberland Company and Charles River Laboratories.
Announcing the change on LinkedIn, Blomquist writes: ‘Albany is an exceptional New Hampshire-based company with a truly outstanding leadership team.
‘It has a long history of innovation, integrity and operational excellence, and I’m thrilled to be part of an organization that combines global impact with strong local roots. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with such a thoughtful and accomplished group of leaders.’
‘[I’m] looking forward to contributing, learning and helping to tell the Albany story.’
Meanwhile, in Vancouver, British Columbia, GoldMining has appointed Martin Dumont as its new vice president, corporate development and investor relations.
Prior to joining GoldMining, Dumont held a senior role in corporate development at Sandstorm Gold Royalties, where he focused on streaming and royalty transactions as well as corporate M&A. Before that, he was an equity research associate at BMO Capital Markets covering senior gold, copper and royalty companies, and held senior positions in investor relations and operations finance at IAMGOLD Corporation.
Dumont says: ‘I am excited to join GoldMining at a pivotal stage in the company’s growth. GoldMining has assembled a unique portfolio of high-quality gold and gold-copper assets across the Americas, offering multiple pathways to value creation. I look forward to working closely with the management team to advance strategic initiatives, strengthen investor engagement and help unlock the full value of the company’s assets for shareholders.’
Elsewhere, Steven Bridgland has joined aircraft leasing company Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) as its new head of investor relations and capital markets for its new asset management arm, Willis Aviation Capital.
The new hire brings ‘extensive expertise in equity and debt capital markets, fund establishment and structuring, investor relations and aviation finance,’ the company writes in a press release.
Bridgland has held various leadership roles across banks, investment banks and aircraft asset management and leasing platforms, including 17 years in senior capital markets and origination roles at Deucalion Aviation, as well as with DVB, RBC Capital Markets and Greenwich NatWest.
‘Steve’s background in aviation finance, funds and investor relationship management speaks for itself and we are very excited to welcome him to support the launch of Willis Aviation Capital,’ says Brian Hole, global head of managed funds and credit at WLFC. ‘Most importantly, Steve embodies the trustworthiness and integrity that always will feature in our work for investors and with Willis Lease Finance.’
Meanwhile, Nasdaq-listed textile production technology company Kornit Digital has appointed Andrew Backman as chief capital markets officer, effective from January 13, a role in which he will have a strong hand in the company’s investor relations efforts.
Backman previously served as Kornit’s global head of investor relations from 2021 to 2023. He has since worked as global head of investor relations at EMCOR Group, a NYSE-listed mechanical and electrical construction services company.
‘Returning to Kornit represents a unique opportunity to help drive what I believe is an exciting next phase of the company’s evolution,’ he writes on LinkedIn. ‘The chief capital markets officer role allows me to contribute in a more expansive capacity, spanning capital markets, corporate development, business development and investor relations.
‘It’s good to be back!’
And finally, Marina Calero, who sits on the IR Impact editorial board, has taken up a new role with financial services company MUFG Pension & Market Services as its new head of outsourced investor relations.
‘I strongly believe that every shareholder deserves access to professional investor relations and every company deserves a dedicated, high-quality IR function. Yet for many, this remains out of reach,’ she writes on LinkedIn, announcing the move.
‘That’s why I’m excited to be working with MUFG Pension & Market Services’s team to deliver a fully outsourced, flexible IR solution for clients.’
