The telecoms giant’s group communications director is set to talk at the IR Impact Forum – AI and Technology in London
Matthew Johnson, Vodafone’s group communications director, is a former skeptic when it comes to AI. But, a quick demo from an AI-minded 25-year-old turned him into a convert and soon, IROs can hear first hand about Johnson’s approach to this rapidly evolving tech.
As he prepares to talk about the investor and analyst approach to AI at the upcoming IR Impact Forum – AI and Technology Europe, which takes place on Thursday, March 12 in London, we caught up with Johnson to hear more about why the topic – and the tech – resonates with him.
You can also hear from Emilia Rannanniemi of Finnair, who will be speaking on a panel titled ‘AI-driven market intelligence and benchmarking for the modern IRO’.
You’ll be talking on a panel titled ‘Deciphering how investors and analysts use AI and how to keep ahead of the curve’at the IR Impact Forum – AI and Technology, London. Which aspects of this important topic are you keen to explore?
The area of AI and capital markets that has intrigued me the most for years is not how the investment community uses technology in the investment process, but how can people help technology to make better decisions? IR has been about people helping other people make better decisions through the application of corporate finance and behavioral psychology. In this new frontier, IR must relearn and retool to nudge machines instead of humans.
Could you share some of the key milestones or achievements in your career so far?
I’ve had the fortune to do just about everything anyone can do in IR. From large M&A, spin-offs, IPOs and strategic reviews, to management and board transitions, capital allocation resets and public activist campaigns. My latest challenge is perhaps the hardest – extracting myself from the day-to-day to pass the baton to the amazing IR team at Vodafone.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced in your profession so far and what do feel is coming up on the horizon?
The biggest challenge in IR has been the expansion of what good IR looks like as our role has continued to grow. We need to be accountants, corporate financiers, strategists, marketers, graphic designers, event managers and confidants. And now, add technologists to the list. This is a highly unusual mix of skills that is impossible to hire. But you can find smart, inquisitive and committed people – and if you invest yourself in their success, it’s amazing what they can become.
If you were to give your audience at the IR Impact Forum – AI and Technology one piece of advice, what would it be?
Get stuck in and experiment. AI won’t take your job, but somebody who knows how to increase their own impact through AI just might. It’s amazing what you can learn simply by playing around. Eighteen months ago I was a sceptic. Then about six months ago a 25-year-old showed be what could be done in seconds. I became an evangelist on the spot.
Finally, how do you keep up with the latest trends and developments in your industry?
I’m lucky to have recently helped organize our presence at Mobile World Congress, the largest industry event, which showcases the latest technology and trends. Every industry has something similar and I don’t know why I had never invested the time at trade fairs.
But perhaps the most valuable thing I do is coach and mentor around 60 people across our organization and in other companies. It’s quite amazing how much you can learn by sharing in someone else’s concerns.
