Plus new IROs in place at Onyx Gold, Blackrock Silver and Kingfisher
Global entertainment giant The Walt Disney Company has appointed Benjamin Swinburne as executive vice president of investor relations and corporate strategy.
Most recently serving as managing director and head of US media research at Morgan Stanely, Swinburne will join the company ‘in the near future’ and report to Hugh Johnston, Disney’s CFO, according to a press release announcing the move. In that role, he led Morgan Stanley’s coverage of the media and entertainment sectors for more than two decades and was consistently ranked among the leading analysts in multiple sectors.
‘Ben has been one of the industry’s most respected media analysts and brings deep insight into the evolving global entertainment landscape,’ says Johnston.
‘His analytical rigor, strategic perspective and long-standing knowledge of our business and broader industry make him an exceptional addition to our team as we continue to execute against our long‑term vision and deliver sustained value for our shareholders.’
Swinburne adds: ‘It is an incredibly exciting time to be joining the company and I look forward to working with the team to continue the incredible progress they have made to position Disney for future growth.’
Over in the Netherlands, aerospace engineering firm Airbus has announced that Jean-Christophe Henoux is taking over as its head of investor relations and financial communication.
He takes the reins from Helene Le Gorgeu, who has moved on to a new role as head of controlling – programmes and services at the same company.
Henoux has served at Airbus since 2023, when he joined as senior vice president of strategy. Before that, he worked at ArianeGroup in various planning and strategy roles, plus had two separate stints at Airbus Defence and Space and Airbus Aircraft.
Writing about his new role on LinkedIn, Henoux says: ‘Thank you Guillaume Faury [Airbus CEO] and Thomas Toepfer [CFO] for the trust and to Helene Le Gorgeu for the strong legacy she has left.
‘I am grateful to my previous strategy team for their outstanding support over the last years and to Matthieu Louvot [executive vice president, strategy at Airbus] for his continuous trust.
‘I very much look forward to engaging with investors and analysts, and I remain fully available to build a strong and open dialogue with all of you.’
In Canada, TSXV-listed mining company Onyx Gold has appointed Vanessa Pickering as its new vice president, investor relations.
She brings more than 20 years of experience in the mineral exploration and mining sector, most recently serving as manager, investor relations at Orezone Gold and with previous jobs at IDM Mining and ATAC Resources.
Brock Colterjohn, president and CEO of Onyx Gold, says: ‘Vanessa brings a proven track record of building investor awareness, supporting institutional ownership and guiding companies through key value-creation milestones.
‘Importantly, she also brings deep experience in the Yukon and a strong understanding of community and First Nations engagement, which is essential as we responsibly advance our exploration programs and build long-term value. Her addition to the team comes at a pivotal time for Onyx as we continue to grow and execute.’
Fellow TSVX-listed mining firm Blackrock Silver has appointed Sean Thompson as its new head of investor relations.
Described as a ‘seasoned capital markets professional with over 17 years of experience in the metals and mining sector’ in a press release from the company, Thompson has held several IR roles at precious metals developers that were ultimately acquired in significant M&A transactions, including Atlantic Gold and Kaminak Gold. Most recently, he served as vice president, corporate development and investor relations at Westhaven Gold.
Thompson was awarded the trophy for ‘best IR by a TSX Venture listed company’ at the IR Magazine Awards Canada 2018 and received a nomination for the same award in 2016.
Andrew Pollard, Blackrock Silver president and CEO, says: ‘Sean brings an impressive track-record in broadening investor bases with other highly-followed precious metals developers and we’re excited to welcome him to the team as we position ourselves as the next American silver developer.’
In London, Imke Kappes has been appointed as investor relations officer at FTSE 100 retailer Kingfisher, which owns brands including B&Q, Castorama, Brico Dépôt and Screwfix.
Kappes previously served in various roles – including investor relations – at Novartis, where she started in 2011. She studied for a PhD in finance at the Technical University of Munich.
Finally, Shveta Dighe has taken on a new role as head of investor relations at ASP Isotopes, a Nasdaq-listed materials firm that develops technology for isotope enrichment.
Dighe has served in various investor relations roles in recent years, most recently helping launch a biotech consultancy called Ascend Investor Relations. Prior to that, she served as head of investor relations at Carisma Therapeutics and director of investor relations at Bristol Myers Squibb.
