Plus IR team arrivals and departures at Mattel, Ally Financial, Silver Pony Resources and Teck Resources
Fortune 500 laboratory testing company Quest Diagnostics has brought in experienced hire Damini Chokshi as its new vice president, investor relations.
She joins Quest after nearly 20 years with pharmaceuticals firm Merck, where she most recently served as executive director of investor relations and filled other roles including director of finance, US oncology and leadership positions in the company’s global treasury services and financing and investments teams.
Chokshi will lead the New Jersey-based firm’s investor relations strategy and program, as well as providing strategic insight to its executive leadership team, reporting primarily to executive vice president and Quest CFO Sam Samad.
Writing on LinkedIn, Chokshi adds: ‘After 18 years at Merck, this transition feels both energizing and a little surreal. Looking back, I’m filled with immense gratitude for the opportunities that challenged me, stretched me and ultimately shaped me into a better professional.
‘I’m looking forward to this next chapter and working with the talented team at Quest Diagnostics to continue to make an impact on patients. I’m also embracing the learning curve that comes with any new start with humility and curiosity.’
Meanwhile, toy maker Mattel has hired Katina Metzidakis as its new head of investor relations, replacing Jenn Kettnich, who has joined Liftoff Mobile as its vice president of investor relations.
Metzidakis joins Mattel, most famous for its Barbie line of dolls, after two years leading investor relations and corporate communications for Callaway Golf. Prior to that, she held IR roles at Allbirds, Fabletics and Gap.
She writes on LinkedIn: ‘Excited to share that I’ve recently joined Mattel as head of investor relations (though perhaps not as excited as my kids, which is saying a lot) – home to some of the world’s most loved brands, from Hot Wheels and Barbie to UNO and American Girl.’
Kettnich, meanwhile, joins Liftoff after several years at Mattel. Prior to that, she spent more than 10 years at The Walt Disney Company, holding a senior role in IR as well as roles in corporate finance and treasury.
‘I’m excited to join Liftoff at such a pivotal moment in its journey,’ she says in a press release. ‘Liftoff plays a critical role powering the mobile app economy and I’m looking forward to helping tell that story and building strong, lasting relationships with our analysts and investors.’
In Charlotte, North Carolina, Ally Financial has reshuffled its IR team after Sean Leary, formerly chief financial planning and investor relations officer, has taken up a new baton as head of consumer servicing operations for the bank’s auto finance business.
Dan Ignacio, currently executive director of investor relations and corporate FP&A, will take over responsibility for the IR function, reporting to CFO Russ Hutchinson. Ignacio has spent more than 11 years at Ally within its CFO group, including stints in IR and corporate FP&A.
Finally, TSX and NYSE-listed mining company Teck Resources has promoted Edwin Shadeo to the role of treasurer and acting vice president of investor relations, taking over from Emma Chapman, who has departed for a new position as senior vice president, investor relations at Sibanye-Stillwater.
Shadeo joined Teck in 2005 as strategic analyst for business development in coal and has held progressively more senior leadership roles in investor relations, corporate development, the office of the president and treasury.
Chapman, meanwhile, has many years of extensive IR experience. Before joining Teck, she spent nearly a decade at Anglo American Platinum as head of investor relations and ESG. Prior to that, she worked at Citigroup in corporate broking and investment banking, and at PricewaterhouseCoopers in corporate finance.
At Sibanye-Stillwater, she steps into the shoes of James Wellsted, who has joined the company’s group transformation office as EVP of business analytics and improvement.
She writes on LinkedIn: ‘Today marks my last day at Teck Resources. Looking back over the last three and a half years, I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences I’ve had, the challenges we’ve worked through, everything we’ve achieved together, and the people I’ve met along the way.
‘A special shout out to the investor relations team. It’s been a pleasure working alongside you and I’m so proud of everything we’ve accomplished together.
‘After a short break, I’ll be moving on to my next chapter. I’m thrilled to be joining Richard Stewart [CEO] and the Sibanye-Stillwater team in September.’
