Plus IR reshuffles at Caterpillar, Novartis, B2Gold and many more
Brian Ector, former chair of CIRI and long-serving head of IR at Baytex Energy, has retired after a 32-year career in the Canadian capital markets.
Confirming the news on LinkedIn, Ector says that he will be spending his time with his wife, son and daughter, as well as ‘joining my retired hockey buddies on their hikes and fishing trips, assuming I can get my old goalie knees in a little better shape’.
He served as head of IR at the Calgary, Alberta-based energy company Baytex since 2009, working at the NYSE- and TSX-listed firm for 17 years. During that time, he chaired the Canadian IR association for two years between 2016 and 2018.
Prior to working in IR, Ector was a research equity analyst for Scotiabank and CIBC World Markets, a consultant for Enerplus and a research associate at Levesque Beaubien Geoffrion.
‘I will always have great respect for the role of the sell side and buy side in this crazy world we call the stock market, and for all of the friends made over the years. Thanks for all of the engaging and thoughtful conversations,’ he adds.
‘I am proud to have been part of the Baytex family and so fortunate to have represented the team on the road with investors for all these years.’
Over in San Francisco, California, smart ring maker Oura has appointed Michael DeLalio as vice president of investor relations ahead of its planned IPO on the US markets later this year.
DeLalio joins after five years leading IR at DraftKings. Prior to that, he was vice president, equity research at Morgan Stanley and a credit research associate at Fidelity Investments.
He writes on LinkedIn: ‘Three things drew me to Oura: its mission, its people and the significant opportunity ahead.
‘I’ve spent my career studying and working with companies through periods of growth and transformation. I look forward to helping investors understand our strategy, execution and long-term opportunity.’
Meanwhile in Irving, Texas, industrial equipment maker Caterpillar has excavated a new position for Ryan Coleman as senior director of investor relations.
Coleman previously worked as a managing director at Alpha IR Group, where he worked with publicly traded companies on their engagement projects, M&A advisory, restructurings and activism defense. Prior to that, he held advisory positions at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Prudential Financial.
‘I feel incredibly grateful to be joining an iconic American manufacturer at such an exciting time,’ Coleman writes on LinkedIn. ‘Caterpillar’s people and machines provide the ‘invisible layer’ of the tech stack – the critical minerals, reliable power and physical infrastructure that the modern world depends on – and it’s a privilege to help share such a great story with the investor community.’
Caterpillar won two trophies at this year’s IR Impact Awards – US: best investor event (large cap) and best in sector (industrials).
In Basel, Switzerland, pharmaceuticals firm Novartis has brought in Amelie Schrader to be its new executive director, investor relations.
Schrader previously worked for several years as a senior consultant in the life sciences sector for McKinsey & Company, advising companies on projects such as R&D, portfolio optimization and growth strategy.
Prior to that she served in the IR team at Merck’s healthcare business, working as director, investor relations, and also as a project manager in the company’s strategy realization office.
‘Couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome from my new colleagues,’ she writes on LinkedIn. ‘Looking forward to what’s ahead!’
In Vancouver, British Columbia, Rebecca Henare has swapped her previous role at OceanaGold Corporation for a new position as vice president, investor relations and corporate development at B2Gold.
Before working at OceanaGold, Henare was a mining analyst at Sun Valley Gold. Prior to that, she held various geologist roles at GoldCorp.
‘As I reflect on my time at OceanaGold, I’m incredibly grateful to have worked alongside some of the most talented people in the mining industry,’ she writes on LinkedIn. ‘I’m thrilled to be joining the B2Gold team at such an exciting time for the company!’
And finally, some quick updates from LinkedIn: Patrick Yau has taken on the head of IR job at LSL Property Services; Tessa Bos has started a new role as investor relations manager at UK-listed investment manager Foresight Group; Max Vorcheimer has added investor relations to his existing responsibilities on Ingersoll Rand’s M&A team; Kate Bender has been promoted to the role of executive director, investor relations at Bristol Myers Squibb; Emily Truchon has taken on a new role as investor relations associate analyst at Canadian Tire Corporation; Justine McShane has been promoted to senior director of investor relations at Pfizer; and Sumedh Sunkaraneni has joined Ascentage Pharma as director, corporate strategy and investor relations.
