News
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IR in the age of AI: How answer engine optimization will transform content visibility
Content visibility and engagement are always key priorities for IR professionals. As AI and large language models (LLMs) become a primary source of information for buy-side and sell-side analysts, content visibility and narrative control are constantly shifting, creating new challenges in how audiences discover and engage with IR corporate content.
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Janet Craig: Ten things I am doing to up my IR game in 2026
Predictably, as I moved into the New Year, I thought about what I wanted to accomplish over the coming 12 months. There are many opportunities for professional development, but my focus is on areas where I can hone my craft, build relationships and pay it forward. Here are 10 IR things I want to do in 2026:
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What makes an equity narrative compelling? An investor survey offers clear perspective
In today’s competitive capital markets, crafting a compelling equity narrative is more than a communications exercise; it is a strategic imperative. But what distinguishes the enduring from the generic? BNY’s Market Insights and Initiatives team, in partnership with S&P Global, surveyed 40 institutional investors across six continents, representing $2 trillion in equity assets under management, to answer this question.
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Responsible AI adoption in IR: from intimidation to impact
AI is everywhere in investor relations today. Yet for many IR teams, the journey from curiosity to confidence is anything but straightforward. The ’empty prompt window’ syndrome and uncertainty around where to start and how to trust the technology remain real.
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‘Market volatility necessitates a more thoughtful approach’: Four things we learned at the IR Impact Forum – Greater China 2025
The Hong Kong event brought together IR professionals and capital market experts to explore how the IR function should adapt When volatility and concentration risk become part of the backdrop for Chinese IROs targeting investors globally, new challenges emerge. From tailored engagement strategies to navigating unfamiliar capital market expertise, securing long-term investors requires consistency, long-term engagement and market insight. The IR Impact Forum – Greater China 2025 – held in December at the Conrad Hotel, Hong Kong – brought together more than 120 professionals to examine how investor relations is evolving amid shifting global capital flows, rising investor scrutiny and rapid technological change. The panels, many of which were led by award-winning IROs, covered…
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IR for video games, AI for engagement and the Big Three’s voting policies: What you read in 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, it feels like we are wrapping up a particularly momentous year in the capital markets. In the past 12 months, we’ve seen the global markets grapple with seismic macroeconomic shifts – including Donald Trump’s return to the White House, ongoing instability in Europe and the Middle East, plus the ever-evolving role of AI – as well as more localized changes to the day-to-day of IROs.
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‘The tolerance for inconsistency is zero’: Four things we learned at the IR Impact Forum – South East Asia 2025
The Singapore event brought together 100 senior IR experts to examine how the IR function is evolving The IR Impact Forum – South East Asia 2025 brought around 100 IR professionals to the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) on December 2 to discuss how the IR function is evolving in the region. A series of panel discussions, led by award-winning IROs, covered real-life case studies and expert advice to propel IR teams into the future. Speakers highlighted how IR teams are tasked with producing more information while battling increased governance scrutiny, operational pressure and digitalization, providing practical guidance for IR teams…
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The IR Benchmarking Report 2026 Global & Europe available now
A new year, a new name. In recognition of our flagship IR Benchmarking Tool, launched in early 2025, our long-running Global Practice Report has become the IR Benchmarking Report Bringing you research from several hundred IR professionals, it offers insights into everything from budgets and IR team analysis to sell-side coverage across markets caps and more – including the different ways that senior management gets involved in investor relations. Alongside the numbers, we also bring you insights from award-winning IR professionals, CFOs, investors and analysts on where they find value in investor relations and how you can fine-tune those relationships.…
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The IR Benchmarking Report 2026 Global & North America available now
This year we bring you a brand new, revamped IR Benchmarking Report that couples our survey research with interview and data from our flagship IR Benchmarking Tool. Alongside the data – covering everything from budgets to gender breakdowns, from analyst numbers to senior management attendance at virtual and in-person meetings – this report offers a host of qualitative insights from award-winning IR professionals and CFOs that have spoken to us as part of our exclusive series of deep dive interviews with finance chiefs. We also bring you thoughts from investors and analysts on building those key relationships that are at…
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People moves: CBIZ brings in Christopher Sikora as Reinsurance Group of America appoints Ryan Krueger
Professional services company CBIZ has brought in Christopher Sikora as its new vice president, investor relations and corporate finance. The NYSE-listed firm describes Sikora as ‘an accomplished investor relations professional with extensive experience in finance, strategy and corporate development’ in a press release announcing the move.
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Passive investors driving active opportunities: how fund flows are shaping how IR teams direct their time
Recent IR Impact briefing, held alongside Nasdaq, explores the implications of the ongoing passive shift As passive ownership continues to grow, how companies interpret trading activity and allocate their investor engagement efforts is shifting in parallel. A recent IR Impact briefing, in association with Nasdaq, brought together Jacquelynn Bohlen (head of IR, Columbia Banking System), Stephanie Bui (co-head, investor engagement, Americas, Nasdaq) and Prabhdeep Sagoo (senior director, market and shareholder intelligence services, Nasdaq) to examine how these structural changes are reshaping expectations of the IR role. Their discussion explored the growing focus on improving engagement strategies, the need for IR teams to be methodical in targeting active investors and how to integrate benchmarking as a tool to demonstrate the strategic value of IR. Passive as active supporters The discussion started off about…
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People moves: Medtronic’s Ryan Weispfenning to lead IR at diabetes spin-off
Ryan Weispfenning, head of IR at the multiple IR Impact award-winning team at Medtronic, is taking up a new role in the team at the medical device company’s diabetes spin-off. The news comes as Ingrid Goldberg has been named as Weispfenning’s replacement, with both changes coming into effect as of December 8.
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Glass Lewis tightens US oversight of board powers in broader 2026 proxy rethink
Glass Lewis released its 2026 Benchmark Policy Guidelines on December 5, setting out notable changes for its policies for companies in the US, Canada, the UK and continental Europe. The updated guidelines, which apply to shareholder meetings held after 1 January 2026, indicate a shift away from rigid, uniform voting prescriptions and towards one with more customization and sees proxy advisors act more as research providers than as standard setters.
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IPOs, crypto and deregulation: The SEC prepares for a shift in 2026
Hot off the heels of his NYSE address, SEC chair lays out his vision for the Commission in 2026 and beyond On December 2, 2025, SEC chairman Paul Atkins rang the opening bell at the NYSE and delivered a keynote address titled Revitalizing America’s markets at 250. In a sweeping vision for the future of US capital markets, he argued the rules that over decades have piled up around public companies have made going public costlier and more burdensome – causing the number of listed firms to decline by roughly 40 percent since the mid-1990s. Atkins painted the exchanges not…
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Hon Hai Precision Industry sweeps to victory with five trophies at the IR Impact Awards – Greater China 2025
Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry Co almost made a clean sweep at the IR Impact Awards – Greater China 2025 after its team picked up five awards. The New Taipei City-based firm picked up the trophies for best in sector – technology, best CEO letter and best buy-side management.
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From the sell side to the buy side and into IR, William Houston starts a new role at Unilever
‘It’s a company I’ve long admired, having analyzed it on the sell-side at UBS and Rothschild & Co Redburn and invested on the buy side as a portfolio manager at Norges Bank Investment Management,’ writes William Houston on LinkedIn as he joins the Unilever IR team. As well as his time on both the buy and sell sides, Houston spent almost six years at BAT, most recently as head of investor sustainability, investor relations. He has also been a regular voice in IR Impact articles – talking about the evolution of ESG data, for example – as well as sharing…
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Do ISS and Glass Lewis have too much influence? Yes, say most – but that doesn’t mean it’s not political
I’ve spent much of the past week having conversations with governance people – and one very small proxy advisory firm – about their takes on the debate raging around the influence of the big two: ISS and Glass Lewis. Recent weeks have seen talk of the ‘weaponization of shareholder proposals’; Elon Musk has famously described them as ‘corporate terrorists’; the Wall Street Journal reported that US President Donald Trump is considering an executive order to curb the power of the proxy advisors, as well as the fact that these two behemoths are facing an anti-trust investigation for their roles in…
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CP Axtra and PTT Exploration and Production lead with three wins at the IR Impact Awards – South East Asia 2025
Two Thai companies – CP Axtra and PTT Exploration and Production – led the way at this year’s IR Impact Awards – South East Asia after each scooped three trophies at the event, held at the Singapore Exchange on December 2. Energy company PTT Exploration and Production won the award for best overall investor relations (large cap) while its head of IR Nattapol Tachavaraporn won the title of best investor relations officer (large cap). It also took home the trophy for the best use of social media and video. Meanwhile, retail and wholesale firm CP Axtra was recognized for best…
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The rising influence of retail investors in M&A votes
Retail investors are increasingly shaping corporate governance and M&A transactions, driven by accessible financial platforms and a growing willingness to exercise their shareholder voting rights. Unlike institutional investors, who have historically dominated shareholder votes, retail investors represent a dynamic and expanding bloc that companies must engage strategically. This article examines the rise of retail investor influence, key drivers of their participation and actionable strategies for corporations to leverage this trend in critical M&A votes.
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People moves: L&G brings in Andy Sinclair as its new chief strategy and investor relations officer
UK-listed investment manager Legal & General (L&G) has appointed Andy Sinclair as its new chief strategy and investor relations officer. In his new role, which he will take up in January 2026, Sinclair will report to CEO António Simões and will be a member of Andrew Kail’s CFO leadership team.
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‘It’s an opportunity to bridge two fast-growing markets’: Lessons from Emsteel Group on engaging Middle Eastern investors
As IROs look beyond traditional financial hubs to diversify their shareholder base, the Middle East represents a new and strategic capital venture. But with sovereign wealth funds, family offices and institutional investors playing an increasingly influential role in international markets, many companies still find the road to meaningful engagement in this region unclear.
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AI bubble or a soft landing? Looking at the data behind technology company valuations
The sheer numbers are overwhelming. Analysts estimate that 15 to 25 percent of the S&P 500’s value can be attributed to expectations of AI delivering substantial financial benefits for companies, which translates into 800 to 1,300 index points.
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How advanced data and analytical tools are elevating IROs to be strategic leaders
The IR role is entering a new era, one defined by data, speed and strategic influence. In a world where financial markets are driven by real-time insights and rapidly shifting narratives, IR professionals are no longer just corporate messengers. They are increasingly expected to be analytical thinkers, competitive strategists and trusted advisors to the C-suite and board.
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SEC steps back from no-action reviews, leaving proxy season on unstable ground
Regulator will reduce oversight of shareholder proposal disputes in a step critics say will leave investors in ‘legal limbo’ The SEC has changed its rules around how companies seek permission to exclude certain shareholder proposals from proxies, in a move that will make it more difficult for activists to force votes on contentious issues. Earlier this week, the commission’s Division of Corporation Finance announced that it will not substantially review no-action requests under Rule 14a-8 for the 2025-26 proxy season, except for procedural exclusions it specifies in the legislation. The regulator blamed ‘current resource and timing considerations following the lengthy…
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‘We’re listed in the US but still haven’t had the chance to go to’: China’s ATRenew on engaging US investors when you can’t meet face-to-face
As a company that facilitates the buying, selling and recycling of pre-owned consumer electronics in China, ATRenew is counter-cyclical, with a model that stands to benefit when consumers look to save on that ‘new’ phone or tablet. Here, Xiaoyi (Jessie) Jin, financial communications and IR at ATRenew, talks to IR Impact about engaging local and international investors, ramping up analyst coverage and planning a trip to meet US-based shareholders – more than four years after listing on the NYSE. ATRenew is nominated in two categories at the IR Impact Awards – Greater China 2025: best buy-side management, best investor event…
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How companies can build a smart defense against takeovers
Public market valuations remain subdued, particularly across the UK mid-cap universe, while private equity firms continue to hold record levels of capital. In 2024 and into 2025, this imbalance has created fertile ground for takeover activity.
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Five things IROs can learn from the 2025 Corporate Governance Forum
The New York event brought together top governance professionals in an era when change can be quick and new stakeholders are entering the arena The 2025 Corporate Governance Forum brought together governance professionals, board members and advisers for discussions that included proxy disclosure, shareholder activism and the politicization of corporate decision-making. Across all panels, one theme stood out: governance has become more strategic, more transparent and perhaps, more political than ever. Here’s five takeaways from the event. 1. The proxy statement is a storytelling tool, not a compliance document During the first session of the day – Best practices for optimizing…
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How pre-IPO investor relations shapes long-term market success
The IPO journey doesn’t start on listing day. Companies that treat investor relations as an afterthought until the opening bell often find themselves scrambling to build credibility when it matters most. The statistics tell a sobering story: approximately only one third of newly listed companies outperform their already-listed peers over the long term. Poor financial communication sits at the heart of this underperformance. Building relationships before you need them Establishing an effective IR function well before your IPO creates something money can’t buy on demand: trust. When analysts and investors already know your story, understand your business model and have…
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‘Show me the before-and-after, not just the highlight reel’: Jeannie Ong on what she looks for as an IR Impact Awards judge
Multi-award winner shares her thoughts on the Greater China and South East Asia judging Jeannie Ong, managing director, operating partner, investor relations at Temasek, is a seasoned IR Impact Award judge – this year taking on the mammoth task of both the Greater China and the South East Asia entries. She talks to IR Impact about how her own experience in investor relations helps her find the winners, the categories that are harder to judge and how IR across the region is evolving.
