News
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People moves: Debbie Hancock joins Lamb Weston and Caroline Dawson moves to Reckitt
Debbie Hancock, the former senior vice president of investor relations at toy maker Hasbro, has taken up a new IR role at French fry producer Lamb Weston. Hancock, who left her position at Hasbro in February 2024 after 15 years at the company, has a career in investor relations that spans 30 years, including a 15-year stint as director of IR at APC by Schneider Electric. She has been a member of NIRI since the mid-90s.
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Amid such a complex environment, IR’s job is to keep things simple
It’s certainly a wild time to be an IRO. While uncertainty is always present in the market, companies are dealing with major surprises far more frequently at the moment. On any day, corporate strategies and financial guidance could be thrown into doubt by a policy announcement, geopolitical shift or another factor.
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How long do you have to be ‘short’? Recent debate puts spotlight on the movements of short sellers
Short seller reports can have a huge impact on the stocks they target. Everyone from regulators to law firms and even Netflix are looking to the impact of shorting stocks – with one law firm arguing free speech is being put at risk In the stock market, the traditional way to make money is to buy shares in a company and wait for the share price to rise. Another way is to short a company and wait for the share price to go down and buy back the cheaper shares. If the share price goes up, those shares must quickly…
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Why anxiety is your biggest enemy in communications
How much time and thought have we spent building scenarios and thinking about the reception of a report, a press release or a statement on a current issue where our company or client is expected to have – or even required to have – an opinion? Knowing your subject too well is often the big risk when it comes to communications: it presents the risk that your story will be far too detailed and ultimately incomprehensible. The point of your story will disappear in a cadre of details that do not contribute to the overall picture, much less to the…
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People moves: FactSet names Kevin Toomey as head of IR
Financial data provider FactSet has named Kevin Toomey as its new head of IR. He takes over from Yet He, the current interim head of investor relations, who will continue in his role as treasurer and head of financial planning and analysis. Most recently, Toomey was vice president of IR at Secureworks. Before that, he ran IR at Latch, which focuses on keyless security systems. Overall, he has more than 20 years of experience across IR, equity research and finance.
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CIBC and Calian Group lead the pack ahead of the IR Impact Awards – Canada 2025
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) and Calian Group will be the favorites ahead of the IR Impact Awards – Canada 2025, with both companies featuring on the short lists for seven awards apiece. The gala event, which will take place in Toronto this April, aims to recognize Canada’s leading publicly listed companies and IR practitioners across a wide range of categories.
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The valuation engine: thriving in the age of infinite momentum
We have entered the ‘Age of Infinite Momentum’, where disruption unfolds faster than understanding. Strategic adaptability is the indispensable skill of the elevated IRO as they find themselves on fluid terrain, as market forces, technological disruption, geopolitical shocks, regulatory changes and shifting investor expectations converge at an exponential pace.
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People moves: Darren Snellgrove to head Johnson & Johnson’s IR team as Jessica Moore takes CFO role
Plus new IROs at Essential Utilities and Liberty Latin America
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‘Without my Bloomberg screen, I have to be creative’: Five things we learned from IROs who switched from the sell side
It’s news to no one that investor relations is increasingly appealing to former sell siders. Events from the financial crisis to the introduction of Mifid II in Europe have combined with trends around the increase of passive investing and a squeeze on the sell side to drive some to look elsewhere – with many landing on IR
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How to leverage generative AI to transform your research
One of the biggest challenges in many research fields is keeping pace with rapid advancements
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Reddit leads nominations just one year after its IPO ahead of the IR Impact Awards – US 2025
Other companies topping the shortlists include Duolingo, Moody’s Corporation, JPMorgan Chase & Co and GE Aerospace The IR team at Reddit will hope to turn a successful IPO year into a successful night of award wins, after the social media company picked up six nominations at the upcoming IR Impact Awards – US 2025. The platform, which made its $6.4 bn market debut in March 2024, appears on the shortlists for six awards by nomination, the winners of which will be determined by IR Impact’s panel of expert judges. Awards Reddit could win at the gala event, which takes place…
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Driving growth: unleashing Saudi Arabia’s investor relations potential
As Saudi Arabia continues to take solid steps to achieve a number of strategic objectives under the Vision 2030 umbrella, the role of IR in the Kingdom is undergoing a major transformation.
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‘AI is not a singular tool but an entire ecosystem’: Isabel Vilela on how her approach to AI has grown in a year
GoviEx Uranium’s Isabel Vilela speaks ahead of the AI and Technology Forum – Europe
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The art of trajectory: how AI-powered analytics can help distribute your messages effectively
Advanced data analytics and AI have unlocked unprecedented insights into behaviors, preferences and emerging trends
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Is DEI dead or alive at US companies this proxy season?
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Over recent times, the acronym has become inescapable – and corporate life is no exception
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Clear Street’s commitment to corporate access and the ‘power of prime’
Corporate access is an integral factor in success for public company management teams today
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Global Roadshow Report 2025 available now
Investor roadshows have become a pivotal element in IR programs, serving as a crucial platform for companies to connect with potential investors and ensure their stock remains actively traded. In a rapidly evolving post-pandemic market, the format of these roadshows has diversified, incorporating both in-person and virtual elements to cater to a broader audience. The 2025 edition of the Global Roadshow Report, compiled by IR Impact, delves into the intricacies of corporate roadshow activities over the past year. This comprehensive report, drawn from surveys conducted among IROs, offers valuable insights into how IR teams are managing their roadshow schedules, the…
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Guidance in the GCC: Analysts and investors favor the few (that share forward-looking metrics)
A ‘quiet transformation’ is taking place across the Gulf Cooperation Council region, but guidance remains relatively rare Across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a quiet transformation is underway – one that could reshape how companies communicate with investors and influence the broader dynamics of capital allocation. At its heart, this transformation revolves around two critical pillars: transparency and guidance. Despite their importance in fostering investor confidence, lowering capital costs and reducing market volatility, these practices remain underutilized in the region. Bloomberg data as of September 30, 2024, reveals that out of 829 actively traded companies in the GCC, only around…
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Storytelling, reinvention and quizzing your analysts: Four things we learned at the IR Magazine Forum – South East Asia 2024
Though it was chilly back in IR Magazine’s London home, at the end of November myself and our events team made the painful decision to fly to warmer climes in Singapore, where we would stage the IR Magazine Forum – South East Asia 2024. We were joined there by senior IR professionals from across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to share learnings, tips and techniques from the very best that the local IR community has to offer. From targeting to gaining management’s buy-in, discussions took in a wide range of topics. Below, I’ve picked out some of the…
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The new currency of power: the role of AI in targeted investor engagement
The most successful companies will be those who can leverage this technology without being consumed by it
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Why liquidity deserves a spot on every issuer’s to-do list
When it comes to capital markets, liquidity is the quiet hero everyone needs but rarely talks about
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Thaioil Group and PTT Exploration and Production lead winners’ list at IR Magazine Awards – South East Asia 2024
Other winners at the ceremony in Singapore included Berli Jucker and Bumitama Agri Two energy companies led the pack at the IR Magazine Awards – South East Asia 2024, with PTT Exploration and Production and Thaioil Group each picking up three trophies at the gala event in Singapore. Following the ceremony at the Singapore Stock Exchange, Thaioil went home with the awards for best crisis management, best innovation in shareholder communications and the rising star trophy for its assistant IR manager Piyathida Ploypradith. Meanwhile PTTEP – which was the big winner at 2023’s ceremony – was awarded the prizes for…
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‘It’s an intimidating but empowering platform all at once’: Autonation’s Bryan Kloster on adopting AI
The IRO first considered using AI after attending last year’s IR Magazine Forum – AI & Technology Not everyone who is using AI is a tech native or algorithmic expert – just ask Bryan Kloster, investor relations manager at Autonation. He attended last year’s IR Magazine Forum – AI & Technology and had his imagination sparked for how the technology might streamline his own IR team’s workflow. Fast forward to this year’s event – due to be held in New York on December 3 – and Bryan is now speaking on how he has adopted generative AI in his own…
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First Horizon names Tyler Craft as head of investor relations
Bank won multiple IR awards in 2023 First Horizon, the Memphis, Tennessee-headquartered financial services company, has appointed Tyler Craft as its new head of IR, with the position effective at the start of 2025. With the bank for 14 years, Craft currently holds the role of director of transformation – fintech and emerging technology. According to a company statement, he has been heavily involved in First Horizon’s fintech initiatives, including robotic process automation, AI and fraud prevention. Over the years, he has held a variety of roles within the company and had a ‘lead role’ during last year’s investor day.…
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Would you ever put an AI-generated version of your CEO in front of investors?
Swedish tech firm Klarna has trialed doing exactly that in its latest quarterly update Do you have a hard time convincing your senior management to spend time recording remarks for your quarterly updates? I know several IROs who say they struggle to convince their CEOs, CFOs and other C-suite members to spend more than the minimum amount of time on their company’s IR efforts. When browsing LinkedIn this week, however, I stumbled across what might be a novel solution: putting together a deepfake of your CEO so you can get them to say whatever you want to investors, whenever…
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‘In 2025, AI for IR will be an expectation, not an option’: Gregg Lampf on gaining C-suite buy-in
Ciena’s head of IR speaks ahead of upcoming IR Magazine Forum – AI & Technology Ahead of our upcoming IR Magazine Forum – AI & Technology, set to be held in New York on December 3, IR Magazine has caught up with some of the event’s leading speakers to understand how they currently view the technology – and the aspects of its use they are looking forward to discussing in more detail. Gregg Lampf, vice president of investor relations at Ciena, has emerged as one of the IR profession’s leading proponents of the technology, and is not only set to…
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Fund manager profile: ‘We put a lot of emphasis on innovation,’ says Heptagon Capital’s Alexander Gunz
Future trends fund manager on investing in global companies, the ‘virtuous circle’ that is innovation and where fish and chips fits into the equation Heptagon Capital is a private investment firm with $14.4 bn of assets under management, founded in 2005. The firm partners with a range of asset managers and manages funds in-house (including the future trends and European focus equity funds) as well as discretionary mandates. The firm has offices in Dubai, London, Malta, Stockholm and Tel-Aviv. Alexander Gunz is a Fund Manager at the firm, having joined in 2011. His primary responsibility is managing the Heptagon future…
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How to start thinking about overcoming the risks and obstacles of AI implementation
Q&A with Chandrika Nigam, former senior director of investor relations at Adtalem Global Education One new technology has dominated headlines in 2024: the emerging importance of AI in everybody’s lives, not just for IROs. The upcoming IR Magazine Forum – AI & Technology is focused on how IROs can following the footsteps of investors, governance and corporate communications teams who are adopting innovative technology, machine-learning and generative AI to support their day-to-day decision-making. Taking place on December 3 in New York, the event will provide IR teams at publicly listed companies with a blueprint for the responsible use of AI…
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As the EU announces CSRD shake-up, our poll shows most firms aren’t ready for implementation
Takeaways from the IR Magazine ESG Integration Forum – Europe, held in London The mood at the ESG Integration Forum – Europe in London this week was upbeat despite the huge challenges that companies face from new regulation, shifting investor sentiment and geopolitical realignments. The attendees – who hold IR, sustainability and governance roles at listed companies – exchanged notes on how ESG-related expectations continue to evolve at a rapid pace, and made a determined effort to focus on the opportunities as much as the risks. Unsurprisingly, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) was a central focus, with 66 percent…
