Laurie Havelock
Laurie has been with IR Impact for over a decade, becoming editor in 2023 after roles as a reporter and research editor. He moderates events and serves as MC for global awards. Previously, he was acting business editor at the i newspaper and deputy business editor at The Daily Telegraph.
Authored articles
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People moves: Joris Silon takes over as head of IR at AstraZeneca as Dollar Tree brings in Daniel Delrosario
London-listed biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has brought in Joris Silon as its new head of IR, in a move effective from 1 March. Silon, who previously served as the firm’s country president for AstraZeneca US, will replace Andy Barnett, who is taking up another internal position.
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People moves: Amit Bhalla swaps IR for global strategy at Schneider Electric as Sarah Fakih joins Evotec
Amit Bhalla, the long-serving head of IR at Schneider Electric, has moved into a new role in the energy management solution company’s global strategy team.
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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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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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‘If you’ve worked in politics, the stock market doesn’t scare you’: Håkan Tribell on swapping writing a prime minister’s speeches for managing IR at AAC Clyde Space
Most people’s route into IR follows one of two predictable paths: either a start on the sell-side, where they gain an aptitude for understanding financial research, or via an internal route that may take in financial planning, treasury or accountancy roles. For Håkan Tribell, it was a career writing speeches for the Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson that set him up perfectly to join satellite technology and services company AAC Clyde Space as its head of communications for investor relations and public affairs earlier this year. In July, that role expanded to take on ‘the full spectrum of marketing and…
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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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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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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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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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‘Investors will leave money on the table if you don’t use AI’: four lessons we learned at the AI & Technology Forum – 2025
Unsurprisingly for those who read IR Impact regularly, AI is still considered one of the most transformative forces, not just for the IR profession, but for the capital markets in general. That may explain why more than 150 IR professionals gathered in New York in November to gain exclusive access to real-world case studies and insights from leading IROs, tech innovators and companies already using AI in their IR programs.
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The CFO: ‘I always tell my team to respect the conversation,’ says UEM Sunrise’s finance chief Hafiz Sulaiman
Occupying the CFO chair is a significant challenge in itself. But what happens when your company calls on you to also fill in for the CEO when they unexpectedly resign? This is exactly the situation that Hafiz Sulaiman, CFO at Malaysian property developer UEM Sunrise, found himself in. Just a few days after speaking eloquently at an event in Singapore about the power of IR to make a lasting impact on companies, he was unveiled as the officer in charge (OIC) at the company after the departure of former CEO Sufian Abdullah.
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People moves: Honeywell switches up IR leads ahead of aerospace business spin-off
US automation and technology firm Honeywell has appointed a new head of IR as its existing chief leaves to head up a new team at a soon-to-be spun-off company.
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People moves: Cabot Corporation promotes Robert Rist to be vice president of investor relations
Specialty chemicals and performance materials company Cabot Corporation has promoted Robert Rist to be its new vice president of investor relations and corporate planning.
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People moves: Novo Nordisk brings in analyst who covered it for 15 years as new head of IR
The Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk has hired one of the country’s top equity analysts to serve as its new head of IR. Michael Novod, formerly of Nordea Bank in Copenhagen, will leave his position by May 2026 to take over the IR team at Denmark’s most valuable company.
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The CFO: ‘IR professionals are like Swiss Army knives,’ says Unite Group’s finance chief Mike Burt
The student accommodation finance chief on an exciting acquisition, why IROs need to be good listeners and why analysts are like sports commentators who never played the game For many students in the UK and further afield, your first year of study is spent in a halls of residence – or purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), […]
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People moves: Ziff Davis appoints former US Department of State diplomat as head of IR
Plus new IROs at Expedia Group, ATS and Abnormal AI Magazine publisher and digital media company Ziff Davis has brought in a former US Department of State official as its new director of investor relations. JT Farley, whose last role saw him work as a foreign service officer (vice consul) at the US Department of […]
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‘Profit and purpose have been our yin and yang’: TPXimpact’s Luke Murphy on a first IR Impact award win
When the small-cap UK firm TPXimpact cropped up on the shortlists ahead of the IR Impact Awards – Europe 2025, it was a name unfamiliar to many of the judges – and perhaps many other onlookers. The company, which enables digital transformation projects for a range of organizations, including public sector bodies in the UK, may not be well-known in general, but Luke Murphy, head of IR and chief of staff, was among the names for the rising star award. The company’s annual and ESG reporting were also nominated.
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People moves: Heather Hille takes on IR at The Toro Company as Carole Dupont-Pietri leaves Hermès
Heather Hille has moved into a new role at The Toro Company, taking on investor relations responsibilities in addition to her existing corporate affairs duties. Hille has served as managing director of corporate affairs at the NYSE-listed outdoor solutions company since 2019, but will add investor relations, public relations and corporate communications to her portfolio.
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Finding out what the sell side really thinks about IR
Would you like to know exactly what your analysts are thinking? No, I’m not here to tell you about some new sell-side telepathy service – though I’m sure many of our readers would jump at the option and maybe that’s one for Elon Musk’s Neuralink to figure out – but rather some new research that exposes just how analysts think about IR.
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‘Sometimes I have to play some Witcher or Cyberpunk during my work day’: CD Projekt’s Karolina Gnas on heading IR at a video game developer
The Polish company appeared on two IR Impact Award shortlists at this year’s Europe awards Many IR professionals may have found themselves working at companies they have a deep personal interest in. For Karolina Gnas, head of IR at the Polish video game developer CD Projekt, this means that she gets to enjoy the studio’s […]
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People moves: Mia Nordlander takes over at Sinch as Tiffany Willis departs Starbucks
Plus new IROs in place at Cantourage, Savills and Global Payments Tiffany Willis, the award-winning head of IR at US retail chain Starbucks, has stepped down from her role in order to prioritize time with her family. She most recently scooped the award for best investor event (large cap) at the IR Magazine Awards – […]
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People moves: Chip Newcom takes the IR wheel at electric truck maker Rivian
Electric vehicle maker Rivian has announced the appointment of Chip Newcom, a multiple IR Impact Award-winner and former head of IR at Equinix, as its new investor relations lead.
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‘Nothing short of an investor relations telenovela’: How 2025 has treated IROs so far
If somebody could have plotted out the broad strokes of the past 12 months – ongoing international crises, political unrest, economic uncertainty to name but a few – I don’t think many of us would have believed what was in store. But, as it is, the capital markets have experienced quite the rough ride in 2025 so far. For IR professionals, that’s meant an even higher burden when it comes to keeping their investors, analysts and other stakeholders informed.
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‘If I wasn’t in IR, I’d love to teach students about finance’: Matthew Ross on leading Block’s IR team and working with Jack Dorsey
Payments companies are increasingly those which keep the world spinning. Just ask Block’s new head of IR, Matthew Ross, who joined the company in 2024 and took over running the IR team earlier this year. The NYSE-listed company – which operates point-of-sale system Square, digital wallet Cash App, buy now, pay later service Afterpay and music streaming business Tidal – has grown from strength to strength in recent years, leading to its ascension to the S&P 500 index in July 2025, replacing Hess Corporation.
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Despite any advantages, ditching quarterly reporting will ultimately place more burden on IR teams
After DE&I policies, sensible foreign trade policy and the SEC’s ability to enforce regulations, what’s the next thing in Donald Trump’s sights? Why, of course, it’s that scourge of the capital markets, quarterly reporting.
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People moves: Nathalie Richert joins The Platform Group as Aaron Bertinetti swaps JP Morgan for Computershare
JP Morgan Chase’s IR Magazine award-winning head of IR Aaron Bertinetti has left the bank to head up Computershare’s newly-launched investor engagement business.
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The summer’s over, it’s back to school time – even for IROs
Welcome back, everybody, to the world of work! Yes, it’s that time of year – for our US readers, Labor Day is over and, for our European friends, the summer holidays are officially done. That can only mean one thing: the pitter-patter of tiny feet as they scamper energetically back to educational establishments heralding the ‘back to school’ season. It’s a good time of year to reflect on your own professional development – as well as making sure your workwear is up to scratch.
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People moves: NIRI New York’s Laura Kiernan takes up in-house role at Clear Channel Outdoor
Laura Kiernan, the former president of NIRI’s New York chapter, has taken up a new role as an in-house IRO at San Antonio, Texas-based advertising company Clear Channel Outdoor.
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The CFO: ‘You have to explain why your flavor of lollipop is the best’: Rainbow Rare Earth’s finance chief on making a complicated story simple
Most people probably don’t understand the full extent of the use of rare earth elements in their daily lives. For Pete Gardner, CFO at Rainbow Rare Earths, the London-listed mining company, explaining just how extensive their applications are is a daily conversation with shareholders and analysts.
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