How tos
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The six hats shaping the IRO role in 2026
Investor relations has never been a static function, but the pace and breadth of change now shaping the role today underscore a redefinition of how IR contributes to enterprise leadership. What once felt like incremental role expansion is becoming a structural rewrite of the job itself.
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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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From intuition to impact: How ROI thinking can transform investor relations
Across boardrooms, investment decisions are increasingly driven by rigorous financial analysis and measurable outcomes. While marketing debates attribution models and sales scrutinizes conversion funnels, the IR function, though central to connecting companies and capital markets, often relies on intuition and anecdotal evidence when justifying budgets and strategic initiatives. IR now has the opportunity to adopt the ROI mindset that drives decision-making across the enterprise.
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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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IR time management: the holy grail for today’s investor relations professionals
It’s no secret that the IR workload has been expanding – even as resources fail to match pace. At the same time, market uncertainty has made the day-to-day less predictable. The result is that the modern IRO is busier than ever. This was something Erik Carlson, chief operating officer at Notified pointed to early in a recent webinar titled: Strategic time management for today’s IRO. ’If look at the challenges in the market, the rise in distrust of the media, the proliferation of content – it’s becoming harder and harder to cut through the noise, to synthesize information and do…
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IR Playbook: Maximizing your return on time now available
IR Impact research shows that IROs are increasingly taking on tasks outside of the traditional investor relations role, with resources failing to match pace. We look at where they are spending most time and which tasks they find the most value in to uncover where efficiencies can be found.
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Legally speaking: IR, storytelling and the red pen
Though it might feel like legal qualifiers are ruining your work, they are there to make it bulletproof For IR professionals, the art of storytelling often feels like a delicate balancing act. You spend time to craft the perfect narrative — clean slides, compelling data, and a golden CEO quote that’s meant to inspire. Then comes the legal review, suggesting the addition of words like ‘expected’ or ‘anticipated’ and including essential disclaimers. While it might feel like your perfect quote has been ruined, it’s a vital step in safeguarding both the company and its investors. Rather than learning this lesson…
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Navigating investor relations during a market selloff in a quiet period: dos and don’ts
For many public companies, a quarter ended on March 31, 2025, and management has entered an investor quiet period until the financial results are reported. This creates a unique challenge: how to address investor concerns during a market downturn while adhering to quiet period restrictions. Below are key dos and don’ts to guide companies through this situation. The dos: The don’ts: Conclusion A market selloff is a test of a company’s investor relations strategy and communication discipline – especially when management is in an investor quiet period. By working with your IR firm you can prepare consistent messaging for all…
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Enhancing decision quality through advanced investor intelligence: the hidden engine of competitive advantage
In today’s volatile and hyper-competitive markets, the difference between a market leader and an also-ran often comes down to one crucial factor: decision quality. While product innovation, brand recognition and capital access are still important, it is the consistency and accuracy of decisions — particularly strategic, operational, and financial ones — that sets enduring winners apart in terms of valuation. For public companies, this is especially true at the management team and IR level, where every choice can ripple across long-term growth trajectories, investor perception and ultimately valuation.
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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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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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Rethinking IR performance measurement: how AI and financial models can help calculate impact in dollars and cents
Moving beyond non-financial indicators can give a better indication of IR success
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Scaling investor relations with a ‘team of one’
Having worked in IR and communications for over a decade – almost always as a ‘team of one’ – I’ve learned a thing or two about making the most of limited resources
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IR on rotation: how Ford creates ambassadors for investor relations
Two former IR team members talk about the ways in which their stint in IR continues to benefit them today
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A 2025 playbook for IROs: navigating IPOs, retail power and data-driven IR
Share buybacks and retail investors have dominated the conversation early in the year
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Maximizing shareholder value by combining IR with corporate communications – and reporting directly to the CEO
The case for IR to report to the chief executive, even as increasing numbers report to the CFO
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How to handle profit warnings
IR veterans share experiences and best practices for communicating around an earnings miss
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Making waves: Eco Wave Power CEO on building trust through the IPO
Founder of Nasdaq First North-listed firm on weathering the fossil fuel rally and why stock price matters less in such a new sector
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Transforming IR strategy: How retail shareholders drive liquidity and growth
The key to unlocking liquidity for small caps
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Why Iberdrola takes retail investors on El Camino de Santiago
Spanish electric utility’s retail IR chief talks evolving and optimizing the firm’s unique retail IR strategy and the importance of fostering a sense of community
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The CFO: Talking transformative mergers and electric helicopters with Bristow’s finance chief
Jennifer Whalen shares her thoughts on going from accounting to the public-facing role of CFO, balancing the ESG conversation and when Bristow Group might need a dedicated IR person
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Opening bell: The story of the only company to complete an IPO on TSX in 2023
Lithium Royalty Corporation’s president and CEO discusses listing success and the business model that allowed it to buck the trend
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The IR behind the iconic red-and-white can – and so much more: Investor relations at Campbell’s Soup Company
Rebecca Gardy, chief IRO, talks shifting brand demographics, why she sends packages to analysts and why quant investors are a key IR challenge
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How to manage change as an IR professional: Gameplans, flexibility and good sleep
As we head into the second quarter of 2024, many companies are bracing themselves for a year defined by change. With important elections expected in the US, the UK, the EU and many other regions, experts estimate that almost half (49 percent) of the developed world is electing a leader over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, ongoing inflationary pressures – and regulatory responses – are still being felt in many economies, as are the impacts of developing technology.
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Interest rates and IR: What a rate reduction might mean for growth vs value stocks
Research examines historical stock returns to assess the impact of sudden interest rate cuts
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Support shareholder loyalty and long-termism with a rewards program
The rapid growth of investment firms over the last 60 years has resulted in a steep decline in equity hold periods and shareholder loyalty
