People
-
‘She significantly shaped IR in Germany’: in memory of Magdalena Moll
Magdalena Moll, or Maggie as many called her, recently passed away. She remains at the top of the IR Impact Awards league tables, having dominated the most prestigious positions in the Europe Awards year after year as the lead for German chemicals giant BASF. Some years there were humorous groans as she stepped up to claim yet another trophy. Once, when this writer asked for her views (yet again), she said quite seriously that she had nothing left to say, having been tapped for her thoughts on IR best practice too many times. Laurie Havelock, IR Impact editor, recalls Moll…
-
People moves: new IROs join teams at Pennon, Cellnex and Austriacard
Spanish wireless telecommunications infrastructure and services firm Cellnex has brought in Maria Carrapato as its new group investor relations director. In her new role at the Madrid-listed company, she will lead the IR team and report to Raimon Trias, Cellnex’s CFO. She previously served as head of IR and sustainability at Portuguese telecoms company NOS, where she worked since 2007.
-
Teddy bears, school reports and rising stars: what you said about the IR Impact Awards – Europe 2025
Now the confetti has been picked up and the hangovers are starting to clear, it’s a great time to reflect on last week’s celebrations at the IR Impact Awards – Europe 2025. More than 300 of Europe’s leading IROs joined us for a night of food, drink and connections at the swanky Peninsula London hotel, where eDreams ODIGEO, Iberdrola and Infineon Technology emerged as the big winners with three awards apiece.
-
Three trophies apiece for eDreams ODIGEO, Iberdrola and Infineon Technology at the IR Impact Awards – Europe 2025
German semiconductor firm Infineon Technologies won three trophies at the IR Impact Awards – Europe 2025, with two Spanish firms – Iberdrola and eDreams ODIGEO – also matching the tally.
-
People moves: Standard Lithium charges up IR with new hire
US lithium producer Standard Lithium has announced two new names to its executive team, including a new investor relations lead. David Rosen joins the Arkansas and Texas-focused firm as its new vice president of strategy and investor relations, with the company also naming Tim Sobel as vice president of health, safety, social and environment (HSSE). Rosen joins Standard Lithium from a director of integration role at Rio Tinto, a position that saw him play a ‘key role in the post-acquisition integration of Arcadium Lithium’ into the mining company, according to a press statement. In that capacity, Rosen led ‘cross-functional initiatives…
-
The CFO: ‘Don’t wait too long to make changes,’ says Central Garden & Pet finance chief
Visit the executive page of Central Garden & Pet, the Walnut Creek, California-headquartered company, and you get an immediate sense of just how much the C-suite is tied to the company: instead of the typical suit-in-a-boardroom shot, it’s a case of bring-your-pet-to-work day. Brad Smith, who was promoted from his role as finance chief for the firm’s pet segment to group CFO eight months ago, brought in his French bulldog. Elsewhere there are labradors, maybe a couple of poodle mixes and a cat, though Smith points out that dogs are definitely the more cooperative choice. Smith talks to IR Impact…
-
People moves: Autodoc names new IR lead as $2.8 bn IPO looms
Stefanie Steiner has taken up the IR reins at Autodoc as it prepares an IPO expected to value it at $2.8 bn. Writing on LinkedIn this week, she says: ‘I am excited to share that I will embark with #AUTODOC on the next stage of my journey. About a week ago, I joined the new team and had a very warm welcome. In such a technology-driven company I have to familiarize myself not only with business model, strategy, financials and the large market that has enormous potential in the years to come, but also with many new programs and tools.…
-
Investor relations in Europe: uniting a fractured landscape
Across Europe, the landscape of IR societies is diverse and highly decentralized, with most countries having their own independent associations. While these national IR societies effectively support local professionals, there is no singular pan-European body that unifies these efforts. In most European markets, you can find well-established societies like Germany’s DIRK or France’s CLIFF.
-
People moves: William Houston steps down from BAT as Jordyn Eskijian joins Metronet
William Houston, formerly head of investor sustainability at British American Tobacco (BAT), has stepped down from his role after five years at the company.
-
‘People aren’t robots’: How can companies support mothers in their IR teams?
How do you keep a mother in investor relations? How do you support her in a way that keeps diversity of knowledge and experience climbing the corporate ladder? This is a very difficult act to balance, with our recent article on the topic hearing from high-functioning, street facing women who hold senior positions while also raising children. And as Debbie Nathan of Debbie Nathan Associates explained, the issue of childcare is not one that men ever raise in the recruitment process: this is predominantly a female issue. So what should companies be doing to make sure that women feel they…
-
People moves: eToro promotes PR manager Ilaria Pattareeya Luca to IR role after IPO
Trading platform eToro has promoted its former global PR and communications manager Ilaria Pattareeya Luca to its IR team following its recent IPO.
-
Mothers of IR: From babies at conferences to the metaphorical ‘sticky floors’ beneath the glass ceiling
If you were at an investor event in May 2022 alongside alternative defense firm Axon, you might have spotted a rather unusual attendee: the softest of blonde hair, pacifier in place and no socks on their feet. This was Andrea James’ third child getting a fast-track induction to IR so that James could continue breastfeeding as she worked a high-profile, Street-facing job. Today, James is finance lead at Oncocyte. But she isn’t just a CFO, nor just an IR Impact Award-winning former head of IR either. On her CV she proudly lists the position of ‘co-founder at Family Inc’. Check…
-
Spanish companies Iberdrola and Banco Santander lead the pack ahead of the IR Impact Awards – Europe 2025
Two listed Spanish companies – electricity utility Iberdrola and financial group Banco Santander – are top of the most shortlists ahead of the IR Impact Awards – Europe 2025. Iberdrola features across eight short lists, including the awards for best overall investor relations (large cap) and best investor relations officer (large cap) for Isabel Sanchez Herrero, the firm’s head of IR.
-
People moves: Jutta Mikkola takes over at Stora Enso and Greer Aviv joins Cognex
US machine vision system maker Cognex has brought in Greer Aviv as its new head of investor relations. In a move effective from June 2, 2025, Aviv will join the Nasdaq-listed firm to serve as the ‘primary liaison between Cognex and the investment community,’ a press release states.
-
The CFO: ‘My best advice comes from a former marine – embrace the suck,’ says Andrea James of Oncocyte
Earlier this year, Andrea James – the IR Impact Award-winning former investor relations lead at Axon – talked to us about taking a sabbatical from investor relations as she sought a new role. Having taken time to herself, then taken time think about what her next move might look like, she manifested a CFO position at a small cap. That small cap is Nasdaq-listed precision diagnostics firm Oncocyte. Here James talks to IR Impact about the skills you need to make the move from IR to CFO, what she looks for from her advisers and why stock-picking and finance appealed…
-
People moves: Angela Catlin steps back from The Co-operative Bank as B&M’s head of IR David McCarthy retires
Angela Catlin, head of investor relations, corporate affairs and brand at The Co-operative Bank, has announced she is stepping back after two years at the company. Catlin, who has spoken at several IR Impact events about ESG and other topics in recent years, joined The Co-operative Bank in 2023 as its head of investor relations, adding corporate affairs and brand duties to her job in 2024.
-
People moves: Linda Pazin joins Solventum and Mitch Haws moves to Semtech
Linda Pazin, formerly head of strategic communications at Sempra, has joined San Diego, California-based healthcare company Solventum, which was spun off from 3M in April 2024, as its new director of finance communications. Pazin has had a long and varied career in investor relations over the past few decades, including a stint as head of technology, global listings and west coast regional leader at Nasdaq alongside IR roles at Deckers Brands and Live Nation Entertainment. She also was the founder of her own IR and strategic communications consultancy, Pazin Strategies, for four years.
-
How a stint in IR changed Block CFO and COO Amrita Ahuja’s perspective – IR Voice
How does IR set you up for a successful stint in the CFO role? In this episode of IR Voice, host Laurie Havelock speaks with Amrita Ahuja, CFO and COO at Block, about her career journey from investor relations at Activision Blizzard to leading financial strategy in fintech. Amrita shares insights on managing acquisitions, stakeholder communication and key values for IR teams.
-
Patrick Möller eyes new opportunity at optician Fielmann and Stephen Nightingale steps down from Britvic
Experienced German IRO Patrick Möller has taken up a new role at Hamburg-based optician group Fielmann as its new director of investor relations. He joins the company after 17 years as vice president of investor relations at New Work, formerly known as Xing, during which time he was nominated for the award for best overall IR – small cap at the IR Magazine Awards – Europe 2016. He left his role at New Work following the company’s delisting from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange earlier this year.
-
IR Impact Awards – Canada 2025 Interview with Jenny Holland on the top issues facing Canadian IROs in 2025
Holland speaks to IR Impact editor Laurie Havelock about tariffs, AI and Irwin’s new partnership with FactSet At the IR Impact Awards – Canada 2025, we caught up with Jenny Holland from Irwin, a Factset Company. At the time of recording, US President Donald Trump was announcing a series of trade tariffs prompting Havelock and Holland to discuss the implications for IROs in Canada, while also touching on the changes regarding Canadian investor relations teams on their adoption of artificial intelligence into working practices.
-
Huntington Bank names Eric Wasserstrom as IR lead and a flurry of posts open up across the profession
New names at Huntington Bank. Atos Group and Konecranes, while a flurry of posts open up across the profession. Eric Wasserstrom has been named as the new vice president, head of investor relations at Huntington National Bank, a $210 bn asset regional bank operating across 13 US states.
-
Resmed names Salli Schwartz as chief investor relations officer
Other people moves come at Boston Scientific and FireFly Metals Healthcare technology provider Resmed has named Salli Schwartz as its chief investor relations officer. She will report to Mick Farrell, the company’s CEO and chairman of the board. Schwartz joins from biotech Illumina, where she was head of IR. Prior to that, she served as head of IR and treasurer at market data provider MSCI, where, along with her IR duties, she managed portfolios of cash, short-term investments and high-yield debt. She has also been global head of IR and communications, among other roles, at Moody’s . . . Enjoy…
-
The CFO: ‘Managing spin-offs is like raising kids. You love them all, despite the challenges,’ says Kyndryl’s finance chief explaining how he leans on IR for corporate transactions
David Wyshner speaks about his involvement in six corporate transactions – and counting – in his career Most IR teams – and most CFOs – might be involved in one or two large corporate transactions in their careers. For David Wyshner, finance chief at NYSE-listed IT services provider, he’s up to six and still counting. The company, which was nominated for two awards at the recent IR Impact Awards – US 2025, was itself spun off from IBM in 2021, becoming an independent and publicly listed company that year. Wyshner, who also served as CFO of XPO Logistics, Wyndham Worldwide…
-
People moves: Kemira brings in Kiira Fröberg as vice president of IR
Other people changes come at Manulife and Skyryse Kemira, the Helsinki-based provider of chemical solutions for water-intensive industries, has named Kiira Fröberg as its new vice president of IR. She will report to the company’s CFO, Petri Castrén. Fröberg joins from another Nasdaq Helsinki-listed company, crane manufacturer Konecranes, where she also served as vice president of IR. Prior to that, her experience includes M&A and audit roles at PwC. ‘We welcome Kiira to lead Kemira’s award-winning IR team,’ says Castrén in a statement. ‘She has an excellent background for this position and will complete our team.’ Fröberg takes over the…
-
People moves: High Roller goes all in on Seth Young as head of IR
Las Vegas-based online casino operator High Roller Technologies has appointed Seth Young as its new senior vice president of corporate strategy and investor relations. Prior to joining the NYSE-listed company, Young served as chief innovation officer at PointsBet, where he was responsible for strategic corporate development efforts including fundraising, new market development, government affairs and regulatory affairs. Before that he worked as chief operating officer at FSG Digital, executive director of online gaming at Foxwoods Resort Casino, chief operating officer at Flower City Gaming and director of strategy for TexasHoldem.com.
-
People moves: Eric Hill to pilot IR at Boeing
Other people changes come at Karman Space & Defense and Gold Road Resources Boeing, the NYSE-listed global aerospace company, has appointed Eric Hill as its new vice president of IR. Most recently, he was vice president of finance for a Boeing division focused on mobility, surveillance and bombers. Hill has been with Boeing for nearly nine years, holding a string of finance and corporate development roles. He takes over the IR seat from Matt Welch, who is becoming vice president and CFO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. ‘Eric’s experience across our defense and commercial business and his time in investment banking…
-
Fluent in the language of IR: Duolingo wins big at IR Impact Awards – US
Language-learning giant Duolingo was the big winner among a room full of IR excellence at the IR Impact Awards – US in New York on March 26. The firm took home two of the most coveted gongs of the night: best overall investor relations (mid-cap) and best investor relations officer (mid cap) for Debbie Belevan. Duolingo also topped its sector category, winning the best in technology trophy against fierce competition.
-
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.
-
The CFO: ‘You need to have a stomach of iron during times of volatility,’ says Block’s Amrita Ahuja
Many IROs hope that their time in the profession might set them up well for a C-suite position well one day. But for Amrita Ahuja, CFO and COO for payments company Block, the transition happened directly during her time as head of IR for interactive entertainment firm Activision Blizzard, where she was called upon to become finance chief of its video-game publishing wing Blizzard Entertainment in 2018. Fast forward a few years and she now holds the dual posts of CFO and – for the past two years – COO at Block, the financial technology company founded by Jack Dorsey,…
