Best Practices
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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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‘It’s not necessarily about coming up with a brand-new thing’: Janet Craig on what she looks for as an IR Impact Awards judge
As we gear up for the IR Impact Awards in both South East Asia and Greater China, our teams of expert judges have been sifting through the many entries from companies talking about everything from how they have implemented AI into their programs to the memorable investor events they’ve put on for analysts. IR Impact catches up with Janet Craig – herself a multiple IR Impact Award winner and now a judge for our events – to find out what marks an entry out as special.
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Briefing – The value of IR in an increasingly passive investment landscape
In partnership with WHEN 8.00 am PT / 11.00 am ET / 4.00 pm GMT / 5.00 pm CET DURATION 45 minutes About the event Explore how IR teams can adapt to the rise of passive investing while effectively measuring and communicating their impact. As index funds and ETFs reshape…
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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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Building an IR function: a strategic roadmap to success
From getting management buy in to running an IR audit and building an investor pipeline – a break down of the essentials that elevate the IR program Investor relations has come a long way. What used to be a compliance checkbox is now a strategic discipline that directly impacts your cost of capital, liquidity and valuation. The question isn’t whether IR adds value anymore, it’s whether you’re building the function correctly. This evolution changes how you build your team for success – whether you are expanding the IR department, coming in fresh, building out the team from scratch or growing…
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What can you do when the US Government becomes a shareholder in your company?
When the Trump administration announced it would take a 10 percent stake in Intel to securitize the government’s funding of the company under the CHIPS Act, the markets were stunned. Many questioned this new course, asked how effective the government could be at owning stocks and wondered how the administration could help or hinder Intel. Moreover, how would US taxpayers benefit?
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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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‘Investors are ready for us to make an impact’: eDreams ODIGEO’s David de la Roz Fernandez on standing out as a small cap
How do you stand out against the market as a small-cap company? For eDreams ODIGEO’s head of IR, David de la Roz Fernandez, it’s about making sure your investor community is as educated as possible so that when you have some crucial news to share, the impact is maximized.
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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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‘I love when investors start a meeting by showing me their streak’: Duolingo’s Debbie Belevan on life after an IPO
At this year’s IR Impact Awards – US 2025, Duolingo’s head of IR Debbie Belevan swept the board, picking up trophies for best overall IR – mid cap, best IRO – mid cap and best in sector – technology. All of this came just a few years after Belevan joined the language learning app in 2021 as its VP, IR two weeks before the company’s IPO. Since then, Duolingo has seen exponential growth in both its share price and subscriber base. Debbie has become an active member of the IR community, serving as a board member for NIRI.
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How does your team approach scenario planning? We want to know!
Another week, another series of macroeconomic developments that are likely keeping IROs around the world on their toes. Whether it’s the latest round of proposed US government tariffs – this time on Japanese goods – or renewed conflict in South East Asia, listed companies will be working quickly to understand the potential impacts on their operations.
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Awards – US
About the event The IR Impact Awards – US will take place on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 in New York. This very special event honors excellence in the investor relations profession across the US. WHEN WHERE Cipriani 25 Broadway, New York Celebrating IR excellence Since the annual event first launched…
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Awards – Canada
About the event The IR Impact Awards – Canada will take place on Thursday, April 2, 2026 in Toronto. This very special event honored excellence in the investor relations profession across Canada. WHEN WHERE Fairmont Royal York, Toronto Celebrating IR excellence Since the annual event first launched in 1996, tens…
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Activist nominees, ESG Trojan horses and tangible investor days: five things we learned at the IR Impact Think Tank – Europe 2025
Europe’s top IR leaders gathered in London to debate, discuss and learn in a series of panels, sessions and roundtables ahead of the IR Impact Awards – Europe 2025 What did more than 170 IR professionals head to London to talk about at the IR Impact Think Tank – Europe 2025? Everything from volatility and uncertainty (of course) to what makes an award-winning IR team and how to untangle yourself from the spilled alphabet soup of ESG and making the most of AI for IR. Panels were mixed with live polls, roundtable discussions, collaborative sessions and networking. We’ve picked five…
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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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Playbook: Maximizing your return on time
In this playbook, written in association with Notified, we look at how IROs divide their time and what tasks they consider most valuable.
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What IR teams can learn about responding to a cyber attack from M&S
Our UK readers – and shoppers – will no doubt have been keeping up with the news that high-street stalwart Marks & Spencer has been targeted by a widespread cyber attack. It comes in the same week that fellow retailer Co-op, as well as London’s luxury department store Harrod’s, had been forced to shut down IT systems and restrict internet access to thwart similar attacks.
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IR Impact Masterclass: How to navigate mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions
Welcome to IR Impact’s Masterclass video series, where leaders and experts from across the capital markets share their insights, strategies and experiences to provide you with in-depth knowledge and practical skills to excel in your IR journey. Each IR Impact Masterclass will delve into critical topics, offering valuable perspectives and actionable advice. Whether you are looking to enhance your expertise, stay ahead of industry trends or gain a competitive edge, these long-form videos are your gateway to achieving these goals.
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‘The US markets are keeping all of our IROs on their toes’: NIRI New York’s Laura Kiernan on challenging times
Though the IR Impact Awards – US 2025 was a time for great celebration, it also came at a time of distinct market upheaval, with a combination of trade tariffs, ongoing conflict and political change weighing heavily on the markets. We spoke to Laura Kiernan, president for NIRI’s New York chapter as well as senior vice president at GuideLign, Rivel, about how members of the trade association were dealing with the fallout.
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‘You have to take investors on the journey with you’: Fiserv’s Julie Chariell on communicating through volatility
Given the landscape of trade disagreements, global conflict and ongoing political upheaval, communicating with investors requires a flexible and nuanced approach. At the recent IR Impact Awards – US 2025, we spoke to Julie Chariell, head of investor relations at payments company Fiserv, about how to manage investor outreach at a time when the markets are grappling with uncertainty.
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‘I wanted to set a new standard for investor days’: Rebecca Gardy of Campbell’s on an award-winning event
At the recent IR Impact Awards – US 2025, we spoke to Rebecca Gardy, chief investor relations officer at Campbell’s, about how exactly they planned last year’s investor day
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Kristina Petro of RBC Capital Markets on managing IR in a complex environment
Petro advised companies to focus on clear and concise messaging at the IR Impact Awards – US 2025 At the IR Impact Awards – US 2025, we caught up with Kristina Petro, vice president of US corporate access at RBC Capital Markets. Petro shared insights on global issues in the capital markets and provided advice […]
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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 […]
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Eight takeaways from the IR Think Tank 2025
IROs gathered in New York to discuss the changing face of investor communications On March 26, more than 100 IR professionals gathered in New York for the IR Think Tank, brought to you by BofA Securities and IR Impact. The event offered the IR community the chance to take stock following two months of frenetic […]
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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 […]
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Build your onramp and sell-side tactics: What we learned at the IR Impact Think Tank – West Coast 2025
In an increasingly complex market, the audience was reminded about the importance of keeping your message simple There was plenty for IROs to get their teeth into at the IR Impact Think Tank – West Coast 2025, which took place on March 20 in San Francisco. With US policy in a state of dramatic flux, […]
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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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Small (and a mid) caps hit big: Aecon, Calian and TransAlta take three apiece at the IR Impact Awards – Canada 2025
In an event packed with the highest achieving IR teams in Canada, it was two small-cap companies and a mid-cap firm that punched hardest, with Aecon Group, Calian Group and TransAlta Corporation each taking home three IR Impact Awards at the black-tie ceremony in Toronto last night. TransAlta took the trophy for best overall investor relations and best investor relations officer for Tamara Cook – both in the mid-cap category – as well as winning its sector award in utilities. The two small-cap companies also won some of the most prestigious awards of the night, with Aecon claiming best overall…
