Bank of America offices, London
The IR Magazine Think Tank – Europe will take place on Thursday, June 20, in London and is an invitation-only event exclusively for senior IR officers. Our think tanks are free to attend and our unique format enables participants to network extensively, discuss, debate and dissect topical issues affecting today’s IROs.
What makes our format so unique?
Our think tanks are far removed from the traditional conference setup as the event consists of panel sessions followed by roundtable discussions on select IR issues. These interactive sessions are an opportunity to share experiences with and learn from other top-rated investor relations professionals. All table discussions are confidential, and none of the participants’ comments is attributed, allowing attendees to talk freely and have frank, open discussions.
How do our roundtable discussions work?
Industry experts, top-rated IROs and members of the investment community set the agenda for a panel discussion by sharing their thoughts on session topics.
Small round tables of IROs discuss these issues face to face.
Each table gives feedback and shares ideas with the group as a whole.
We will be announcing the 2024 agenda shortly. In the meantime please see below for the 2023 agenda.
You can also see the full agenda by clicking here.
08:15 AM
Registration, breakfast and morning networking
08:50 AM
Welcome to the think tank
Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
Mark Troman, deputy head of EMEA equity research, Bank of America
09:00 AM
IR in a 'poly-crisis': Respond to converging macro challenges
Supply chain disruptions, volatile markets and geopolitical tensions each constitute a significant challenge for IR. Together, they are what some have dubbed a ‘poly-crisis’: a complex mix of challenges greater than the sum of its parts. But a poly-crisis is also a ‘poly-opportunity’.
This panel will discuss how IR teams can communicate resilience in uncharted territory and drive value in rapidly changing markets.
• Clarify and respond to increasing market uncertainty
• Navigate evolving supply chain and geopolitical tensions
• Reasons to be optimistic: Key drivers of growth on the road to recovery
Moderator: Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
Amit Bhalla, SVP head of investor relations, Schneider Electric
Joanna Darlington, partner, FGS Global
Ruben Segura-Cayuela, head of Europe economics, Bank of America
09:30 AM
Fire-side chat: ESG oversight and activism prevention
Companies are increasingly being held to account by their shareholders. A growth in pass-through voting and the growing influence of proxy advisory firms mean that boards, management, and IR teams must deepen their relationship with investor stewardship teams.
ESG issues increasingly feature in European activist campaigns, often alongside themes such as governance matters, potential M&A transactions and other efforts to increase shareholder returns. This session will explore the steps IR teams can take to enhance ESG oversight, prepare for the next AGM and prevent ESG-related activism.
• Understand the trends as it relates to investor stewardship and ESG activism
• Learn how to apply ESG best practices and optimize governance
• Hear how IR should communicate to the board about ESG and climate targets
Moderator: Hemma Visavadia, reporter, IR Magazine
Jana Jevcakova, managing director and head of ESG International, Morrow Sodali
09:50 AM
New ESG priorities: Regulations, reporting and reality
Interest in ESG is at an all-time high. This year the CSRD entered into force, the ISSB is releasing the first of its standards, and the TNFD is launching its final framework. However, many on the buy side still feel there is a disconnect between targets and action and between good storytelling and robust data. Here we discuss how to:
• Prepare for new acronyms: How are standards evolving and aligning?
• Go from targets to action: Investor expectations around transition plans
• Communicate ESG information authentically in an age of increasing ESG fatigue
Moderator: Tim Human, senior reporter, IR Magazine
Simon Gittings, head of IR and corporate communications, Investis Digital
Sophie Platts, group head of sustainability, Entain
Panos Seretis, head of global ESG research, Bank of America
10:30 AM
Roundtables: Communicate long-term resilience to shareholders
11:00 AM
Morning networking break
11:30 AM
Identifying and targeting investors in uncertain times
As markets and the fight for capital evolves, IROs must find effective and creative ways to identify and target investors.
Here we’ll be sharing advice on how to engage with an increasingly dynamic market, fine-tune your company story, leverage new technologies to maximize the efficiency of your outreach and communicate with a wide range of investors.
• Access new sources of capital as the market and shareholder bases evolve
• Discuss the shift from active to passive investment is changing targeting strategies
• Understand different approaches to targeting investors in a range of geographies
Moderator: Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
Tish Crawford-Jones, director of IR, Q4
Mia Nordlander, SVP, investor relations, Kambi
Sarah Spray, head of investor relations, Maersk
12:00 PM
Fire-side chat: Growing and strengthening your retail shareholder base
The last three years has seen a real shift in regulatory support and policy around broader retail investor and stakeholder inclusion. In this fire-side chat we’ll be looking at the implications of this on IR teams and how best to target and maintain your retail shareholder base.
Moderator: Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
James Deal, co-founder and head of UK, PrimaryBid
12:20 PM
The 'new normal': Shareholder engagement and re-engagement in a hybrid world
More than three years have passed since Covid-19 was declared a global pandemic, and companies are still figuring out the right balance between in-person and virtual meetings.
But how has the conversation changed? Which companies are leading the way when it comes to hybrid engagement, and what new tools and technologies enable IROs to connect better with their shareholders?
• Learn how other IR teams are rethinking their virtual/in-person balance
• Understand different geographical expectations around direct and indirect engagement
• Best-in-class roadshows, capital markets days and other events in a hybrid world
Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine
Ben Riley, head of business development, Lumi
Müge Yücel, director of IR and sustainability, Galata Wind
12:50 PM
Roundtables: Targeting and engagement best practices
13:15 PM
Lunch
14:15 PM
Leveraging new technology to enhance your IR program
There is debate over the impact tools like ChatGPT will have on investor relations. Still, there is no doubt that automation and AI are transforming multiple industries and presenting entirely new risks and opportunities for IROs.
In this panel, we will discuss the key trends in automation and AI that IROs should be watching out for and share advice on how to effectively use (and not use) these technologies to enhance your IR program.
• An overview of the biggest technological trends impacting IROs today
• Debate the risks, opportunities and limitations of automation and AI in IR
• Case studies: Effective application of automation and AI to enhance productivity
Moderator: Lauren McDonald, conference producer, IR Magazine
Erik Carlson, COO and CFO, Notified
Irina Logutenkova, head of IR, Getech
14:45 PM
The evolution of IR talent: Setting yourself and your team up for success
The role and perception of IR have evolved significantly over the last few years, with many IROs becoming increasingly involved in other sides of the business and taking on more responsibilities.
Here we explore what the trend towards more diverse and adaptable talent means for the career prospects of IROs, the development of teams and the future of the profession as a whole.
• Understand and respond to changing management expectations of IROs
• Share career development strategies to future-proof your IR team
• After IR: Learn the next steps for IROs looking to move into managerial roles
Moderator: Lauren McDonald, conference producer, IR Magazine
Thomas Kudsk Larsen, former SVP head of communication and investor relations, Sobi
15:05 PM
Roundtables: Tips on upskilling and modernizing your IR team
15:35 PM
Investor Q&A: Understand investor priorities in 2023 and beyond
During this open Q&A session, our panel of investors will address any concerns and questions about what to expect in 2023. This is your chance to engage directly with a range of investors on various topics, including:
• Opportunities and concerns for the buy side in the context of market uncertainty
• Learn which sectors and industries European investors are focusing on in 2023
• Understand investors’ red and green flags when it comes to engaging with IROs
Moderator: Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
Camilla Ayling, fund manager, Legal & General Investment Management
Heinrich Ey, director and co-CIO, European small-mid caps, Allianz Global Investors
Jonas Hoersch, portfolio manager, Walleye Capital
16:15 PM
Closing remarks and end of think tank
Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
Our attendees are leading IR practitioners with an established track record and strategic IR roles within their company.
Below is a sample list of our past attendees:
Job title | Company | Job title | Company | |
Associate director | BioNTech | Director, IR | Teck Resources | |
Associate director, IR | Lloyds Banking Group | Director, IR | YouGov | |
Associate director, IR & communications | Liminal BioSciences | Director, IR, sustainability | NCC Group | |
Chief of staff to CFO, head of IR | Ignitis Group | Group financial controller, head of IR | Bakkavor Group | |
Corp director, capital markets & treasurer | Mapfre | IR director | Ermenegildo Zegna | |
Director IR, sustainability | IRES REIT | IR director | Reach | |
Director, ESG | Vedanta Resources | Senior director | Willis Towers Watson | |
Director, head of distribution | Gravis | Senior director, IR | Infineon Technologies | |
Director, IR | Alcon | Senior director, IR, communications | Verona Pharma | |
Director, IR | BT Group | SVP, head of IR, communication | Swedish Orphan Biovitrum | |
Director, IR | Burberry | SVP, IR, corporate development | Agilyx | |
Director, IR | Fever-Tree | VP treasury, IR | SUSE | |
Director, IR | GSK | VP, IR | PMI | |
Director, IR | Metro Bank | VP, IR | Technip Energies | |
Director, IR | Shurgard | VP, IR, corporate communications | ADC Therapeutics |
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving large corporations, small and middle-market businesses and individual consumers in more than 150 countries with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk-management products and services. BofA Securities, the institutional broker dealer business of Bank of America, is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. The company provides, through various banking and broker-dealer affiliates, M&A advice, equity and debt capital-raising solutions, lending, risk management, treasury, liquidity and payments management. Bank of America Corporation is listed on the NYSE.
For more information, please visit https://business.bofa.com/
Think Tank Partners
ingage designs, builds and licences specialist Investor Relations software in a subscription model. Building on traditional IR CRM, the ingage platform is a comprehensive IR software suite that helps power world class equity and debt IR teams at quoted and unquoted companies globally.
Morrow Sodali is the leading global consultancy specializing in shareholder services, corporate governance, proxy solicitation and capital markets transactions. The firm provides corporate boards and executives with strategic advice and services relating to a broad range of activities, including: mergers and acquisitions, annual general and extraordinary shareholder meetings, dissident and contested campaigns, shareholder activist initiatives and multinational cross-border equity and debt transactions.
From headquarters in New York and London and nine offices in major capital markets, Morrow Sodali serves more than 700 corporate clients in 40 countries, including many of the world’s largest multinational corporations. In addition to listed and private companies, its clients include mutual funds, stock exchanges, membership associations and activist investors.
For more information, visit morrowsodali.com
Q4 Inc. (TSX: QFOR) is the leading capital markets access platform that is transforming how issuers, investors, and the sell-side efficiently connect, communicate, and engage with each other.
The Q4 Platform facilitates interactions across the capital markets through IR website products, virtual events solutions, engagement analytics, investor relations CRM, shareholder and market analysis, surveillance, and ESG tools. The Q4 Platform is the only holistic capital markets access platform that digitally drives connections, analyzes impact, and targets the right engagement to help public companies work faster and smarter.
The company is a trusted partner to more than 2,650 public companies globally, including many of the most respected brands in the world, and maintains an award winning culture where team members grow and thrive.
Q4 is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in New York and London. Learn more at www.q4inc.com.
At S&P Global Market Intelligence, we understand the importance of accurate, deep and insightful information. We integrate financial and industry data, research and news into tools that help track performance, generate alpha, identify investment ideas, perform valuations and assess credit risk. Investment professionals, government agencies, corporations and universities around the world use this essential intelligence to make business and financial decisions with conviction.
S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), the world’s foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets, offering ESG solutions, deep data and insights on critical business factors. S&P Global has been providing essential intelligence that unlocks opportunity, fosters growth and accelerates progress for more than 160 years. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence.
Supported by
For 12 years now, the Association of Bulgarian Investor Relations Directors /ABIRD/ has been actively working to unite the interests and improve the qualification of local Investor Relations Directors – members of the organization, to improve the investment climate in Bulgaria and introduce high standards for presentation of the Bulgarian public companies to investors in the country and abroad.
We unite more than 110 Investor Relations Directors of public companies and other issuers of securities, and in 2016 we opened the doors of ABIRD for all colleagues who disclose information in accordance with the Bulgarian and European legislation, and communicate with institutions such as the Financial Supervision Commission, BSE – Sofia and the Central Depository.
ABIRD is an active participant in the Bulgarian capital market, a basic corrective in terms of amendments to the regulation and implementation of the European legislation. Our activities are focused on enhancing the professional qualification of Investor Relations Directors and all of the other officials engaged with investor communication and communication with the institutions on the capital market with the purpose to improve the best disclosure and transparency practices in the activities of public companies and other issuers of securities. We actively cooperate with all institutions and participants in the Bulgarian capital market.
The Association of Bulgarian Investor Relations Directors is a collective member the National Corporate Governance Commission, the Capital Market Development Council in Bulgaria, the Corporate Social Responsibility Council to the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association. Together with our national partners we strive to make Bulgaria a more attractive place for investments.
Contacts: +359 2 9882413 and [email protected]
Web: www.abird.info
About DIRF
The Danish Investor Relations Society (DIRF) was established by investor relations officers, financial and communications executives in a few Danish companies in 1988. The objective was and still is to promote communication between listed companies and their investors thereby increasing investor interest in Danish shares and company bonds.
DIRF represents some 270 members from approximately 100 companies. Members are primarily listed companies, and the member base represents about 95 per cent of the Danish market cap. However, also not-listed companies, organisations, service providers and consultants working with financial communications are represented, cf. DIRF members list.
DIRF activities
The DIRF network seeks to meet its objectives by arranging members’ meetings and conferences dealing with current IR-topics, sessions with academics researching in IR-related areas, trends and new ways of performing the IR-profession, new media developments, new evaluation methods, and once a year the Copenhagen Stock Exchange hosts a network meeting etc. Members’ meetings normally take place 5-6 times a year.
For more information, please visit www.dirf.dk.
IR Club is a well-established investor relations community that allows IR professionals to network with peers from all over the world.
IR Club was formed in 2011, to address the need for an online investor relations community. Since then, it has become an overwhelming success and has around 1,400 members!
The main objectives of IR Club include the promotion of networking, communication, exchange and transfer of knowledge among investor relations professionals – we are particularly interested in the use of social media in investor relations.
IR Club is open to anyone interested in investor relations such as scientists, students and those wishing to make a career change. For the opportunity to mingle with practising IROs at all levels, as well consultants and service providers. Colleagues from the areas of private equity, open-end and closed-end funds, unlisted companies and of course all those who deal with the communication with lenders (creditor relations / fixed income) are welcome, too – we are all one ecosystem.
It takes no time to register as a member and it’s free of charge!
IR Club
Patrick Kiss
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: +49 177 232 0001
The IR club Schweiz was founded 1992 to promote the interests of the IR profession among Switzerland’s publicly-quoted companies. It is an interactive forum for the exchange of ideas, the discussion of current IR issues and the development of practical solutions.
For more information, please visit www.irclub.ch.
Turkish Investor Relations Society – TUYID, founded in 2009, is designed to foster collaborative ties among investor relations professionals and the constituencies which they serve such as management, shareholders, bondholders, private investors, analysts, employees, government, corporate customers and media, at both the corporate and personal levels, with a view to develop professional know-how, to be a reference center and to elevate Turkish investor relations applications on a par with global standards.
Our mission is to contribute to the promotion of the Turkish markets, provide assistance for Turkish companies to achieve fair market value for their capital market instruments and to support Turkish capital markets to gain depth and resilience.
For more information, please visit www.tuyid.org/en
Why partner with us?
Our events provide a unique opportunity to get in front of some of the most influential people in the IR community globally. As a partner, you will gain an extensive amount of exposure through a wide range of print and digital marketing materials, both pre and post-event, as well as on the day itself. Additionally, you can use the event to align yourself with industry excellence and network with key decision-makers from across the region.
Being a partner will provide:
We’d love to have a chat with you about how you can get in front of a truly engaged and motivated audience at the IR Magazine Think Tank – Europe. Get in touch with Sébastien Dutrieu or call on +44 77315 33165.
The IR Magazine Awards – Europe will celebrate IR excellence on the evening of Thursday, June 20 at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, London.
This event remains the European IR community’s largest annual gathering and will be an evening of celebrations and networking for investor relations officers along with their senior managements, advisers and analysts.
Join us at the awards ceremony straight after the think tank and celebrate the success of those individuals and teams that are leading the way in the IR community in 2024!
This event is exclusively for senior corporate, in-house IR professionals. To request an invite for this event, please fill in the form below and if you are eligible, we will send you a confirmation email along with detailed event information.
If you have any questions, please contact Anna Murphy at [email protected] or call on +44 20 8004 5340.
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Bank of America offices
2 King Edward Street
London
EC1A 1HQ
The entrance to the think tank space is on King Edward Street next to the taxi rank entrance. Click here to view a detailed map of the venue location.
Accommodation
IR Magazine has arranged preferential rates for think tank attendees at nearby hotels. View the hotels and rates by clicking here.
For partnership inquiries
+44 77315 33165
For agenda inquiries
+44 7804 740172
For all other inquiries
+44 20 8004 5340