IR MAGAZINE THINK TANK – Europe
Exclusively for in-house IRO's

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Bank of America offices, London

Request an invite

OUR UNIQUE FORMAT

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.

Agenda: 2024

Click here to see the full agenda as a PDF

All times displayed are in BST

08:15 AM
Registration, breakfast and morning networking
08:50 AM
Welcome to the think tank

Laurie Havelock, editor, IR Magazine
09:00 AM
Navigating the equity downturn: Shareholder engagement best practices in 2024

With UK equities out of favor and a generally sluggish outlook pervading capital markets across Europe, IR professionals face an uphill struggle when attracting, engaging and communicating with shareholders.

This panel will explore practical strategies and best practice for IR teams to adapt their approach and plot a course through this challenging period.

• Discover how your peers are identifying and engaging potential investors within a turbulent landscape
• Learn how to diversity targeting efforts to reach new investor pools, both domestically and internationally
• Hear how to foster transparent, proactive, and empathetic communication during periods of market volatility
• Understand how changing stock-flow dynamics can help you anticipate shifts in your shareholder base and tailor your engagement strategies accordingly

Moderator: Laurie Havelock, editor, IR Magazine
09:30 AM
Fireside chat: Tech-Forward IR: Harnessing innovation for impactful investor engagement

In today’s fast-paced and digitally-driven investment landscape, IR teams must always be on the lookout for tools that can streamline and simplify their basic functions. Yet, when it comes to leveraging the latest technological advancements, it can be challenging to work out what options are out there and how they can work for you.

In this panel, our expert speaker will discuss the transformative power of advanced tech with a particular focus on optimizing investor days, capital market days and virtual shareholder events.

• Learn how to leverage AI-powered analytics to gather real-time insights on investor behavior, sentiment and engagement during events, enabling more personalized and impactful content delivery
• Explore new tools that can create immersive and interactive experiences for remote and hybrid investor audiences
• Discover how to automate administrative tasks and free up your time to focus on strategic priorities and building investor relationships

Moderator: Lauren McDonald, conference producer, IR Magazine
09:50 AM
Demystifying AI: Practical applications to elevate your IR strategy

While AI has become a buzzword in the technology landscape, many investor relations professionals are still grappling with how to effectively leverage the technology and add measurable value to their companies. It’s time to move beyond the hype and explore the practical applications of AI that can truly transform your IR function.

Join this session and learn actionable steps to help you harness the power of AI:

• Gain a comprehensive overview of the AI tools and solutions available today, and learn how you can incorporate them to elevate the IR function
• Hear real-life examples from industry peers about their successes and challenges in implementing AI
• Discover quick-win AI applications that can deliver immediate benefits, and learn how to build a holistic strategy for AI integration across your IR team
• Learn strategies for securing buy-in and support from the C-suite and other stakeholders to facilitate the successful rollout of AI-powered IR initiatives
• Examine how the buy-side are utilizing AI and consider how to factor that into your IR efforts

Moderator: Lauren McDonald, conference producer, IR Magazine
10:30 AM
Roundtables
11:00 AM
Morning networking break
11:30 AM
Bridging the IR skills gap: Navigating change and evolving competencies

The IR world is constantly evolving and with it, the role of the IRO. Driven by technological advancements, evolving regulatory requirements and changing investor needs, IR teams must be vigilant as to what skills and expectations are imperative to have not only now, but further down the line.

This panel will explore the key competencies and skill sets required for IR professionals to thrive in the modern IR ecosystem, with a focus on addressing the skills gap and on practical strategies for continuous development.

• Hear about the impact of new market conditions and incoming regulatory changes on evolving skill sets for “the IRO of the future”
• Learn how to leverage training programs, mentorship and cross-functional collaboration to bridge the skills gap
• Discover how to take ownership of your career development and stay ahead of the curve

Moderator: Steven Wade, head of content, IR Magazine
12:00 PM
Fireside chat: ESG - Regulatory shifts, investor expectations, and effective narrative-building

As the ESG landscape continues to evolve, IR teams are faced with the challenge of navigating a complex web of regulatory requirements, reporting frameworks and investor expectations. Across Europe, companies are grappling with new disclosure mandates, such as the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), each with its own unique set of guidelines and metrics.

This panel will provide IR teams with the essential insights and practical guidance to effectively synthesize the most relevant ESG data and communicate a compelling and concise narrative to investors.

• Identify the most material ESG metrics and indicators that are relevant to your business and investors
• Explore emerging ESG-related trends and themes that are shaping investor sentiment and decision-making
• Learn techniques for distilling complex ESG data and information into clear, concise and impactful communications
• Explore methods for aligning internal stakeholders to ensure consistency in ESG-related communications

Moderator: Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
12:20 PM
Elevating the strategic impact of investor relations: Forging a powerful partnership with the C-Suite

In a public company, the C-suite must find the balance between multiple competing priorities to ensure they are always driving shareholder value. A symbiotic relationship with the IR team is critical to this project and a shared understanding of company strategy central to its success.

In this session, you will:

• Gain insights into how the C-suite defines and measures the success of a high-performing investor relations function
• Discover practical approaches for fostering a collaborative partnership between the IR team and the C-suite that allows for constructive discussion of management’s strengths and weaknesses
• Understand the strategic considerations for expanding the IR department against a backdrop of resource constraints
• Learn effective strategies for investor relations professionals to assert their vital role within the organization
• Discuss the best methods to keep management informed of investor sentiment

Moderator: Tim Human, senior reporter, IR Magazine
12:50 PM
Roundtables
13:15 PM
Lunch
14:15 PM
Unlocking the secrets of your stock's trading dynamics: Strategies for success

As an investor relations professional, having a comprehensive understanding of how your company’s stock is traded is paramount to driving effective shareholder engagement and optimizing your overall IR strategy. Far beyond just the transparency concerns raised by the proliferation of dark pool trading venues, the intricate web of trading mechanisms, market participants, and stock flow patterns can have a profound impact on the perception and valuation of your organization.

This panel will provide IR teams with a deep dive into the complex trading landscape, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to unravel the mysteries surrounding the trading of your company’s shares.

• Gain a thorough understanding of the diverse trading venues and market participants involved in the trading of your stock, from traditional exchanges to alternative liquidity pools
• Learn how to track and interpret the movement of your company’s shares, identifying key shifts in ownership to understand who is trading your stock and why
• Uncover the tools and analytical frameworks that you can employ to gain deeper insights into your investor base to make more informed, data-driven decisions around engagement
• Discuss how to navigate transparency issues in your shareholder base when trying to understand the full picture of your company’s trading landscape

Moderator: Lauren McDonald, conference producer, IR Magazine
14:45 PM
Cutting through the noise: Maintaining messaging consistency amid data overload

With ever-evolving disclosure requirements, crowded capital markets and constantly changing investor expectations, IR teams face a sizeable challenge in getting their message across to target audiences.

In this panel, our speakers will discuss how to navigate the data overload and ensure IR teams are communicating their narrative in a clear, concise and resonant manner.

• Learn how to develop a cohesive messaging framework to align internal stakeholders and ensure consistency across all investor touchpoints
• Discuss how to prioritize and distill the most relevant data for your communications
• Hear how to strategically adapt messaging to address evolving regulatory requirements and investor information preferences
• Discover the most effective digital channels and content platforms for different audiences and how to strategically utilize each one
• Consider how to align IR and corporate communications for greater consistency and resource maximization

Moderator: Tim Human, senior reporter, IR Magazine
15:05 PM
Roundtables
15:35 PM
Investor Q&A: Ask the buy-side

In this interactive Q&A session, we’ve assembled an expert panel of investors to provide you with an inside look at their priorities, concerns, and areas of focus for the year ahead. This is your opportunity to engage directly with a diverse range of buy-side perspectives and gain valuable insights to enhance your investor relations strategies.

• Hear an investor perspective on the current market environment, areas of opportunity, and potential risks that are shaping their decision-making processes
• Learn what buy-side expectations are when it comes to interacting with IR teams
• Uncover the critical factors that influence investor perceptions, including the information they value most and the potential deal-breakers that can impact their investment decisions

Moderator: Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
16:15 PM
Closing remarks and end of think tank

Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine

Who attends our events

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

Request full past attendee list

What our attendees say

"Possibilities to network. Great and balanced agenda"

Anonymous

"Opportunity to hear from and discuss topical issues with peers. Thought the roundtables were a very positive innovation"

Bridgepoint

"Good attendance and opportunity to cover a wide range of topics, prompting different ways to consider IR, across one day"

Gemfields Group

"The interactive nature of the table discussions is really valuable. Not only a great way to network with other IROs but a really useful way to share experiences and best practice"

Amigo Holdings

"Highly informative, well run"

Zotefoams

"Congratulations to all involved in the event. I know what a huge undertaking this is. Great to see the IR Magazine being proactive and topical in terms of sessions, i.e. AI"

Anonymous

Inquire about partnership

Partners

ingage

ingage

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

Morrow Sodali

Think Tank Partners

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

Q4

Think Tank Partners

Q4 Inc. is the first IR Ops Platform with the world’s largest set of proprietary investor data, purpose-built to remove obstacles between public companies and their investors. Q4 gives investor relations leaders and their teams the tools to attract, manage, and understand investors — all in one place. The AI-enabled Q4 IR Ops Platform boasts a simple yet powerful IR website management system, frictionless events software, a robust analytics engine, a streamlined investor CRM, and shareholder intelligence with enhanced metrics to elevate investor targeting strategies. Q4 delivers the data, insights, and workflows that give IR teams the power to focus on what really matters: strategy, relationships, and driving premium valuations for their companies.

The company is a trusted partner to more than 2,600 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.
S&P Global Market Intelligence

S&P Global Market Intelligence

Think Tank Partners

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.

ABIRD - Association of Bulgarian Investor Relations Directors

ABIRD - Association of Bulgarian Investor Relations Directors

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
AERI

AERI

Supported by

Since 1991, AERI has been bringing together the most relevant IR professionals and other stakeholders in Spain, focusing on the development of best practices, but also on providing the best possible options for networking. AERI Members are well known for their top performance in the capital markets, always developing the highest standards in the Investor Relations world.

For more information, please visit www.aeri.es
DIRF - Danish Investor Relations Society

DIRF - Danish Investor Relations Society

Supported by

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

IR Club

Supported by

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

www.irclub.com
IR Club Schweiz

IR Club Schweiz

Supported by

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

Turkish Investor Relations Society – TUYID

Supported by

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

Become a partner

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:

A chance to network with qualified, senior decision-makers in the IR community
Increased awareness and credibility through association with this leading event
New business opportunities through higher-brand presence among current and potential clients

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.

Join us for a celebration in the evening!

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!

Visit our awards website

Request an invite

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 Lauren Wilson at [email protected] or call on +44 20 8004 5339.

This event is free to attend for senior IROs only

Free

Request an invite

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Venue

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.