IR Magazine

IR Magazine Think Tank – East Coast
Exclusively for heads of IR

Thursday, April 27, 2023

TD Offices, New York

Our unique format

The IR Magazine Think Tank – East Coast took place on Thursday, April 27 in New York and was an invitation-only event exclusively for senior IR officers. Our thinks tanks were free to attend and our unique format enabled 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 set-up as the event consists of a series 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 IROs. All table discussions are confidential and none of the participants’ comments are attributed. This allows 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 on 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 from its own discussion and shares ideas with the group as a whole.


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Holders of the NIRI IRC® credential can earn up to 4 professional development units (PDUs) per day. IRC-credentialed speakers may also earn PDUs. More information is available at www.niri.org/certification.

Agenda

Investors, analysts and award-winning issuers will share best practices. Roundtable discussions will follow panel discussions. Timings are subject to change.

VIEW AGENDA AS A PRINTABLE PDF

  • 08:00 AM
    Registration, refreshments and networking

  • 08:45 AM
    Welcome to the IR Magazine Think Tank

    Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine
    Lisa Thomas, deputy head of global research, TD Cowen

  • 09:00 AM
    The view from Washington – policy and politics

    With the first criminal indictment and arraignment of a former US president in the history books, what is next? As far as markets are concerned, if the charges set off a new round of partisan conflict, the next several months could be rocky. The 2024 general election is 581 days away, an eternity in politics.

    Much closer is the debt ceiling’s X-date. The X-date could dovetail with Trump’s potential legal proceedings this summer and have massive market implications. Few policy matters in Washington have such destructive economic capability as the weaponization of the debt ceiling—the 2011 fight triggered the first credit downgrade of the US. Learn more about upcoming policy issues and their potential market impact from one of the leading Washington experts.

    Chris Krueger, managing director, Washington research group, TD Cowen

  • 09:25 AM
    Understanding your shareholder base: Changing investor activity and implications for IR

    During this fireside chat, we will delve into crucial themes impacting IR teams. These include understanding the key segments of your ownership profile and their unique characteristics, effectively identifying and filtering out trading “noise,” closely monitoring broker and block trading activities, recognizing the role of quants in the investment landscape, comprehending the impact of short interest on voting decisions, staying updated on trends in the deal market, utilizing the sell side for productive investor meetings, and proactively planning for potential activist engagement.

    Moderator: Steve Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
    Tom Margadonna, senior director, capital markets intelligence group, Morrow Sodali

  • 09:45 AM
    Re-identifying the right investors: Building an innovative and strategic plan for targeting

    The current market is a tricky hybrid of opportunities and unknowns for issuers and investors. The panel discussion is focused on re-identifying the right investors in this new environment, evaluating targeting plans, and using innovative tools and resources to target potential investors.

    The discussion covers best practices around expanding the list of analysts covering your stock, managing the changing sell-side dynamics, effective prospect follow-up, and more to help broaden the shareholder base. We’ll also explore ways to adjust engagement strategies for various cap sizes in a more cautious post-pandemic macro environment.

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine
    Grant Bartucci, head of corporate access origination and research, Point72 Asset Management
    Mark Kinarney, vice president of investor relations, Lantheus
    Ryall Stroud, director of capital market strategy, Irwin

  • 10:30 AM
    Coffee break

  • 10:45 AM
    Roundtables: Compare company strategies for increasing coverage and targeting

    During these structured roundtables, senior IR professionals at listed companies from various cap sizes will share practical tips that have helped their team improve the effectiveness of their targeting process in the past 12 months.

    We’ll discuss ways to engage with the evolving sell-side differently, direct marketing to the buy-side, and the nuances of blind outreach and cold calling.

  • 11:15 AM
    Cutting through the fog: Getting your digital strategy, messaging and meetings right

    This forward-planning session will discuss simplifying digital messaging and creating impactful investor touchpoints to encourage shareholder confidence. We discuss how you can find the right balance between in-person and virtual engagement and how to tailor your efforts to efficiently and effectively engage investors in all formats.

    In addition, we will explore the role of AI in modernizing the IR toolbox, tips to maximize the use of management’s time, strategies to engage with retail investors and advice on utilizing social media as part of IR strategy.

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine
    Deborah Belevan, vice president of investor relations, Duolingo
    Erik Carlson, COO and CFO, Notified
    Ian Selig, vice president of IR, Safehold

  • 12:00 PM
    Roundtables: Let’s Chat(GPT) – Using AI for IR... and more

    With AI tools such as ChatGPT impacting almost every aspect of an IRO’s role, we look at how you can use it for efficiency and creativity. We explore using AI for competitive analysis, writing up earnings call transcripts, preparing reports, outlining news releases, editing copy, creating images and videos, slide decks, summarizing essential information for social media, and so on.

    We will also discuss which format delivers the most impact – In-person vs virtual vs hybrid investor days and the do’s and don’ts of adapting your digital messaging for a retail audience.

    Roundtable leaders: Sylvie Harton, chief business strategy officer, Lumi on ‘Delivering the most impact – In-person vs virtual vs hybrid’
    Tierney Saccavino-Payne, investor relations, Acorda Therapeutics on ‘Adapting your digital messaging for a retail audience’
    Gregg Lampf, VP of IR, Ciena on ‘Using AI for IR’

  • 12:30 PM
    Lunch

  • 13:30 PM
    Managing up and managing down: Role of IR in strategic priority setting

    The c-suite at public companies has several priorities to ensure they deliver shareholder value on the rocky road to recovery in the coming 12 months. This includes actively engaging in IR activities. What, according to the c-suite, makes for good IR? What percentage of the C-suite’s time should be spent on IR activities across cap sizes? What key factors result in the decision to expand the IR team when resources are limited? How can IR, an essential function in the company, get a seat at the executive table?

    Moderator: Steve Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
    Tim Gray, CFO, Anterix
    Gregg Lampf, VP of IR, Ciena
    Matt Latino, VP of finance and CFO of Americas, Xylem
    Timothy Sedabres, EVP, head of investor relations, Huntington

  • 14:15 PM
    Roundtables: Most value-adding initiatives IROs should strategically prioritize now

    IR professionals must prepare for a post-pandemic dip and recovery from subsequent growth by developing the necessary career skills, securing the right resources and getting a seat at the table.

    We’ll discuss how the IR role has evolved over the last few years as access to capital gets competitive, how IROs can adapt to gaps in the skillset, build a diverse, well-equipped team when budgets are tight, and prepare for the IR function of tomorrow.

  • 14:45 PM
    Overcoming fatigue: What ESG factors are critical to investors in the current market?

    Investors have grown increasingly concerned with ESG metrics recently, expecting a higher quality of disclosures, reporting and communication. This fireside chat will discuss creating an ESG engagement strategy that effectively communicates risks, opportunities and stability while staying current with upcoming trends and investor expectations.

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine
    Anthony Mark Garcia, senior director of investment stewardship, Nuveen Responsible Investing

  • 15:00 PM
    Q&A with investors and analysts: Get your questions answered!

    Investors and analysts will share their expectations for IR teams in the next 12 months. They will offer insights into what formats of meetings are preferred, how to get the most out of each format, predictions for various sectors, critical ESG issues that help with decision-making and how investors are using AI to screen companies.

    This is an opportunity to engage directly with investors and analysts on post-pandemic recovery plans and get your questions answered!

    Moderator: Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
    Thaddeus Pollock, portfolio manager, Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn
    James Wong, head of corporate access origination, Millennium Management

  • 15:45 PM
    Closing remarks and summary of the day

  • 16:00 PM
    Drinks reception and networking

  • 17:00 PM
    End of event

Speakers


What our attendees say

"It was informative and interactive"

Events.com

"Great mix of panels and small roundtables. Also some practical takeaways"

aTyr Pharma

"Very organized and structured. Well produced"

ONEOK

"Great topics and panelists. Size was perfect to facilitate discussion"

PENN Entertainment

"I liked the topics and the layout between listening to speakers, which led to the roundtable discussions"

Compass Diversified

"A great use of my time in terms of staying current with trends in IR and an exceptional networking event"

Cambium Networks

"Content was right on the mark and appreciate the opportunity to attend. Perfect amount of time, excellent content and speakers and the location was great"

Avaya Holdings

"Great event for networking and best practices"

Zendesk

Who attends our events

Our attendees are leading IR practitioners with an established track record and strategic IR role within their company.

Below is a sample list of attendees who have joined our think tank in the past:

Job title Company Job title Company
Director, IR Vuzix Senior vice president, IR Comcast
Director, IR General Electric Senior vice president, IR Coty
Director, IR Flushing Financial Senior vice president, IR Estee Lauder
Director, IR ORIX Corporation Senior vice president, IR CVS Health
Director, IR Jushi Holdings Vice president Hannon Armstrong
Senior director, head of IR Lantheus Holdings Vice president, head of IR Starbucks
Senior director, IR Becton Dickinson Vice president, IR Ingersoll Rand
Senior director, IR & corporate communications TCR2 Therapeutics Vice president, IR Quotient Technology
Senior vice president, director of IR Chubb Vice president, IR Roku
Senior vice president, head of IR & treasury Nielsen Vice president, IR Campbell
Senior vice president, IR SmartRent Vice president, IR WW International
Senior vice president, IR CACI Vice president, IR Ciena

 

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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 – East Coast. Get in touch with Ian Richman or call on +1 212 430 6865.

Partners

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