Agenda

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

VIEW THE AGENDA AS A PRINTABLE PDF

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
Ruben Segura-Cayuela, head of Europe economics, Bank of America
09:30 AM
Roundtables: Communicate long-term resilience to shareholders
10:00 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, creative director, Investis
Panos Seretis, head of EMEA ESG research, Bank of America
10:30 AM
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: Tim Human, senior reporter, IR Magazine
Jana Jevcakova, managing director and head of ESG International, Morrow Sodali
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
• Communicate growth and revenue loss to buy-side and sell-side analysts
• 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
12:00 PM
Fireside chat: Growing and strengthening your retail shareholder base

Moderator: Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
James Deal, co-founder and head of UK, PrimaryBid
12:15 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
12:45 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
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 Larson, former SVP & head of IR, Sobi
15:15 PM
Roundtables: Tips on upskilling and modernizing your IR team
15:45 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
Jonas Hoersch, portfolio manager, Walleye Capital
16:15 PM
Closing remarks and end of think tank

Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine

Speakers

New speakers added daily!

Amit Bhalla
SVP – head of investor relations
Schneider Electric

Amit Bhalla is the Senior Vice President and Head of Investor Relations at Schneider Electric based in London. Amit started his career in consulting and has over the years worked in diverse corporate and finance leadership roles in multinational corporations across UK, Singapore, China, France and India. Amit is a qualified Chartered Accountant with management courses from Insead and UNC.
Erik Carlson
COO and CFO
Notified
Tish Crawford-Jones
Director of IR
Q4
James Deal
Co-founder and head of UK
PrimaryBid
Jonas Hoersch
Portfolio manager
Walleye Capital
Tim Human
Senior reporter
IR Magazine
Simon Gittings
Creative director
Investis
Jana Jevcakova
Managing director, corporate governance
Morrow Sodali
Joanna Kennedy
Head of investor relations
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company
Thomas Kudsk Larson
Former SVP & head of IR
Sobi
Lauren McDonald
Conference producer
IR Magazine
Ben Riley
head of business development
Lumi

Ben Riley is one of the UK’s leading AGM and Investor Relations experts and has wide ranging experience of delivering successful AGMs and shareholder engagement days across the global marketplace, acting for both Issuers and non-listed organisations.

His technical expertise has helped companies successfully harness the power of virtual and hybrid meetings and, coupled with Lumi’s leading on-premise capabilities, has delivered hundreds of successful physical, hybrid and virtual AGMs and Investor Relations meetings.
Ruben Segura-Cayuela
Head of European economics research
Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Ruben Segura-Cayuela is a Managing Director and the head of Europe Economics Research. The Europe economics team was ranked #1 in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 II Global Fixed Income Research Survey. Prior to joining the firm, Segura-Cayuela was a senior economist at the International Affairs Directorate of Banco de España, where he was responsible for the coverage of global fiscal and structural policies as well as macroeconomic analysis and academic research. He has also worked as an advisor in macroeconomic and financial issues to the Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs in Spain. Segura-Cayuela was awarded a PhD in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds a master’s degree in Economics and Finance from CEMFI.
Panos Seretis
Head of ESG research – EMEA
Bank of America Merill Lynch
Laurence Taylor
Senior conference producer
IR Magazine
Mark Troman
Deputy head of EMEA research
Bank of America

Mark Troman is deputy head of EMEA equity research at BofA Merrill Lynch Global Research, a post he has held since March 2019. Based in the London office. Mark was previously head of the Pan Europe Capital Goods research team, which covered around 40 stocks. Mark’s research focus was on larger electrical equipment companies but he also has extensive experience of the industrial machinery sector. The team was consistently highly ranked by the major investor surveys for over a decade. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Mark was a manager at LEK Consulting working on numerous projects, including the launch of the low-cost airline GO. Mark holds an MA in Engineering and a post-graduate distinction in management and finance, all from Cambridge University.
Steven Wade
Head of event content
IR Magazine

Our attendees say

"Very well organized. Great set up with round tables to facilitate discussions and networking. Good speakers and excellent breakfast and lunch."

Compugen

"Very well organised, great speakers and topics, great networking opportunity"

Corre Energy

"Very well organised and superb content and contributors."

CtrlPrint

"I liked the networking and table discussions."

Siltronic

"Good range of relevant topics discussed. Great to be able to connect with other IR professionals."

Anonymous

"It was very dynamic and everything was very well planned."

Anonymous

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 attendees who have joined our think tanks in the past:

Job title	Company	Job title	Company
Director of investor relations	AstraZeneca	Head of investor relations	IG Group
Director of investor relations	Credit Suisse	Head of investor relations	Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits
Director of investor relations	Grifols	Head of investor relations	National Express
Director of IR and sustainable development	LSR Group	Head of investor relations	Nordea
Director, corporate finance and investor relations	Polymetal International	Head of investor relations	Phoenix Group Holdings
Director, investor relations & corporate finance	DCC	Head of investor relations	RWE
Head of investor relations	4D Pharma	Head of investor relations	Santander UK
Head of investor relations	Aegon	Head of investor relations	Sound Energy
Head of investor relations	Banco Sistema	Head of investor relations	Spire Healthcare
Head of investor relations	Cargotec	Head of investor relations	Virgin Atlantic
Head of investor relations	Dialog Semiconductor	IR director	McCarthy & Stone
Head of investor relations	En+ Group	IR director	MTS

Request full attendee list

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.

Inquire about partnership

Partners

Investis Digital

Investis Digital

Think Tank Partners

Investis Digital has been at the forefront of digital communications for IR and Corp. Comms for the past 20 years, now a leading provider of IR and corporate websites, investor tools and feeds, virtual events, webcasts, performance marketing and the content and creative you need to build out your investment case and brand story, online. We use our Connected Content approach to help Investor Relations professionals build stronger stakeholder relationships, and increase effectiveness of their digital presence as we: Tell It, Build It, Run It and Find It. We also study what makes an effective digital presence with Connect.IQ – our annual analysis of over 300 criteria on 1,600 corporate and IR websites – so we can pinpoint the criteria that helps IROs make bigger, broader impact. For a complimentary, custom Connect.IQ report, or to learn more, visit InvestisDigital.com
Lumi

Lumi

Think Tank Partners

Lumi is the dominant player globally in the provision of software and real-time audience engagement technology to facilitate Annual General and Investor Relations meetings for Companies (whether listed or non-listed), Associations, Legislative Bodies, Membership Organizations, and Partnerships. Based on proprietary, patented technology, Lumi provides software, hardware, and services that assist registrars, Investor Relations Officers, or event organizers to register delegates and provide live, secure polling, Q&A management services, and relevant reporting.

Lumi has offices in 12 countries across Europe, APAC, The Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

Lumi’s platform not only provides efficient and secure solutions for annual or quarterly meetings but also supports companies in their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint. With the rise of ESG concerns, many companies are seeking ways to minimize their environmental impact, and Lumi’s platform provides a viable solution. By facilitating virtual attendance for stakeholders and shareholders, Lumi enables companies to reduce travel-related emissions and paper usage. This not only reduces the environmental impact of meetings but also provides a cost-effective and convenient solution for attendees who may not be able to travel to the meeting location. By leveraging Lumi’s platform, companies can demonstrate their commitment to ESG principles while enhancing engagement with their stakeholders.

For more information, visit: https://www.lumiglobal.com/investor-relations.
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
Notified

Notified

Think Tank Partners

Notified is the world’s only communications cloud for events, public relations, and investor relations to drive meaningful insights and outcomes. Notified IR Cloud lets you manage stakeholder communications and regulatory requirements to maximize shareholder value. Tell your investment story with high-impact, multi-channel solutions – earnings announcements, press releases, webcasting, virtual events, and IR websites. Visit Notified.com to learn more.
PrimaryBid

PrimaryBid

Think Tank Partners
Q4

Q4

Think Tank Partners

Q4 is the fastest growing cloud-based investor relations and capital market solutions to the IR Industry with over 1,200 clients. Public companies the world over (many of which are Fortune 1000 brands) look to our leading web and intelligence solutions to power successful (and award winning) IR programs — and to better connect with their investors, make more effective decisions, and understand the capital markets.
Learn more at www.q4inc.com

IR MAGAZINE THINK TANK – Europe
Exclusively for heads of IR

Thursday, June 22, 2023

About the think tank

Agenda

Speakers