IR Magazine

IR MAGAZINE THINK TANK – Europe
Exclusively for heads of IR

Thursday, June 23, 2022

In-person event: Bank of America offices, London

About the think tank

The IR Magazine Think Tank – Europe took place on Thursday, June 23, 2022 in London and is an invitation-only event exclusively for senior IR officers. It is 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 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 investor relations professionals. 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 and shares ideas with the group as a whole.

Agenda: 2022

All times displayed are in British Summer Time (BST)

View the 2022 PDF agenda here

 

  • 08:30 AM
    Registration and refreshments: Meet the attendees

  • 09:00 AM
    Opening remarks: Welcome to the IR Magazine Think Tank

    Laurie Havelock, editor-at-large, IR Magazine
    Mark Troman, deputy head of EMEA research, Bank of America

  • 09:15 AM
    Navigating uncertain environments: Rising inflation, changing supply chains and global sanctions

    With economies worldwide recovering from the pandemic, we now seem to be entering a new period of uncertainty. In response to the Ukraine crisis, governments have imposed sanctions, and companies are exiting Russia at unprecedented speed. Furthermore, a recalibration of global supply chains, combined with rising inflation and high interest rates, means public companies across Europe are looking for guidance on navigating the current environment.

    • Market outlook: assess the impact of inflation, sanctions and the Ukraine crisis on
    • Public companies across Europe
    • How best to engage with shareholders during periods of inflation and supply chain disruption
    • Reputation management and global entity management: what lessons have been learned?

    Moderator: Laurie Havelock, editor-at-large, IR Magazine
    Emily Daw, head of IR and strategic projects, Bakkavor
    Joanna Kennedy, head of investor relations, Coca-Cola HBC
    Ruben Segura-Cayuela, head of Europe economics, Bank of America

  • 09:45 AM
    Roundtables: Building resilience and communicating in a crisis

  • 10:15 AM
    Rethinking the 'S' in ESG: An in-depth look at the social aspect of sustainable investing

    In this session, we’ll be taking a closer look at the S of ESG and how public companies can improve their relationships with their workforce, political environments and the society in which they operate. We will discuss how the pandemic has changed the discussion around human capital management, setting DE&I targets and communicating your social impact to shareholders.

    • Assess the impact of the pandemic on the social responsibility of public companies: discover what has changed
    • Monitor your company’s societal impact: what metrics and standards does the industry prefer?
    • Acting on your company’s social goals: turning targets into timelines and timelines into action

    Moderator: Tim Human, senior reporter, IR Magazine
    Jana Jevcakova, managing director, head of ESG international, Morrow Sodali

  • 10:45 AM
    Networking break

  • 11:00 AM
    Aligning your ESG story with evolving stakeholder expectations

    Staying compliant with changing regulations is crucial, but ensuring you communicate your ESG efforts with all stakeholders clearly and succinctly is just as important. In this panel, our speakers will share practical insights on ESG strategizing and story-telling that meet and exceed the growing expectations of shareholders, employees, suppliers and the wider public.

    • Integrated your company’s ESG and equity stories
    • Working across departments to ensure a holistic ESG narrative
    • Identifying and prioritizing commercial, operational and material ESG issues
    • Communicating ESG issues in a way that is relevant to your stakeholders

    Moderator: Laurie Havelock, editor-at-large, IR Magazine
    Charles Chalkly, investor relations and ESG manager, Hays
    Panos Seretis, head of European ESG research, Bank of America

  • 11:30 AM
    Keynote fire-side chat: How will the ISSB change the way we report?

    In this interview with Sue Lloyd, vice-chair of the ISSB, we’ll be discussing in-depth how the ISSB is reshaping the reporting landscape and what it means for IR teams.

    Moderator: Steven Wade, head of event content, IR Magazine
    Sue Lloyd, vice-chair, ISSB (International Sustainability Standards Board)

  • 11:50 AM
    Preparing for new reporting requirements and standardizing your ESG disclosures

    Governments, businesses, consumers and investors have repeatedly called to standardize ESG information, subjecting non-financial reporting to the same standards expected of financial disclosures. Recently, the development of green taxonomies and the formation of the ISSB mark the most significant steps towards reaching this goal, promising to develop a globally recognized reporting standard and common language. Here we will discuss:

    • Practical advice on reporting ESG information in a changing regulatory environment
    • Staying prepared: assessing the impact of the EU taxonomy and ISSB on ESG disclosures
    • Further integrating financial and ‘non-financial’ information: what needs to happen next?

    Moderator: Tim Human, senior reporter, IR Magazine
    Amit Bhalla, SVP and head of investor relations, Schneider Electric
    Azhar Zaman, head of delivery – Europe, Middle East & Asia, CtrlPrint

  • 12:20 PM
    Roundtables: Practical advice on building and communicating your ESG strategy

  • 12:50 PM
    Lunch

  • 13:50 PM
    Trends in investor access and engagement in a post-covid world

    The transition to online working considerably affected how public companies and capital markets interact. One positive of the shift to hybrid working was the ability to connect more easily and directly with a broader range of potential investors. This panel will discuss how public companies are leveraging this benefit to grow international shareholder bases

    • Discussing the latest developments in investor access: what has changed?
    • Growing your shareholder base: which regions should companies focus on?
    • How to make the most of your relationships with the sell-side and buy-side

    Moderator: Laurence Taylor, senior conference producer, IR Magazine
    Ian Brown, head of investor relations, Tritax Group
    Martin Cooper, investor relations director, BAE Systems
    Jonathan Dickson, vice president, international corporate solutions, OTC Markets Group

  • 14:20 PM
    Getting real value out of virtual and hybrid events

    While the benefits of going virtual are numerous, there is a growing demand for a return to in-person events. In this panel, we discuss how companies are managing the move back to face-to-face, to what extent virtual meetings will remain, and how to successfully run a hybrid event that combines the best – rather than the worst – of both worlds.

    • How are public companies managing the transition back to in-person events? Will multi-day conferences make a comeback?
    • Running impactful hybrid roadshows: maximizing engagement and shareholder participation
    • What tools and technology do corporates and investors prefer?

    Moderator: James Beech, editor-in-chief, IR Magazine
    David de la Roz Fernandez, director of investor relations, eDreams ODIGEO
    Ben Riley, head of business development, Lumi
    Muge Yucel, director and head of investor relations, Galata Wind

  • 14:50 PM
    Roundtables: Reaching the right people in a hybrid environment

  • 15:20 PM
    Buy-side expectations from IR teams in the current market environment

    Our panellist will address any concerns and questions you have about the coming months. This is an opportunity to engage with an investor in a frank and open environment.

    • How has the situation in Ukraine impacted investor sentiment across Europe?
    • How do different types of investors find and screen stocks?
    • What information do investors want from IROs in 2022 and beyond?

    Moderator: Tim Human, senior reporter, IR Magazine
    Gervais Williams, head of equities, Premier Miton Group

  • 15:50 PM
    Summary and action points

    James Beech, editor-in-chief, IR Magazine

  • 16:00 PM
    End of think tank

Speakers: 2022


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 role within their company.

Below is a sample list of attendees who join our think tank:

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

 

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Register your interest

Register your interest for the 2023 think tank by filling in the form at the link below. You will be the first to receive important updates about the event and details about how to request an invite.

If you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Cawte at [email protected] or call +44 20 8004 5340.

 

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