IR Magazine Awards – US
Celebrating IR Excellence

James Beech joined IR Media Group as Editor-in-Chief in January 2022. He was a multimedia journalist, editor, client relationship manager, awards host and public speaker at Campden Wealth, for and about the global ultra-wealthy multigenerational family business and office community, in 2016-21.

The Englishman reported and photographed news and features for daily and weekly regional newspapers and websites, in New Zealand and Australia, including the Otago Daily Times and Canterbury-Bankstown Express, in 2006-15.

He wrote and edited market-leading consumer magazines and websites in Bournemouth then worked in public relations and media communications in London, in 1999-2006.

He graduated from Bournemouth University with a BA (Hons) in Multimedia Journalism in 1999.

Matt Brusch is President and CEO of NIRI: The Association for Investor Relations. He was previously COO, led professional development programs, credentialing, publications and communications for NIRI. Prior to this, he led the investor relations and corporate communications functions for several public companies, and he served in regulatory and marketing roles with the Nasdaq Stock Market. Brusch began his career as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy and received the Navy Achievement Medal for superior performance. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland, a B.S. from the Pennsylvania State University, and he is a Certified Association Executive.

Sally is Founder and CEO of Curley Global IR (CGIR), LLC, an Investor Relations (IR), Environmental-Social-Governance (ESG) and Corporate Governance strategic advisory firm. With more than 30 years of business experience, Sally has worked for and represented companies in the healthcare, high tech, software and retail industries. Her expertise includes: building and leading IR, ESG, corporate governance outreach programs; strategic consulting and planning; advisor to public, private and non-profit Boards; IPOs (traditional and tracking stocks). From 2010 to 2017, she was named a top IR Officer in her industry by Institutional Investor Magazine and in 2012 was named one of Treasury and Risk Magazine’s “30 Outstanding Women in Finance.” In 2019 she received the prestigious IR Magazine Lifetime Achievement award, an honor awarded by her peers.

For nearly a decade, Sally served as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations for Cardinal Health, a Fortune 50 global healthcare services company, where she oversaw worldwide IR and corporate governance outreach efforts. She was a member of the company’s Global Leadership Team as well as its Disclosure Committee. While there, Sally co-founded and co-chaired the company’s first cross-functional committee responsible for assessing and advancing ESG (environmental, social and governance) initiatives. Prior to Cardinal Health, Sally was Vice President, Investor Relations for Genzyme Corporation (now Sanofi), where she led global IR and helped to advise the Nominating and Governance Board Committee on governance issues. In both organizations, she grew the domestic and international shareholder base substantially.

Sally has presented numerous times to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Corporate Finance Division on topics related to IR, disclosure, ESG and proxy process reform. She also has authored Comment Letters to the SEC on behalf of the organizations with whom she worked.

Sally served on the National Investor Relations Institute’s (NIRI’s) Board of Directors, its Senior Roundtable Steering Committee and as a past President of the Boston Chapter. She currently sits on NIRI’s Ethics Committee. In 2013 Sally was inducted into NIRI’s inaugural Class of Fellows, “recognized leaders who represent the ideals of the investor relations profession.” She chaired the committee responsible for creating the NIRI Body of Knowledge, used as the basis for a new IR Certification (IRC). A member of the Society for Corporate Governance, Sally serves on its Sustainability Committee.

Sally currently sits on the Advisory Board for MOBILion Systems, Inc., a private company enabling advancements in disease diagnosis and treatment through its proprietary analytical instrumentation. In addition, she has served as member of the Board of Directors for several non-profit organizations, including the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (one of the nation’s largest) where she chaired the Board’s Sustainability Committee and was a member of its Nominating and Governance Committee.

Sally is an Adjunct Faculty member at Georgetown University for its Executive Master’s in Global Communications program. She has guest-lectured / taught at The Ohio State University, Boston University, Emerson College Graduate School of Communications and Harvard University on IR, ESG, corporate governance, disclosure issues and crisis communications, including creating coursework related to the healthcare industry. She holds a B.A. from Colby College in Waterville, ME, an M.B.A. from Northeastern University in Boston, MA, and a Certificate of Biotechnical Education from Boston University Medical School.

Carol Murray-Negron, president of Equanimity, Inc., is an executive coach who works with senior executives and leaders to optimize their performance, leadership presence, and strategic communications. Her prior corporate experience includes senior positions with Avon Products, Inc, both in the US and international divisions. During her tenure as Vice President of Investor Relations, Avon’s IR program received industry recognition as “Most Improved IR” among mid-cap companies. Carol is a past recipient of IR Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award. A member of the NIRI, The Association for Investor Relations, she recently served on NIRI’s Board of Directors and currently serves on NIRI’s Senior Roundtable Steering Committee. Carol was named a NIRI Fellow in 2014. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama and a B.A. from Chatham University, where she received the 2016 Alumni Leadership Award.

Thaddeus Pollock is the Head of Sustainability and Partner/Portfolio Manager for the Mid-Cap Value and Small-Mid Cap Value Portfolios at Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, a fundamental research-driven investment firm focused on identifying under-appreciated value in small and mid capitalization equities since 1973. The Mid Cap Value (CRMMX) and Small-Mid Cap Value (CRIAX) funds rank top quartile versus peers over his management tenure, with recognition from The Wall Street Journal and Lipper Leaders. As one of the firm’s principle investors, he has lead investing and constructivist efforts for the last two decades with a a focus on Healthcare, Industrials, Consumer Staples and Business Services sectors. Over his institutional investing career, he has evaluated over 1000 US public company leadership teams. The firm’s clients include corporate and public pension plans, endowments and foundations, hospitals and religious organizations and multi-employer funds, private banks, sub-advisory, as well as, individuals and family trusts.

Thad also leads the Firm’s sustainable investing and ESG efforts, including engagement with new and existing portfolio investments and as a Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) signatory. Prior to Cramer Rosenthal, he worked in the Corporate Finance and M&A groups at Lehman Brothers, co-leading the Yale University recruiting and new analyst training programs. He holds Chartered Financial Analyst, Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst and Certified Management Accountant designations. He also holds FSA Credential from the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board and is a member of the CFA Society of New York. He has also served as Chairman of Tribeca Management SRL, a sustainable multi-family real estate company focused in high growth emerging markets as well as a strategic advisor to other non profit foundations, private companies and venture capital firms. Thad attended Yale University with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biochemstry and Biophysics and was captain of the Yale Lightweight Crew team.

Maureen is an accomplished visionary in the fields of investor relations and corporate communications with more than 30 years of success counseling C-level executives and directors to raise the level of their communications, build credibility and maximize shareholder value.  As a nationally recognized expert in the complex and ever-changing landscape of corporate governance and investor relations, Maureen is regularly called upon to bridge the intersection between the two fields. She has earned a reputation for providing clients with stellar advice on implementing best-in-class Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies; navigating through proxy contests and activism campaigns; elevating proxy communications; raising capital and developing crisis communication strategies.

Maureen has helped to chart the vision for the future of the IR profession in several industry leadership roles including serving as a programming committee member for the New England Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), where she is responsible for provoking dialogue among board members in the areas of shareholder activism, proxy contests, ESG, diversity in the boardroom and crisis communications.

Maureen has a longstanding track record of leadership within the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) including serving as chairman and a board member, and spearheading the development of NIRI’s standards of practice.  She also served as chairman of the NIRI IR Certification Council and helped develop the inaugural Investor Relations Certification (IRC) exam, a first-of-its-kind qualification that is regarded as a valuable benchmark for the IRO. She also has co-chaired NIRI’s annual conference and served as president of NIRI’s Boston Chapter, where she is currently an honorary director.

She also has been recognized as a NIRI Fellow and with a seat at the NIRI Senior Roundtable. In these roles, Maureen provides ongoing mentorship and thought leadership on leading trends and issues impacting the investor relations profession.

Maureen’s work also has been recognized with awards from several high-profile industry organizations including the Public Relations Society of America, Publicity Club of New England, the Stevie Awards and Women’s Business magazine. She has appeared on CNBC and has been featured in national newspapers and magazines including BusinessWeek, Investor’s Business Daily, IR Magazine, Management Review, The Boston Globe and The Financial Times.

Prior to joining Sharon Merrill Associates in 1985, Maureen held positions in the investor relations and corporate communications departments at Lotus Development Corporation. She received a B.S. degree in Communications from Montclair State University. Her specialized training includes completion of prescribed studies in “Financials and IR” at the Simmons College Graduate Program in Communications.