Today on the Enquire Podcast, we are joined by J.P. Morgan portfolio manager, Sam Witherow, to discuss investor relations in 2024. We discuss highlights from Sam’s career, the suite of income products he runs at J.P. Morgan, and the requirements of these funds. We delve into the importance of having a flexible mindset in this industry. Sam also tells us what would put him off of buying a high-yield stock, his outlook on 2024, and the biggest challenges he has faced as a portfolio manager. Finally, Sam breaks down how often he meets with his portfolio companies, how he gives feedback, what a good presentation looks like to him, and the primary information sources he uses. Thanks for listening in! 

Matt Hudson is a portfolio manager at River Global Investors, and he joins us today to explain his company’s priorities, processes, and outlook for the year ahead. We learn about River Global’s business cycle framework, its multi-cap approach, how the company conducts its research, and the way it processes large volumes of information in today’s digital age. Matt then shares some information on what IR departments and other companies could be doing to get noticed by River Global, including the importance of consistency. Our guest also walks us through his company’s process for interacting with RNS statements, dealing with adjustments, and how it optimizes channels of communication with clients. To end, Matt shares his thoughts on the current state of the UK equity market and what he expects in 2024, how the industry is coping with an unprecedented high-number of outflows, what he thinks about current government interventions, and his parting words of advice.  

With decades of experience behind him, Andy Brough is probably the longest-standing fund manager in London. Having started his investment career in 1987 when he joined Schroders as a UK equity fund manager, he has managed the well-known Schroders UK Mid 250 Fund since its launch in November 1999. In this episode of Enquire, he joins us to share his view of investor communication today, his market outlook for 2024, and his advice for companies who want to stay ahead of the curve. We discuss the financial metrics that Andy focuses on, key takeaways from some of the standout investments of his career, and much more.

After nearly 30 years with J.P. Morgan, today’s guest has a wealth of experience and insights to share with company IR teams. Meet Georgina Brittain, a senior portfolio manager within the J.P. Morgan Asset Management International Equity Group, who joins us to discuss all things investor relations. You’ll find out how Georgina and her colleagues co-manages funds, why she believes there is an overload of information in the industry currently, how she deals with that, her process for screening companies, and much more. She shares her tips for delivering bad news, engaging with sell-side analysts, her approach to research, backward and forward-looking data, annual reports, and investor meetings before Georgina reminds us of the importance of clear messaging and up-to-date websites.

Jeremy Thomas is the Chief Investment Officer of Global Equities at Sarasin & Partners. He joins us to discuss his approach to investments and what both company IR teams and investors can do proactively to improve communication with each other. After comparing the industry challenges he faced 10 years ago to the obstacles he has to overcome now, Jeremy shares his stance on AI. We discuss how the IR practices in other international markets differ from the UK and dive into communication as our guest walks us through his meeting process, the best practices for corporate reporting, and why capital markets days are extremely valuable. Tune in for all this and more!

In this episode of Enquire, we are joined by Matthew Tillett, a fund manager at Premier Miton, to discuss all things investor relations.  The conversation covers all aspects of IR, including his fund’s screening and investment approach, why he loves the undervalued small and mid-cap market, the elements of corporate reporting that are most valuable to fund managers, and his preferences for meeting and sharing feedback with companies. Matthew shares in detail his perspectives on the current UK market and economy, and thoughts around steps which could make the UK market more appealing as a listing venue.

Corporate communications and investor relations are changing rapidly in step with technological advancements. During this episode, David Shriver, Ocado Group’s Chief Reputation Officer, joins the conversation to share how he approaches his role in an ever-changing landscape. He shares his view on best practice, understanding your audience, and how he brings the knowledge he earned in other roles to his work at Ocado Group. We touch on ESG and sustainability concerns, and how the two non-executive board positions that David holds enhance his work at Ocado Group. He also shares where he finds humour in his role and reveals his broader interests beyond work, along with three author recommendations to bolster your reading journey.

Navigating the intricate field of Investor Relations (IR) requires a blend of experience, adaptability, and foresight. In this insightful episode, we chat with Richard O’Connor, who has a longstanding IR career and currently serves as the Global Head of Investor Relations at HSBC. Richard is an authority on the subject of investor relations, and, in his current role, oversees one of the most expansive IR teams for a UK-listed company, located both in the UK and Hong Kong. Tuning in you’ll learn how Richard manages his talented team, how he draws on his years of leadership experience to mentor and develop them, and why he uses reverse mentorship to learn about topics like AI and technological development and much more.

The world of Investor Relations (IR) is riddled with complexity at almost every turn. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, embracing complexity is a learnable skill that every single IR professional should aspire to. Today’s guest, Aarti Singhal, revels in complexity as she goes about her work as Managing Director in the Barclays corporate broking team. Aarti explains how she transitioned into investor relations and what she loves most about the industry, the highs and lows of IR work, what it means to be successful in IR, and why “influence” is important in the IR function. We also come to understand how Aarti’s experience of in-house IR has helped in her corporate broking role.

A decade ago, very few people were even aware of what investor relations (IR) is, but today it is a very important part of most companies, regardless of their size. As someone who has held positions in politics, communications, in-house IR, and investment banking, and who is the founder of an IR recruitment company, Anna Hartropp has a wealth of knowledge that will greatly benefit anyone interested in entering or making a career progression move in the IR space. People who work in IR usually love what they do, which is why so many IR professionals spend their entire careers in the space; tune in to hear how you can become one of them.

In this episode, we speak with a true luminary in the field, Siobhán Andrews. With over 16 years of unparalleled expertise, Siobhán has carved a remarkable path in the world of capital markets, equity research, and investor relations (IR). Her ability to navigate complex scenarios, from strategic transformations to crisis communications, is a testament to her deep market knowledge. Join us as we unravel the secrets behind her communication prowess and how her experience has shaped her approach to IR. We explore her journey through the intricate landscapes of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), working in a small team, switching career paths, and the benefits of being a mentor.

In this episode of Enquire we speak with John Crosse, the Director of Investor Relations and Group Strategy at International Distribution Services plc (IDS), formerly Royal Mail plc. John’s IR career spans an impressive 20 years and includes establishing IR functions both pre and post IPO. We hear some great insight into his work in investor relations, and how he currently splits his time and energy between investor relations and business strategy. Further insights include the influence of investors on business decisions, how new technology might impact investor relations, and some of the biggest lessons that John has learnt about communication.

A career in Investor Relations can take you many places. In this episode we are joined by James Cartwright, Chief Operating Officer at CMC Markets. James has more than 25 years of leadership experience in the capital markets, specifically in sales and across the natural resources sector in oil and gas. After just two years at CMC Markets, James was promoted to COO, an inspiring career move that we delve into in this conversation. For anyone looking to advance their career in IR, James shares his tips for developing relationships, getting face-time with key decision-makers, and staying on top of trends.

Today’s guest is an experienced treasury guru who is deeply passionate about sustainability. Joining us for this episode of Enquire is Adam Richford, Head of Treasury and Investor Relations at Renewi, to discuss his many roles at this incredible waste-to-product company. Tuning in, you’ll hear about our guest’s career, how he managed to take on so many roles (including acting CFO for a time), how he allocates his time, and much more! We learn how Renewi raises money and attracts investors, how Adam contributes to the company’s communication plan, and their need for shares. Finally, Adam tells us about how he handles difficult situations and reminds us of the importance of laughter in tough times. Thank you for tuning in!

Jose’ Federico Castillo Martínez The Heineken Company’s Investor Relations Director, joins us in this episode of Enquire Podcast to discuss Heineken’s approach to executing a successful capital markets day and his role within the company. We learn about Heineken’s unique entrepreneurial culture and shareholder structure and how Federico stays aligned with management, operations, and marketing regarding investor communications. 

Peregrine Rivière has spent most of his career in the Investor Relations space, and the passion that he feels towards his work is unwavering. In fact, he’s sure he has the best job in the world! Recorded just before he started in his role as Group Head of Investor Relations at London Stock Exchange Group, Peregrine speaks to Clara about what it takes to build a successful career in Investor Relations. 

In this episode Clara is joined by Miriam McKay, Director of Group Communications and Investor Relations at HomeServe, who shares her inspiring career journey and discusses the evolution of investor relations over the years. Miriam addresses the fundamental changes in the industry in terms of communicating and prioritising ESG, as well as the exciting possibilities for IR in the digital realm.

In this episode of Enquire guest interviewee, Geoff Callow, is joined by Rob Gurner, Head of IR for Plus500, a global FinTech company. In today’s episode, Rob shares his IR career journey to date and reflects on the unique perspective he gained from his background in financial PR. You’ll find out what drew him to IR in the first place, his advice for those entering the industry, and his perspective on some of the biggest challenges facing IR professionals today.

Many people working in Investor Relations only discover the field after they have already started their careers. This is not the case for Bethany Barnes, Director of Investor Relations at Dr. Martens who is Clara‘s guest today on Enquire, the Investor Relations podcast. While Bethany spent some time as a Retail Analyst, she always knew she wanted to work in IR and structured her career and work experience to position her to move into the field.

With us in conversation today, we have Stuart Morgan, Director of Investor Relations at Capita. During today’s conversation, we pick his brain to learn about the ins and outs of his career journey to date, and what has kept his interest in the field of Investor Relations. The skills of an IR are a unique combination, and Stuart shares what he is most proud of having achieved in the industry. We touch on board relationships, and why it’s never enough just to crunch the numbers. You’ll hear his thoughts on whether the hybrid or digital model is sufficient for building relationships, and how he is prioritising staying on top of trends in the absence of in-person conferences and events. Stuart shares his thoughts on ESG and how sustainability should have been part of the conversation long before this was implemented, and he tells us why curiosity and goal-setting are essential to a career in IR. Along with his comprehensive and insightful answers, Stuart asks us some pertinent questions! Tune in to hear more today.