15 questions with Ooredoo

1. How long have you been in IR?

I first discovered IR supporting a European roadshow trip with the CFO of Canon’s Japanese HQ in 1998. I have now been dedicated to IR for more than 15 years.

2. What did you do before IR?

My background was in product management and marketing for digital cameras and strategic planning.

3. What are your qualifications?

A BA in economics, the German equivalent of an MBA and I’m a CFA charterholder.

4. How is your team set up?

We have a team of six, two of whom (me and one other) handle IR at HQ, and four who work with our listed subsidiaries in Indonesia, Oman, Palestine and Iraq.

5. How many roadshows and investor conferences do you take part in each year?

We try to take part in five to 10 conferences a year. Our business has exposure to developing and emerging markets across MENA and Asia, which makes for interesting market dynamics and discussions with investors, so we try to be as active as possible.

6. Do you hold investor days?

We host an annual Capital Markets Day in Doha where various members of the group executive team and CEOs of our subsidiaries present updates on company performance and strategy. The Qatar Exchange also hosts an annual conference, either in London or New York, and we’re a regular attendee.

7. Do you use social media as part of your IR program?

Yes, we have a dedicated Twitter account (@ooredooIR). We mostly use Twitter around the quarterly financial results and encourage investors and analysts to share their questions via Twitter.

8. Do you receive support from any external IR firms?

We get some external help for our annual report, media and quarterly calls.

9. What is the most popular question from analysts and investors right now?

They are keen to hear about developments in our youngest market in Myanmar and the impact of the security situation on our business in Iraq. Our investors also want to know about the latest technologies, M&A strategy, competitive environment, Capex plans and cost saving.

10. How would you describe the IR scene in Qatar?

It’s up and coming, which is exciting. We have just over 40 firms listed in Qatar, and the most active players tend to be in telecoms, energy and banking. We try to set the tone for best practice and we’re an active member of the Middle East Investor Relations Association.

11. What’s been the biggest challenge of your IR career?

Dealing with change and developing trust both inside the firm and on the sell side and buy side are ongoing issues for any IRO.

12. What’s your favorite thing about doing IR?

The variety that comes with the job. In addition to the finance department, I have access to the technology, strategy, legal and commercial teams, as well as external parties such as analysts and investors.

13. And your least favorite?

Sometimes there is a degree of repetition involved, especially around the quarterly results or investor conferences.

14. What do you enjoy doing outside work?

I like language studies and sports: triathlon, paddle boarding and mountain biking.

15. If you could pass on one IR lesson, what would it be?

Be transparent and upfront. IROs have access to various sources of information to help develop a holistic understanding of the firm – use this information to address market concerns and explain how the company is addressing them.

This article appeared in the Spring 2017 issue of IR Magazine