Life after investor relations is lofty if a little nostalgic

Our research output here at IR Magazine is based upon regular surveys of the global investor relations community. Over the last two years, these surveys have averaged an annual response of more than 1,000 IR professionals. The vast majority of respondents are active IROs and management team members with IR responsibilities.

Since last year, however, we have also given ex-IR professionals the opportunity to reflect on their time in IR and tell us what came next for them after a stint in the field.

Admittedly, the number of respondents – 25 in all – is paltry in comparison to our sample of practicing IROs, yet their reflections on the profession provide some interesting insights all the same. Small as it may be, this sample group of ex-IROs represents companies of all different sectors, sizes and geographical locations.

There are banks and supermarkets with market caps ranging from less than $1 bn to more than $50 bn, based everywhere from the US and Canada to the UK, Denmark, South Korea and Japan.

Likewise, these former IROs occupy a range of roles, from corporate communications to consultancy, with the most common title in the sample being CFO. In fact, nearly two in five of respondents have ended up in a board-level or C-suite position post-IR.

Looking back at their time in IR, the majority of respondents say they spent fewer than three years in the profession.

The most common reason given for leaving IR is a corporation transaction, such as a merger or buyout, that resulted in the company de-listing from the stock exchange.

Being promoted comes in second place, followed in third by a personal desire to seek out new challenges. Only one person left investor relations through retirement, and two rotated out of the IR department.

More than 90 percent of these ex-IROs believe the time they spent in investor relations is of at least some relevance to their current position, with the majority describing it as ‘very relevant’.

Specifically, gaining experience in messaging, communications and how to craft an investment story is considered to be the most beneficial takeaway from their time in IR, ahead of learning the investors’ perspective, having access to executive management and gaining enhanced financial knowledge.

Two thirds of respondents see investor relations as a stepping stone to another position higher up the corporate ladder, a point of view given added weight by the fact that more than half of these ex-IROs spent only three years or less in the profession.



Interestingly, though, a similarly high majority of respondents would consider taking another role in IR, suggesting enduring fondness for the role – and perhaps even a little hint of regret!