The other top 10: best IR over 20 years

As IR Magazine celebrated 20 years of its US Awards in New York last night, a list of the top performers over the last 20 years was also revealed – with General Electric coming out on top.

The performance was calculated using the relative overall scores earned over the past 20 years of the IR Magazine Awards – US. But while the Fairfield-headquartered GE was short-listed for two awards and ranks 10th in the 2015 US Top 100, it’s Covidien that held onto the 2015 top spot, as well as taking home four awards, despite being in fifth place over 20 years.

Following GE in the top IR performers over the past 20 years are Intel in second and Microsoft in third. Six of the companies featured in the list also feature in the top 10 of the 2015 US Top 100, while five of them took home a total of 9 IR Magazine Awards last night.

Top 10 from the past 20 years:

1. General Electric
2. Intel
3. Microsoft
4. Cisco Systems
5. Covidien (now owned by Medtronic)
6. JPMorgan Chase & Co
7. Texas Instruments
8. The Coca-Cola Company
9. Danaher
10. L Brands

Last night’s awards also saw GE’s long-serving IR director JoAnna Morris take home the lifetime achievement award after 24 years at the firm. Morris, who joined the company in 1977, became IR director in 1990, partnering with two CEOs, three CFOs and eight IR leaders during her tenure. ‘She saw GE through the transition from Jack Welch to Jeff Immelt, through the financial crisis and through countless acquisitions and divestitures,’ notes the book of the night from the IR Magazine Awards – US 2015.

‘JoAnna’s voice is powerful both inside and outside the company. She brings a tremendous amount of energy, integrity and credibility to the function,’ comments Jeff Bornstein, GE’s chief financial officer.

The book of the night also contains tributes to Morris from two of GE’s top investors. ‘Throughout turbulence in the markets, shifts in strategy and changes in operating management, JoAnna has been the representation of consistency for investors,’ says one. ‘No matter what the situation, we can count on her to be responsive to shareholders and to communicate an honest and fair message. There are few with her knowledge and wisdom, and few who are as accessible and willing to share it with investors. She brings a level of excellence to IR.’

Click here for the full list of IR Magazine Awards – US 2015 winners. More information about this year's award-winning companies and their IR programs can be found in the IR Magazine Investor Perception Study – US 2015, which also examines the investment community's perspective on a number of IR topics.