Hilton, Medtronic and Starbucks were among the corporate titans celebrated for their excellence in investor relations at the prestigious IR Magazine Awards – US 2023 last night.
Representatives from those companies joined IR peers from Axalta Coating Systems, Blackbaud, Boston Scientific, Coinbase, Danaher, Duolingo, DZS, First Horizon, Jushi Holdings, Philip Morris International and Safehold in taking home coveted trophies at the live and in-person black-tie event at Cipriani in New York.
Click here to see the full list of winners of the IR Magazine Awards – US 2023.
In a wide-open field with all prizes to play for, the $36 bn multinational hospitality empire Hilton Worldwide Holdings was presented with the best ESG reporting (large cap) award. Medtronic, the $105 bn medical device company, took home the best IR website trophy, while the $115 bn coffee chain Starbucks Corporation was recognized for best investor event (large cap).
In a night featuring dozens of winners, Coinbase was awarded best crisis management and Blackbaud secured the best ESG reporting (small to mid-cap) prize. Philip Morris International won for IR during a corporate transaction, with Duolingo scoring best innovation in shareholder communications. Axalta Coating Systems took the best investor event (small to mid-cap) prize and Jushi Holdings took home the award for best use of technology & social media for IR.
Lauren Tengler, of Boston Scientific, was recognized with the rising star award, while Jane McCahon won the lifetime achievement award.
The awards are split into two sections. The awards-by-research categories are decided by a survey of portfolio managers, buy-side analysts and sell-side analysts who cover US companies. They select the winners for best overall IR, best IRO, best IR by a senior management team and best in sector.
The awards-by-nomination categories cover a range of IR practice areas, such as annual reports, ESG reporting, investor meetings, use of technology and crisis management. Companies are able to submit entries for the different awards, with the winners chosen by a panel of expert judges.
This year, the panel of judges features:
- James Beech, editor-in-chief, IR Magazine
- Matthew Brusch, president and CEO, NIRI
- Sally Curley, founder and CEO, Curley Global IR
- William Galligan, former vice president of investor relations, Kansas City Southern
- Carol Murray-Negron, president, Equanimity
- Thaddeus Pollock, head of sustainability and partner/portfolio manager, Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn
- Maureen Wolff, CEO, Sharon Merrill Associates
IR Magazine will celebrate even more North American achievement in investor relations at the IR Magazine Awards – Canada 2023 on April 5.
