Ben Ashwell, digital editor, IR Magazine
Ben Ashwell is the digital editor at IR Magazine and Corporate Secretary, covering investor relations, governance, risk and compliance. Prior to this, he was the founder and editor of Executive Talent, the global quarterly magazine from the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants. Before moving to the US, Ben was the vice president and editor at Executive Grapevine, overseeing a daily news website, ten annual supplements and HR Grapevine, the UK’s leading HR and talent management magazine. In his spare time, Ben writes fiction, poetry and arts and culture reviews. Eyewear Publishing recently named him in their list of the Best New British and Irish Poets.
Kristin Chester, senior financial manager of investor relations, Microsoft
Kristin Chester is a senior manager in Microsoft’s Investor Relations team. She has more than eight years of experience in corporate finance at Microsoft supporting long range planning, monetization strategy, and financial analysis for businesses such as Office 365 and Bing. Prior to joining Microsoft in 2009, Kristin worked at Washington Mutual and received a B.S. in Finance and a B.A. in Foreign Language from the University of Idaho.
Stacy Harrington, director of corporate revenue assurance, Microsoft
Stacy Harrington is the Sr. Director in charge of Microsoft’s Corporate Revenue Assurance Group. She is a strategic leader with a passion for people development, coupled with a proven ability to proactively identify risk and resource needs to create an agile and high performing revenue recognition function. Nearly 20 years of deep technical accounting expertise, emphasizing in revenue recognition with 12 years focusing on Microsoft’s revenue policies, evaluation of complex product offerings and new or redesigned revenue programs training, unearned revenue reporting, and support of the revenue close process. Member of key industry groups, including the AICPA Software Revenue Recognition Taskforce and the Chair of FEI’s Committee on Corporate Reporting (CCR) Revenue Recognition Working Group.
Prior to joining Microsoft in 2004, Ms. Harrington worked in the Corporate Accounting group at Safeco Insurance, focusing on interpreting and implementing new accounting guidance and helping with the creation of a monthly close and reporting process. At Deloitte & Touche, LLP, she focused primarily on technology and large banking clients where she specialized in revenue recognition and securitization accounting.
