Laurie Havelock, editor, IR Magazine & Governance Intelligence
Laurie Havelock is a journalist, writer and podcaster who has worked with IR Magazine for more than a decade. He was previously assistant business editor at the Daily Telegraph and acting business and money editor at the i newspaper. In his spare time, he is a keen boardgamer and hosts a podcast about them called Idle Fantasy. He lives in London with his husky, Mischa.
Sarah Fortt, partner, Latham & Watkins
Sarah E. Fortt, partner and global co-chair of Latham’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Practice, is the mind behind one of the first ESG legal practices in the US. In her role, she acts as a trusted adviser of her clients, navigating with them risks and opportunities relating to climate change, human rights, and corporate culture. Sarah advises public and private companies and their boards on corporate governance and strategic transparency matters. She also counsels clients in high-stakes governance situations, including public and political ESG-related campaigns, stakeholder engagement and corporate crises. Sarah draws on her background in corporate governance, compliance, securities, executive compensation and sophisticated understanding of cross-organizational structures to help clients create consistent, effective, and meaningful ESG strategies and communications. Sarah has been recognized as a trailblazer and key thought leader in ESG, corporate governance and corporate culture. Sarah serves on the advisory and editorial boards for PracticalESG.com, ESG Professionals Network, and Insights: The Corporate & Securities Law Advisor, and regularly authors articles on ESG-related topics for leading publications. She is based in Washington, D.C. and Austin, Texas.
Frank Kelley, director of ESG & compliance services, DFIN
Frank Kelley is a Director and Head of ESG at Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN). He is responsible for providing thought leadership on corporate governance, executive compensation, proxy disclosure & design, shareholder activism, and sustainability with an emphasis on corporate issuer engagement. Frank specializes in taking a data-driven approach to corporate governance and sustainability, utilizing analytics and framework-modeling to enhance reporting.
Frank was formerly a Senior Analyst at the largest proxy advisor, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), where he reviewed director independence, equity plans, ESG, say-on-pay, and shareholder proposals. Preceding ISS, Frank worked at MacKenzie Partners, a leading proxy solicitor specializing in M&A, where he counseled boards, corporate executives, and shareholders on proxy contests, solicitations, tender offers and other complex transactions. Before MacKenzie Partners, Frank served as a Consultant at Willis Towers Watson (TWT) where he designed executive compensation programs.
Prior to entering the corporate governance & sustainability world, Frank was a sell-side analyst in equity research. He resides in New York City and Tampa, Florida.
Frank Perez, executive vice president & chief investor relations officer, Ponce Bank
Mr. Perez is currently the Chief Investor Relations Officer for Ponce Bank, a Minority Depository Institution and Community Development Financial Institution. With over two decades of experience in community banking, finance and investor relations, he brings a wealth of experience in finance and investor communications. Through proactive engagement and strategic communication initiatives, he plays a key role in driving the Bank's success in the financial markets. HIs strategic approach is instrumental in enhancing Ponce Bank's reputation and attracting investment opportunities. His diverse background has equipped him with a deep understanding of the banking industry and the factors that drive investor sentiment.
In addition to his investor relations role, Mr. Perez spearheads the organizations' Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practice. In this role, Mr. Perez has developed and implemented innovative strategies to address pressing and environmental and social challenges. In his leadership, he has achieved significant milestones in reducing carbon emissions, promoting diversity and inclusion, and enhancing stakeholder engagement. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Perez is deeply engaged in community outreach programs and environmental advocacy efforts. He is actively engaged in industry associations, committees, and shares his insights and best practices and believes in the power of collaboration and collective action to create a more equitable and sustainable future for generations to come.
Prior to his role as the Chief Investor Relations Officer, Mr. Perez was the Chief Financial Officer for Ponce Bank from 2017-2022. He brought a strategic mindset and a strong track record of driving growth and profitability. Mr. Perez oversaw all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and optimizing the Bank's financial performance.
Mr. Perez's trajectory is marked by a series of progressive responsible roles in finance and banking. Prior to joining Ponce Bank in 2017, he held roles as the Chief Financial Officer for several leading publicly traded community financial institutions, where he developed a deep understanding of risk management, capital raising and capital allocation, investor relations, and strategic planning.
Mr. Perez holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Austin Peay State University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He is actively involved in industry association and community initiatives, reflecting his commitment to making a positive impact beyond the boardroom.
