The last few years have brought communication technology and strategies to the fore, but there are key concerns around the downsides of digital comms that many professionals are looking forward to leaving behind. Today we sit down with accomplished investor relations director, Hugo Fisher, to discuss the value of face-to-face interactions, the difficulties of access in the time of COVID, and some reflections on his wealth of experience across multiple transactions in his current role at D.S Smith. With more than 15 years of advising corporate clients under his belt, including 9 years in his current position, Hugo kicks the conversation off with how he found the transition to investor relations, before taking us on a virtual tour of his role at D.S Smith. After a quick foray into their acquisition of Europac and some learnings from the transactional side, Hugo shares his top advice for anyone interested in entering the field, as well as the importance of having a management team that you trust and who will trust you. His company is no stranger to sustainability efforts; we also touch on their strategy and communication on ESG matters before diving into the specific skillset he looks for in a hire, and the biggest mistake he often sees in the field: overcomplicating things too soon! To hear his perspectives on current trends and the downsides to virtual comms, particularly as it relates to the needs of IR, tune in to yet another insightful conversation with a top investor relations professional in the UK. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hugo takes us through his career to date and how he ended up in investor relations.
• How he found the transition to investor relations and some challenges in that.
• Reflections on his 9 years at D.S Smith and the aspects he enjoys the most. 
• Talking about the acquisition of Europac and some learnings from the transactional side.
• What his biggest challenge has been and how to keep interest levels alive.
• We discuss the difficulties the pandemic has brought about in terms of access. 
• The importance of access to the senior team in investor relations.
• Insights on current IR trends and how he stays on top of them!
• Hugo shares some of the investor education seminars they've done.
• What's become more efficient in terms of COVID and digital comms.
• His experience of conferences and what makes some more successful than others.
• How they manage communication around ESG matters at D.S Smith. 
• Their sustainability strategy and how they're helping customers with their sustainability commitments. 
• The top skills and characteristics Hugo looks for in the hiring process!
• The most common mistakes he's observed in IR. 
• A bit about retail investment and where they spend the majority of their time. 
• Some plans for 2022 and the face-to-face interactions he's looking forward to. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Hugo Fisher on LinkedIn

D.S Smith

Today we are joined by Helen Parris to continue our series of conversations with investor relations professionals in the UK. Helen is a highly experienced Investor Relations Director. She started her career on the buyer side before moving into IR. Most recently, Helen was Director of Investor Relations for G4S for 13 years. She also spent several years on the board of the IR Society in the UK. We begin our conversation with Helen recounting her experiences on the buyer side from different parts of her early career. From there, Helen tracks the shift she made into IR, recounting her time as an IR Manager at BG Group and why she decided to make the move to G4S from there. We speak about the many shifts that occurred within G4S, the challenges Helen faced during this time, and how she overcame them. She talks about how she handled feelings of restlessness and gained valuable experience as a board member by joining the IR Society and becoming a trustee for the G4S pension fund. We hear about repetitional challenges G4S faced and how Helen worked to pique investor interest through site visits and more. Our conversation also covers the value of financial education and experience on the buyer side, the key role ESG played in G4S corporate strategy, and a whole lot more. Helen brings a huge amount of IR experience to a conversation that you are not going to want to miss, so be sure to tune in today.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Helen’s career beginning on the buyer side and how she moved into IR.
• How Helen’s experience on the buyer side informed her work as an IR Analyst.
• The different sectors Helen has moved between during her career.
• Being an IR manager at BG Group and why Helen moved to G4S.
• The many challenges Helen faced while working at G4S.
• The value of choosing the right IR role for your mindset and personality.
• Feelings of restlessness and why Helen got involved further within G4S. 
• The valuable skills Helen learned as a trustee for the G4S pension fund.
• Why Helen joined the IR Society and the value of being a board member.
• Helen’s degree and the value of education for getting top IR roles.
• The experience Helen gained on the board as Director of IR for G4S.
• What Helen did at G4S to promote the role of IR within the company.
• The key role that ESG played in the corporate strategy at G4S.
• How G4S piqued investor interest while working through repetitional challenges.
• Tips for creating a good impression on investors during site visits.
• How Helen stayed on top of trends from an IR perspective.
• Recommendations for those who want to start a career in IR.
• Building relationships and the most enjoyable parts of Helen’s career in IR.
• Our host’s thoughts on the biggest challenges being faced in IR.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Helen Parris on LinkedIn

G4S

BG Group

Investor Relations (IR) Society

Equitory