SPOTLIGHT ON CHAPTERS


Where Intelligence Builds Resilience


NIRI Houston hosted an IR Summit that focused on strategies and


tactics for investor relations professionals in uncertain times. BY MEGAN LARSON


T


he NIRI Houston chapter recently hosted a one-day investor relations (IR) summit titled, “Where Intelligence Builds Resilience.” Panel discussions focused on


strategies and tactics for investor relations profes- sionals to remain strategic players and best represent their companies during uncertain times, while also utilizing the latest tools to stay ahead. Attendees also enjoyed ample networking op-


portunities during coffee breaks and the post-event happy hour. Te event was co-sponsored by Rivel, NYSE Texas, Texas Stock Exchange, Notified, S&P Global, H/Advisors Abernathy, Nasdaq, PR Newswire, WPNT Communications, Riveron, Curran & Connors and Alphagraphics. Te summit kicked off with a keynote presenta-


tion from Casey Fleming, Chief Executive Officer of BlackOps Partners Corporation. Casey detailed the confusion stemming from recent world events and stressed the importance of IR professionals in protecting their companies. In particular, he reminded attendees not to allow


IR to be the afterthought when addressing cybersecu- rity and recommended that companies plan for the worst, including establishing a crisis plan, backups with parallel systems, and the ability to launch a dark website.


2 6 FA LL 20 2 5 ■ IR UPDAT E During a panel, “140 Characters of Chaos: Han-


dling Real World Headlines and Crises,” Sydney Isaacs (H/Advisors Abernathy) led speakers Brittany Brown (LyondellBasell), Anne Hill (Anne Hill Consulting), and Natalie Gunnell (Shell plc) through a hypothetical, but realistic, situation in which a company experi- enced a cyberattack affecting the company’s ability to produce and sell toys during peak holiday season. IR professionals were reminded of how they should


handle crisis and investor communications in such a situation, including the following recommendations: • Te people affected by the situation always come first.


• Acknowledge that something happened and empathize, but don’t apologize.


• Stick to core themes and avoid speculation and sharing details that change daily.


• Share actions taken and be solution-minded. Avoid pointing blame. Most importantly, the panelists reminded the


audience that it is imperative to have an internal crisis team—with the IR professional as a core member—and to regularly practice drills and tabletop exercises to align the team and remain prepared. Te conversation then shifted, as Collin Grady


of Nasdaq led the panel, “Steady Hands in Shifting Markets: IR Resilience in a Beta World.” Panelists


ni ri .org/ irupdate 1 Casey Fleming


Keynote speaker Casey Fleming of BlackOps Partners Corporation discussed confusion stemming from recent world events and stressed the importance of IR professionals in protecting their companies.


140 Characters of Chaos A panel of experts presented a hypothetical, but realistic, situation in which a company experienced a cyberattack affecting the company’s ability to produce and sell toys during peak holiday season.


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