It’s not just your own proxy you should consider,


Moote says: “Understanding what came up during proxy season for your peer group is table stakes in this dynamic environment that is changing really quickly, overcommunication with leadership is a better approach than undercommunication.” “IR professionals have an unrivaled view of


shareholders’ day-to-day queries and concerns,” Bowering explains. “Tey are usually the first point of contact for shareholders and can clearly iden- tify developing trends and contentious issuers throughout the year. As such, IR professionals can provide invaluable insights to the annual meeting planning team.” Tat’s the crux of it. Communicating our insights


with the executive team on an ongoing basis is cru- cial. Moote jokes, though with all seriousness, that preparation for the next proxy season begins a week after the most recent AGM. It’s a year-round effort. Are you wondering what happened to Laura


Partridge, the movie character from the beginning of this article? Following her boisterous display at GPC’s AGM, John T. Blessington, President and Chairman of the Board, pulls her aside. “If you please, I’d like to talk to you a moment,” he says. Partridge wonders if Blessington will berate her for her actions. “You’re going to scold me. I know I’ve behaved badly,” she says. Blessington’s response came as a surprise. “Not


at all. You showed very fine business sense. So much so that I wonder if we shouldn’t take advantage of your business abilities here at General Products. How would you like to work for us?” Partridge, stunned by the offer, explains that she’s


never really worked. She’s been an actress, earning $100 every three months at the local Actors Guild. Blessington proposes paying her $150 every three months to work for GPC as its Director of Stockholder Relations. “Why, we have a great many stockholders, many of them women, like yourself, who own just a few shares and it will be your job to keep them happy and make friends for the company.” Making friends for the company—wouldn’t that


be nice if that was the only role for IR professionals?! As we look ahead to the 2025 proxy season, there are several key takeaways that IR professionals should keep in mind that go beyond “making friends.”


ni ri .org/ irupdate


In the spirit of Laura


Partridge’s remarkable journey, seize the


opportunity to make a difference.


• First, commit to thorough preparation. Tis involves anticipating shareholder concerns and understanding your investors’ historical behavior and expectations. Engage with them, know your audience, and proactively address their queries. Te data you gather and the insights you glean will form the backbone of your strategy.


• Second, make data accessible. Avoid hiding essential information in legal jargon or obscure filings. Present your policies and data in an approachable and transparent manner to strengthen trust and foster a more collaborative environment between your company and shareholders, especially if conversations become more limited given SEC regulations.


• Tird, leverage every tool at your disposal. From surveillance insights to peer group analysis, utilize all available data to inform your decisions. Understanding the dynamics of proxy seasons for similar companies can provide invaluable context and guidance.


• Last, but certainly not least, maintain a continuous dialogue with your executive team. Regularly communicating insights ensures your leadership is well-prepared and responsive to shareholder needs. In following each of these areas of advice, don’t place yourself in a silo. Engage all your counterparts, whether that be finance, legal, accounting, marketing, the operations team or outside advisors. A successful AGM involves the entire team. In the spirit of Laura Partridge’s remarkable


journey, seize the opportunity to make a difference. I won’t spoil the end of the movie, but Partridge makes a name for herself at General Products and shows the importance of the investor relations profession. Your dedication and efforts can elevate the


profession of investor relations too, so let’s all demonstrate our worth and pave the way for a more transparent, collaborative, and thriving corporate governance environment and a successful 2025 proxy season. IR


Kimberly Esterkin is Vice President of Investor Relations at ASGN Incorporated and a member of the NIRI Board of Directors; kimberly.esterkin@asgn.com.


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