SPRING 2024 | CONTENTS


DEPARTMENTS 2 AT THE BELL


President and CEO Matthew Brusch, CAE


Editor-in-Chief Al Rickard, CAE


arickard@associationvision.com


Art Direction THOR Design Studio www.thor.design


Letters to the Editor IR Update


TM welcomes letters to the


editor. Please send feedback to arickard@associationvision.com.


About NIRI Founded in 1969, NIRI is the professional association of corporate officers and investor relations consultants responsible for communication among corporate management, shareholders, securities analysts, and other financial community constituents. NIRI is the largest professional investor relations association in the world with members representing over 1,500 publicly held companies and $12 trillion in stock market capitalization.


About IR Update TM 18 10 CAPITAL MARKETS Charging Ahead Through


Economic Uncertainty The stock market's health is fine as economic momentum improves, but the bull may need a break. BY GINA MARTIN ADAMS


14 REGULATION


IR Update is published by NIRI: The Association for Investor Relations, as a service to its members.


ISSN 1098-5220


© 2024 by NIRI: The Association for Investor Relations. All rights reserved.


For change of address, contact: NIRI–IR Update


Phone: (703) 562-7700 memberservices@niri.org www.niri.org


Cybersecurity: A Primer for Investor Relations Professionals


New SEC rules put a premium on advance planning and response strategies for potential cybersecurity breaches. BY ROSE ZU AND MATT SAIDEL


18 INVESTOR PERCEPTIONS


Reputation Management in a Risky World


Industry reputations rise and fall, but understanding and managing risk can help public companies weather the shifting winds. BY DOUGLAS G. PINKHAM


22 PROXIES


A Proxy Preview for the 2024 AGM Season


Gain insight into how ESG proposals might fare this year, the impact of the upcoming presidential election, and more. BY KILIAN MOOTE AND DAVID FARKAS


niri.org/ irupdate IR UPDAT E ■ SPRING 2 0 24 1


Springtime for Investor Relations BY JOHN MOTEN, IRC


3 SPOTLIGHT ON THE SENIOR ROUNDTABLE A Vibrant Community for IR Veterans BY DAN BRIGGS


4 NIRI NOW • NIRI Names Seven New Fellows • On the Move


8 SPOTLIGHT ON THE CEO John Hartmann, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Ascend Wellness Holdings


42 Q&A WITH NIRI MEMBERS Posting Earnings Call Transcripts on IR Websites


44 TAKING THE PULSE AI Adoption in Investor Relations


26 PROXIES


A Proxy for the People An analysis of the launch of BlackRock’s Voting


Choice for retail shareholder accounts. BY KIMBERLY ESTERKIN


34 ANNUAL CONFERENCE


NIRI2024 to Deliver Thought Leadership and Industry Insights


Thought leaders and financial industry experts will explore key topics that are shaping the future of investor relations and capital markets engagement at the NIRI Annual Conference in San Francisco June 9-11. BY AL RICKARD, CAE


38 ETHICS


Best Practices for Dealing With Ethics Issues


For IROs, clear and honest communications are key when faced with an ethical dilemma. BY NICOLE NOUTSIOS

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