When George Kesteven, Manager of Corporate and Investor Relations at Sterling Resources, recently visited London and arranged to see one of the company’s U.K.-based analysts, together they toured a few bars in the old part of London near Bank Street. “He bought the first round of drinks and then I bought the second round and dinner,” Kesteven recalls. “That’s reasonable. There’s nothing extravagant involved. Yes, we discussed business, but it was more social than anything else.” | Read Article |

We have talked in the past about building relationships with analysts and investors, and once developed, these relationships need to be maintained. But what about managing the relationships? It is great to have lots of relationships, as it certainly makes the job easier; conversations can be candid and feedback obtained – but what if the relationship gets too close? | Read Article |

There are few things that a director of a public company dislikes more than seeing a large number of withheld votes beside his or her name in the voting results of an annual meeting at which such director is being nominated for election or re-election. In 2014, the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) made it mandatory for listed issuers to adopt a majority voting policy. This has increased the pressure on directors to ensure that the number of withheld votes they receive is minimized. | Read Article |

Stakeholders today are increasingly asking for greater reporting transparency about the company’s strategy, business models, risks, and prospects. IR professionals are increasingly challenged to communicate more clearly, openly and effectively with investors and other stakeholders about their company’s operations and growth plans. The increased complexity in companies’ business models and capital markets have also contributed to a shift in stakeholder needs. | Read Article |

Engaging with users on social media is an important part of delivering valuable communications and creating trusting online relationships. But navigating the chaotic and unpredictable world of social media can be a daunting task. In this hyper-public world, taking a thoughtful, consistent and strategic approach to engagement is critical to avoiding public blunders that could hurt a company’s reputation and discredit its communications efforts. Here are some rules of engagement to help navigate the social world. | Read Article |

The debate on whether Canadian issuers should or should not provide guidance is not a new one. I remember planning a session on guidance for the 2009 Annual Conference, my first one with CIRI. During this session, the IROs from TELUS and Starbucks discussed their approaches to guidance (one provided guidance while the other did not) and the pros and cons of doing so. This debate is still alive and well within the IR community. | Read Article |