WESTPORT, Conn., Dec. 22, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On December 9, 2009, Rivel Research Group held their inaugural Intelligence Council Conference at NASDAQ's MarketSite. A robust group of seasoned investor relations professionals and a set of four buy-side panelists participated in the conference covering the most important trends in investor communications today and the implications those have on IR's mandate. One of the more cutting-edge investor communications issues discussed during the day was the emergence of social media and the impact on the IRO.
"The discussion was very fruitful from a number of perspectives," said Brian Rivel, President of Rivel Research Group, who kicked off the day's events. "This is clearly a nascent movement in the field of communications, something that hasn't happened since the advent of the internet over 15 years ago. As investor communications professionals, we need to get ahead of the curve and make sure we are using the right tools to communicate the right messages for the greatest amount of impact."
It is evident that a serious, perhaps even dangerous, lack of consensus currently typifies the corporate response to emerging social media. While investment professionals are surging ahead and integrating blogs into their investment decisions (31% access blogs on the job at least on a weekly basis), only 17% of IROs currently do so. To the corporate investor relations community, social media is a "fluctuating gray area" badly in need of common standards and best practices savvy. The uncertainty further sharpens regarding other new social media channels such as Twitter and, perhaps surprisingly, YouTube, which is a growing resource for product insight and online management interviews.
The conference provided Rivel Research Group with a mandate to leverage the Intelligence Council and further explore social media's role in investor communications by creating a taskforce from the Council membership to work towards the development of best practices and protocols to be followed. Rivel also plans to develop the most comprehensive research to date on this topic in 2010, studying several audiences and how they use this new medium as part of their work.
In addition to social media, the day was highlighted by insights derived from a distinguished buy-side panel, offering attendees the opportunity to discuss and challenge conventional wisdom regarding the buy-side's views on the appeal of share buybacks (reflexive support for these is a thing of the past), the "decline" of the sell-side (reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated) and requirements for disclosure and guidance (it's not all about earnings anymore). Panelists included: Peter Dannenbaum of CDP U.S., Rasmus Gerdeman of Neuberger Berman, John McMillin of Lord Abbett, and Randy Simpson of Glenview. Linda Kelleher, former acting President of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), moderated the panel.
"With insight coming from the buy-side, peer IROs and Rivel's own research on the present state of investor communications, the information gleaned from this event was invaluable to IR professionals dealing with heightened demand for company and industry data in such a fluid market environment. It was great to see such widespread participation from all the attending IROs, they really made this event a success," Rivel said.
The Council also covered topics ranging from capital deployment strategies, building credibility internally and externally, measuring the effectiveness of investor relations and the value of IR to the investment community. As a result of feedback gathered from the conference, Rivel will probe deeper into the wants, needs and expectations of investment professionals with respect to management access.
Plans for the second Intelligence Council Conference have been tentatively scheduled for the beginning of June, 2010.
For a summary of the event's discussions or for information about Rivel's Intelligence Council, please contact Barbara Sullivan, Director of Marketing, at (203) 635-4383 or bsullivan@rivel.com.
About Rivel Research Group
Rivel Research Group specializes in delivering actionable insight based on in-depth measurements of the global investment community. Gathering, analyzing and interpreting investment community feedback is our only business. Rivel's highly experienced staff provides the well-informed, unbiased and strategically relevant intelligence companies need to effectively communicate with such important constituencies as sell-side analysts, buy-side analysts, portfolio managers, the financial media and other influential audiences. The comprehensive information that Rivel supplies enables companies to evaluate performance, formulate strategy and identify opportunities to achieve corporate objectives directed toward these groups. Additional information concerning Rivel is available on its website at www.rivel.com
About the Intelligence Council
Rivel's Intelligence Council is the only program of its kind to offer peer insight combined with buy-side/sell-side analysis at an affordable price point. The program offers a unique blend of investor relations best practices. The council offers its members a platform from which their topical questions can be addressed within a secure and, if required, anonymous format while simultaneously providing guidance on critical longer-term objectives.