ABSTRACT
The title will vary among listed companies but, within the senior executive team, will be someone who is designated the role of being in charge of corporate communication with key stakeholders. Among the titles could be corporate affairs director, investor relations officer (IRO, as they are commonly known) or media and investor relations director. In line with the responsibilities involved, NIRI introduces another title, chief disclosure officer. In some companies the roles of media relations and investor relations are split between two managers reporting to someone taking a larger view of corporate communication. However these roles are designated, they all have a common factor, which is that these people are custodians of the corporate story. They are the explainers of what a company does and how it is performing financially in implementing its strategy. The primary stakeholders to whom they communicate are the investment community, shareholders and the business media but this group can also expand to government, customers, employees and the wider public, depending on issues or crises that might arise. How this role is organized and implemented is the content of this chapter.
