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The Global Investor Relations Revolution Arrives in Germany
The Global Investor Relations Revolution landed in Frankfurt at an event hosted in collaboration with FGS Global, with the support IR Club Germany
The Global Investor Relations Revolution landed in Frankfurt at an event hosted in collaboration with FGS Global, with the support IR Club Germany, and which brought together senior investor relations and capital markets leaders for a timely discussion on the evolving role of IR.
Set against a fast-changing corporate and market environment, the session explored how investor relations has moved from a largely reporting-focused function to a strategic discipline central to reputation, trust and long-term value creation.
Oskar Yasar opened the discussion with a keynote on the “Global IR Revolution”, drawing on three decades of experience in executive search, communications and investor relations. He argued that IR has shifted from the sidelines to the strategy table, with leading IROs now influencing boardroom decisions, shaping equity stories and increasingly progressing into CFO, CEO, strategy and corporate affairs roles.
The panel featured Oskar Yasar alongside Steffen Hoffmann, CFO of Aurubis, Marc-Dominic Nettesheim, Head of Investor Relations at Lufthansa, and Stefanie Steiner, Director Investor Relations at AUTODOC. Moderated by Daniel Roeska of FGS Global, the discussion reflected on how the profession has changed since the early days of one-way disclosure and “share marketing”, becoming a more sophisticated advisory function that helps companies understand how the capital markets interpret strategy, performance and credibility.
A recurring theme was the need for IR to earn and maintain credibility internally. The panel discussed how effective IROs must understand the business deeply, communicate uncomfortable truths constructively and act as a bridge between management, investors, analysts and wider stakeholders. Several speakers stressed that IR should be involved before major strategic decisions are made, not merely after the fact when messages need to be drafted.
The conversation also explored the convergence of IR, communications, strategy and corporate affairs. While there was broad agreement that the functions must work closely together, the panel highlighted the growing importance of financial fluency, data literacy and narrative discipline, particularly as ESG, activism and market volatility place greater demands on corporate messaging. AI was also identified as both an opportunity and a challenge, with speakers urging IR leaders to embrace it while preserving the personal relationships and trust that remain central to the role.
The event closed with a clear message for senior management: investor relations is no longer a narrow communications channel, but a strategic intelligence function. The best IR teams help companies build trust, stress-test strategy, understand market perception and protect reputation. The discussion continued afterwards on the rooftop terrace, giving attendees the chance to reflect on the profession’s momentum and the opportunities ahead.
Explore the ideas redefining the future of IR
The Global Investor Relations Revolution is packed with real-world insights, bold perspectives, and practical takeaways for today’s IR and corporate affairs leaders.
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