C&R GROUP C-SUITE IR CONFERENCE 2018
Investors Relations (IR) is increasingly becoming one of the major strategic management roles vital in the success and growth of a company. It involves the finance, communications, legal and regulatory compliance functions of the public listed company. It requires coordinated multiparty communications between the company, its shareholders and the financial community aimed at ensuring a fair financial valuation of the company in the securities market.
As a market leader in provision of shareholder services management, C&R Group launched a new division CSuite IR- Investor Relations Services in 2018. This division will spearhead thought-leadership
conversations on emerging issues in Investor Relations and the Capital Markets. On 4th October 2018, at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel, C&R Group hosted the Inaugural C-Suite Investor Relations Conference. The conference was targeted at Board and Executive Committee members to provide information on evolving trends in Investor Relations and other areas that will influence the Investor Relations functions over the next few years from both an international and local perspective and what this means for their companies. The event was a one day conference with two segments, the CEO Forum which included the brief breakfast presentations and discussions and the General Conference from 9:00 am for both the C-Suite plenary and other general conference invitees.
Our panelists included Prof Bitange Ndemo, an associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Nairobi’s Business School. He is the Chair, Task Force on Block Chain Technology & Artificial Intelligence. His presentation was on Block Chain & other emerging data trends in the Capital Markets Industry.
We also had Mr. Steve Banfield, the Industry Director, Equiniti, one of the largest UK based Share Registrar and outsourcing business focused on financial and administrative services. Mr. Banfield made a presentation on compliance management, AGM and other global investor relations trends and how Share Registrars are evolving their support approaches to suit the evolving market expectations.
Mr. Shikoli Makatiani, the Chief Technology Officer, Turnkey Africa Limited which is a leading technology and services provider engaged the attendees on powerful presentation on Big Data and emerging data trends.
Other panelists for the day were Mr. Daniel Warutere, Head of Regulatory Framework Development at the Capital Markets Authority and Mr. Terrence Adembesa the Derivatives Market Director at the Nairobi Securities Exchange who took the delegates in engaging discussions about Regulatory and General Market concerns and current Investor Trends and the future outlook in Kenya.
The conference moderators were Kerry-Ann Makatiani, CEO, C&R Group and Paul Kihiu, BD Director, C&R Group.
Among those who graced the event included key Board Chairs and Directors, C-Suite Executives from listed and non listed firms in Kenya and East Africa. The attendees were awed by Prof Bitange’s mastery of the Block Chain Technology and how the Digital World is transforming how companies operate and model themselves, “world’s largest transportation company… owns no vehicles, World’s biggest media company… creates no content, world’s most valuable retailer… has no inventory and Airbnb the world’s largest accommodation provider owns no real estate; the digital world looks and feels so much different now”. They were challenged on what this could mean for the future of the Capital Markets and how this will look like from market structure and investor engagement perspective into the future.
Mr. Banfield also clearly brought out how Investor needs are the similar all over the world, shareholders
in the UK have a desire for companies to improve engagements with them, this is the same scenario we are experiencing here in Kenya and in East Africa.
There were healthy engagements on regulatory expectations and evolving shareholder expectations and the need for listed companies to also evolve with the market.
The delegates commended the C&R Group for providing this conference forum to enable useful conversation that will enable the positive development for our Capital Market and the country’s economy as a whole. They also challenged C&R Group to continue to initiate conversations on other suggested emerging issues. C&R committed to enabling continuing conversations through regular round-table meetings on various market topical subjects and continue with an annual conference to highlight some key current/emerging trends.
Irene Mugua, Research Supervisor, C&R Group
Paul Kihiu, Business Development Director, C&R Group
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