Chief Executive Officer - The Investor Relations Society

Pay: Competitive

Location: London

The Investor Relations Society (The Society) is the UK’s professional body for investor relations, representing a dynamic and growing community of over 800 members, including IR professionals from the majority of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies, AIM-listed businesses, and leading advisory firms and service providers.

As the voice of the investor relations profession, the Society occupies a unique and influential position at the intersection of companies, investors, regulators, and the wider capital markets, to champion excellence in investor relations.  The IR Society promotes the highest standards, advocates on behalf of its members, and provides education, resources and thought leadership to advance the profession.

The Society is seeking an outstanding individual to serve as Chief Executive Officer - a leader who can champion the profession, inspire the executive team, work closely with the Board and volunteer committees, and engage with stakeholders at the highest levels.  The Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for setting and executing the Society’s strategy, enhancing its financial sustainability, expanding its reach and influence, leading the team, and ensuring it continues to deliver exceptional value to its members.

This is an exciting time as the investor relations profession continues to elevate in importance, and the Society continues to evolve and innovate to meet the needs of its growing membership base.

Standard Responsibilities

• Leading and managing all aspects of the Society’s activities with the support of an executive team of seven.
• Managing the day-to-day running of the Society, operationally and financially
• Understanding the needs of the membership and representing the views of the membership
• Ensuring the efficient operation of the volunteer committees
• Acting as spokesperson for the Society, chairing events and presenting on behalf of the Society
• Building relationships with sponsors and supporters of the Society, as well as the CEO’s of IR Societies in other territories.
• Liaising with regulatory authorities and other standard setting bodies to ensure that the views of the profession are properly represented
• Investigating new potential commercial opportunities for the Society
• Mentoring and leading the members of the executive team
• Ensuring that the Society’s office and technical infrastructure is sound
• Reviewing and presenting monthly management accounts, budgets and statutory accounts
• Maintaining and reviewing standard operating procedures for the Society

Key Deliverables

• In conjunction with the Board providing strategic direction to the Society  
• Expanding the membership of the Society and providing services that are valuable to the membership on a cost-effective basis for the Society
• Raising the Society’s profile and enhancing its reputation and ensuring that the voice of the Society is properly represented in the discourse with regulatory authorities and other standard setting bodies
• Exploring the full commercial potential of the Society’s professional development programme including the internationally recognised Certificate in Investor Relations (CIR) qualification

Key Selection Criteria

• Knowledge and understanding of investor relations and broader financial markets and/ or a senior role within a membership or trade association
• Demonstrable track record of managing a small team
• Commercially minded: capable of assuming budget responsibility of £1+ million
• Excellent stakeholder management skills
• Presence, confidence and capability to assume public stance on policy
• Strong influencing skills delivering results through third parties and committees
• Ability and willingness to engage in selling and promoting services, sponsorship and advertising
• Potential to engage internationally to further the interests of the IR Society

Date posted: 24 June, 2025