An interview with Shannon Nicholls, Managing Director, Rothschild & Co

Tell us a bit about you and your role

Seasoned corporate advisory professional with a global lens having started in Australia and came to London 13 years ago, via Hong Kong.

Background in equity capital markets (sprinkled with finance journalism!) and now focussed on listed corporate advice. Current role encapsulates investor engagement, equity story positioning, capital allocation, governance, ESG, activism, M&A transactions, equity and debt recapitalisations and everything in between!

Why do you think the theme of ‘IR as a Trusted Advisor’ is so important this year?

Competition for capital is fierce - being focussed on IR, and giving it the prominence it deserves, is one of the key differentiators between those companies who re-rate and those who languish. The feedback loop from IR to the boardroom is vital to ensure real-time clarity of strategic direction and also helps management “get on with the day job”.

What insights will you be bringing to your panel?

A transactional perspective to help bring to life the groundwork undertaken by IR and management teams. Whether it be an equity raise or takeover (or something in between), good IR is critical, well before a transaction appears on the horizon. Clear positioning, appropriate messaging and guidance, the “right” shareholders, and strong share price performance are the best “defences” – things IR can influence.  

Are there any other sessions you are looking forward to joining?

The entire agenda is top rate and very relevant! However, the insights from the buy-side will be fascinating, especially during these turbulent times. They will also provide key takeaways to help fine tune the approach to IR and ensure engagement is as impactful as possible.

View the full conference programme and book your tickets for 24 June 2026 here.