Matthew Brusch says he is ‘extremely honored and humbled’ to be appointed the new president and CEO of NIRI.
The largest professional IR association in the world announced its caretaker chief had been confirmed in the dual role, effective June 3. The white smoke of confirmation came almost three months after Brusch stepped up as the interim replacement for Gary LaBranche and just before NIRI started its annual conference in Boston on June 5.
Since joining the NIRI executive staff in 2007, Brusch has served as its chief operating officer, chief programs officer and vice president of communications. Throughout his tenure, he has ‘enhanced the NIRI Annual Conference, reimagined the educational programming offered to members, navigated the shift to a virtual learning environment and launched NIRI’s Investor Relations Charter certification program,’ NIRI says in a statement.
Brusch and his team introduced new programs including the Big I – Investor and Issuer Invitational Forum, NIRI’s think tanks, the IR Competency Suite and NIRI’s online and on-demand self-paced learning series.
He has been involved in IR and capital markets for almost 30 years. Prior to joining the NIRI staff executive team, he was a NIRI member leading the IR programs for three public companies, and has also led a financial planning & analysis team and corporate communications.
Brusch previously served in market surveillance, listings qualifications and relationship management roles with Nasdaq. He began his career as a surface warfare officer in the US Navy and was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal for superior performance.
‘Elevate the IR profession’
Brusch says it is an ‘exciting time’ for NIRI. ‘Our professional development programing is strong, for example, and we’re returning to our first in-person annual conference since 2019,’ he expands. ‘NIRI is also very active at the regulatory table in DC, shaping key rule proposals on behalf of the profession and public companies. And our board of directors is finalizing NIRI’s 2022-2025 strategic plan.
‘I look forward to working with NIRI’s outstanding professional staff, board, many devoted volunteers and diverse members throughout the organization to build on NIRI’s strengths, expand its impact and advance and elevate the IR profession.’
Brusch takes the reins from LaBranche, who stepped down in March after five years as president and CEO of NIRI to take over as CEO of RIMS from June 1. He succeeded RIMS CEO Mary Roth, who announced her retirement in late 2021 after 37 years with the risk management society.
Asked what advice he would give his successor to do the job of president and CEO of NIRI most successfully, LaBranche told IR Magazine in April he always advises new CEOs to spend a lot of time asking questions and listening to the answers.
‘When I go to a new job, as I will, my guiding light is to shut up a lot,’ he explained. ‘Shut up and listen, ask questions and then shut up and listen to the answers. It’s really important to give people the opportunity to let them tell you about their job, what they do and what the organization is like.’
