How have investor relations changed over the course of your career?

“Good investor relations management is more important today than it has ever been. The criteria for overseas listed companies are becoming more stringent as regulators, institutional and retail investors have higher expectations on quality disclosure by companies – their business strategies, industry outlook and financial performance.At  Carlyle, even though it is not a listed company, we recognized those needs several years ago and have been active in facilitating changes among peers to respond to this trend. Corporate transparency is only one aspect of the growing demand by investors and regulators.

There is also a higher expectation of companies to act and behave responsibly towards their communities socially and environmentally.  We, as an investor and shareholder, are expected to invest for the long-term sustainability of industries and communities and to bring benefits to multiple stakeholders. So we have integrated a set of “Responsible Investment” guidelines into our investment decision-making process and during the investment cycle to promote the same principles and behavior among our investee companies.

To improve corporate transparency, we have recently released a corporate citizen report to update the public about Carlyle’s and our investee companies’ latest initiatives to address environmental and social issues as well as our corporate citizenship efforts. Such voluntary disclosure and our annual report, again not required for a privately-held company, are helpful to communicate our long-term value to local governments and audiences.

What I learnt from this industry shift is the importance of such foresight in investor, regulatory and public relations.”

What are some important professional lessons you have learnt over the years?

“Integrity, trustworthiness and a good reputation are probably some of the most important success factors of a great PR professional.

One should equip oneself with the ability to filter though information to communicate only those valued by the press and external audiences. During any crisis, a PR professional must possess a sound judgment to evaluate all information, even from trusted sources, and communicate information that stands up to greater scrutiny.  One must have the strategic foresight and integrity to put out information that is tested and true, in order to protect a company, its reputation and stakeholders in the long run.”

What are the three most important aspects of good corporate communications management?

“Always be honest and trustworthy with the people you communicate with.

Build relationships with journalists, long before you expect them to carry any news about your firm or client.

Do your homework well. Learn the substance of the subject you need to communicate and ensure you provide real value to journalists.”

What are some important protocol in working with the media in general?

“Be respectful of each other, even when the people you work with have limited knowledge of your industry. Help them understand your industry, business or corporate vision in a way that breaks the information down for their readers’ easy understanding, especially on complex topics.

Make yourself available and be able to meet their deadlines.”

How has online media affected investor relations management?

“Online media has impacted our work tremendously. There are now many more channels for investors and the press to get a wide range of information  almost instantly – not just from wires services. This has significantly reduced the response time for companies.

Communications professionals must react quickly with the right amount of quality information needed to address relevant situations, whether it is good or bad news. It also means that news is distributed in a more synchronised manner across countries. Companies can no longer give their local or favourite press contacts preferential treatment, which is always the industry’s best practice.”