Original news release written by National Investor Relations Institute, by Matt Brusch
The National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) announced that its board of directors has appointed Gary A. LaBranche, FASAE, CAE, as president and CEO effective March 17, 2017.
Mr. LaBranche, 58, is currently president and CEO of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), a global organization of 59 chapters in 10 countries, $29 million in revenue and 160 staff. ACG serves 90,000 investors, lenders, executives and advisors to middle market companies, including 14,500 global members and 1,000 private equity firms.
An association executive for more than 35 years, Mr. LaBranche has served as CEO for three organizations. A leader in the association community, he was named a Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in 1995, and was the ASAE Key Award winner for 2007, the highest award in the profession. ASSOCIATION TRENDS named him the 2012 Association Executive of the Year. He is also a member of the U.S. Chamber’s Association Committee of 100.
NIRI board chair Valerie Haertel said, “We are thrilled to welcome Gary LaBranche to the NIRI community. Gary is a visionary leader with a stellar record of strengthening, growing and transforming professional associations. Through the course of his successful career he has proven to be thoughtful, inclusive and collaborative in working with all stakeholders for the betterment of the associations he has led. We will benefit from his financial markets and association industry knowledge as we continue to reimagine NIRI to ultimately serve our members in new and innovative ways.
“The search committee and our board were very impressed by Gary’s experience in shaping his associations’ strategies, globally expanding chapters and membership, and improving member benefits. We look forward to, among other things, leveraging Gary’s advocacy experience to articulate and continue raising awareness of the key role the investor relations profession plays in ensuring effective capital markets.”
“I am very honored and excited by this opportunity to lead NIRI in its next stage of growth as the leading global investor relations professional association,” said Mr. LaBranche. “My key initial priorities will be quickly getting to know NIRI, its members, chapter leaders, NIRI Fellows, NIRI Senior Roundtable members and staff, and working with the media, regulators, sponsors and other important stakeholders. NIRI is widely respected with a stellar reputation as the investor relations association, and I am eager to begin building on this excellent foundation. I look forward to engaging NIRI members and leaders to learn their aspirations for the future of the IR profession, and to working with them to advance toward that envisioned future, transforming NIRI for the benefit of all members.”