IR teams are being asked to do more, faster, with fewer resources. This evening is designed to talk honestly about how teams are actually navigating that reality.
Join NIRI Chicago at The Chicago IR Exchange: Deep Dish Insights sponsored by Q4 for an intimate, discussion-led evening with IR leaders. Expect practical insight and a candid alternative to traditional panel discussions. Experts will dive into:
- The Realities of IR in 2026 – IR leaders discuss workload pressures, evolving investor expectations, and managing limited resources.
- AI in IR: What's Working, What's Not – Early adopters share real use cases, lessons learned, and wins.
- The 2026 Outlook: Trends That Will Reshape IR – This discussion focuses on macro trends impacting capital markets and how IR teams should prepare.
The evening will wrap up with some networking and deep dish pizza!
5:30 PM - Guest Arrival & Check-In
5:45 PM - Networking & Appetizers
6:15 PM - Panel Discussion & Q&A
7:15 PM - Networking & Deep Dish
Panelists:
Joni Konstantelos
Managing Director
Riveron
Profile
Jeff Myers
Regional Head of Listings for the Midwest
NYSE
Profile
Brooks Rennie
Head of Investor Relations
Byline Bancorp, Inc.
Profile
Moderator:
Darrell Heaps
Founder, Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer
Q4
Profile
All Registrants: Free!
(Please be sure to register for accurate headcount)
Lou Malnati's (Gold Coast)
Chicago, IL 60610
Map
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Stock Tokenization:
- Stock tokenization is the process of creating digital, blockchain-based tokens that represent shares of real-world stocks, enabling 24/7 trading, fractional ownership and faster settlement.
- Typically, these tokens are backed 1:1 by underlying shares held by a custodian, allowing investors to gain exposure to equity prices through crypto wallets.
- Trading can occur around the clock. Investors can own fractions of shares. Settlement is nearly instant.
- Issuers are attracted to the concept as a way to have nearly instantaneous visibility into their shareholder bases, unlike the current delayed SEC filing process.
- This innovation reduces reliance on legacy intermediaries, lowering costs and increasing accessibility, while posing risks to traditional stock exchange models and raising regulatory concerns.
23/5 Trading:
- An initiative to introduce 23-hours-a-day, five-days-a-week (23/5) trading for U.S. equities is aiming for a launch in the second half of 2026.
- This initiative responds to global demand, with a proposed "Day Session" from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET and new "Night Session" from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. ET, pausing for one hour maintenance.
- The demand is also due in part to the increased influence of retail trading.
- While increasing access, experts suggest this shift could heighten volatility, increase the influence of algorithmic/AI trading, and reduce the effectiveness of traditional market timing.
- The initiative represents a major evolution in market structure, aiming to make U.S. stock trading closer to the 24/7 crypto markets.
- This could cause challenges with disclosure requirements and practices, including the timing of earnings releases and conference calls.
Artificial Intelligence's Impact on IR:
- Artificial intelligence is transforming the IR function into a proactive, strategic driver by automating routine tasks, analyzing sentiment and enhancing investor targeting.
- AI serves as a "force multiplier" for IR officers, who can use generative AI to draft communications, monitor market trends and simulate analyst questions, allowing IROs to focus on relationship-driven engagement.
- AI is also clearly being utilized by the buy-side and is increasingly driving construction of Q&As from analysts and investors.
- The presence of AI has the potential to change how earnings calls are structured and executed to optimize their consumption by AI engines.
- AI cannot replace the trust and nuance required in human relationships. It requires human review to preempt inaccuracies and ensure consistent messaging.
Event sponsored by:
