NIRI replaces Humphries after seven months

By IR Web Report Staff

THE U.S. National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) has replaced its CEO Nancy Humphries after just seven months in the job and appointed veteran NIRI staffer Linda Kelleher as interim CEO.

In a statement, the NIRI board said Humphries, 57, was “leaving NIRI to pursue other interests.”

Replaced: Nancy Humphries

A former head of investor relations and financial communications at BellSouth Corporation for more than 10 years, Humphries took over as NIRI CEO in July last year on the retirement of Lou Thompson, who guided the organization for 24 years.

Kelleher extraordinarily qualified as interim CEO

Announcing the appointment of the much-respected Kelleher, 54, as interim CEO and board member, NIRI chairman Maureen T. Wolff-Reid said that while the board would conduct a formal search for a new leader, Kelleher is “extraordinarily qualified for the new responsibilities she has accepted as interim CEO.”

Those sentiments were echoed by Matthew V. Stroud, Darden Restaurants’ Vice President of investor relations who will become NIRI chairman in March.

“Due to her many years of experience and her tremendous track record of achievement, Linda has earned the respect, support and confidence of all the NIRI board members as well as the NIRI membership,” said Stroud. “We are confident in her ability to lead NIRI in the months ahead.”

“Sharpening our focus”

Kelleher joined the 4,400-member organization in 1983 and has served as vice president of education, executive director of the NIRI Education Foundation and secretary to the board. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and completed the Wharton Executive Education Program in Strategic Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania and Northwestern University’s Advanced Investor Relations Integrated Communications Seminar.

“I look forward to serving the NIRI membership as interim CEO,” said Kelleher in the statement. “As a result of my long tenure at NIRI in several operating roles, and as secretary to the board of directors, I have a deep appreciation for the needs of our members and the value NIRI plays in its commitment to advancing the profession.”

She said was committed to “sharpening our focus” and increasing NIRI’s “relevance and value to its members while advancing the profession.”

NIRI recently completed a survey of members which reportedly found that members want the organization to provide more research, thought leadership and networking opportunities.

Related: Humphries gone from Niri; Kelleher steps up as interim CEO (IR Magazine)

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