EVC Group

You have a healthcare IR specialty? Where did you learn the industry?

I have been around the medical technology, biotech and pharmaceutical sectors since 2005. During that time, I served as head of investor relations for a New jersey–based, small–cap oncology–focused biopharma company, and was a senior, lead account manager for investor relations agencies specializing in the biotech, specialty pharma and medical device sectors. I have worked with public and pre–IPO companies from early and advanced stage clinical development to commercial stage in a variety of disease areas, including oncology, urology, therapeutic dermatology, neurology and respiratory.

Prior to 2005, I spent more than 10 years in capital markets intelligence and helped large–cap, high–tech and biotech companies develop and execute institutional investor targeting strategies for North America, Europe and Asia.

Did working in an internal investor relations role help you as part of an agency?

Absolutely! How better to understand, be responsive to and anticipate clients’ needs than to be in their shoes? My in–house IR experience helps me be a better counselor to senior managers because I understand the daily demands executive management makes on the IR program, the importance of being management’s ear on Wall Street and the need to ensure that management’s time with Wall Street is efficient. And as a former corporate IRO, I know what I wanted from my agency partner and I deliver that now to my clients — senior level IR counsel and knowledge of best practices, responsiveness, dependable and consistent daily program execution, strategic and analytical thinking, and solid relationships with Wall Street.

EVC Group talks a lot about relationships. Why is it so important to the firm?

We deliver results for clients. On the IR side, that could be expanding sell–side analyst coverage, broadening the shareholder base, introducing clients to investment bankers or landing presentation slots at bank–sponsored investor conferences. On the PR side, that could be landing coverage in a financial media or trade publication, or a TV spot. To deliver these results, we need to have solid relationships with Wall Street and the media–not just one person, but everyone at EVC. For example, we build our knowledge about who can own our clients, and what their investment objectives and drivers are. We use this knowledge to qualify good target investors for our clients, as well as apply the knowledge to position our client in the marketplace and refine communications to investors.

You’re in EVC Group’s NY office. Are you from the East Coast?

Anybody who meets me will know immediately that I’m not a native New Yorker. I grew up in Petaluma, a small town north of San Francisco that used to be known as the arm–wrestling capital of the world. Seriously. Check it out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petaluma,_California.

How do you unwind from the pressure of work?

I wouldn’t call it unwinding, but when I’m not working, I’m likely chasing around my three young kids. I have a passion for cycling, and on the off–chance that I have “me time,” I will get on my vintage red Specialized Allez and find a nice quiet country road.

More questions for Greg? Contact us.