More than one third of IR professionals come from a corporate financial background, while less than a quarter come from other corporate backgrounds. Just under three in 10 worked in capital markets immediately before switching to IR.
Regionally, North American IR professionals are most likely to come from a corporate finance background and least likely to come from a marketing or communications background. European IR professionals are the most likely to have previously worked in the capital markets.
According to market cap, fewer small-cap IR professionals come from corporate finance and more have a
communications background than is found at other cap sizes. Interestingly, mega-cap IR departments have the lowest proportion of members coming from a capital markets background, although this may be due to the sheer size and diversity of IR departments at such companies.
There is little difference between IR heads and IROs with regards to coming from a corporate or capital markets background. The main differences lie in more IROs coming from corporate finance and more IR heads having previously worked on the sell side.