TopGun^® Press

TopGun Investor Relations & Development Executives – Global Healthcare Sector

May 27th, 2025 by TopGun Press

Brendan Wood International is the first to quantify the demand side of the investment industry, and the leader in providing actionable “stock demand” intelligence to clients. The firm’s unique Intel supports investors, the C-Suites of public companies and broker dealers who trade securities. In supporting public companies seeking to develop their shareholder bases, we enjoy the privilege of working closely with many of the best Marketing Executives in the capital markets worldwide. Professionals in this field are generally referred to as investor relations officers, which title does not do full justice to TopGuns, who are actually a breed of brilliant and tireless marketers, who attract and retain shareholders not only of the most popular companies in the world but also of the most challenged turnaround stories. BWI’s TopGun designation recognizes both.

TopGuns are chosen exclusively, independently and objectively in +/- 2000 personal consultations with professional investors worldwide. There is no other way the TopGun designation can be obtained.

We would be remiss not single out the common attribute of TopGun Investor Marketers. Namely, their common decision to work for companies they personally believe in. Since the core objective of the role is to build investor conviction, the best of the best investor facing executives make sure that they themselves embody the conviction that they seek to inculcate in the investor mindset. We would be equally remiss not to mention that TopGuns are equally trusted by their own managements and shareholders alike. Many TopGuns are simultaneously tasked with Corporate Development or Treasury mandates. Whether or not TopGuns are tasked with dual mandates, TopGun investor facing professionals are nonetheless closer to their managements than their peers in the field. TopGuns understand the Strategy of their firms and impart that to investors masterfully, if not with authority. It is implicit, that TopGuns work with senior managements who value investors and view them as owners. Many public company boards and managements remain at a distance from investors. Some pragmatic managements feel, “if we build it they will come.” This view overlooks the vital role that investor relations executives play in creating a fertile ground of investor confidence. As a result, even effective operational managements can deprive themselves of the conviction that their communication with investors would engender. Making the CEO and Senior Management transparent and amenable to investors is a vital ambassadorial role which TopGuns influence greatly. A great many boards are unknown to the investors who elected them. This is another gap that TopGun marketers judiciously close. TopGun rated boards lead the Brendan Wood Index of 1400 companies. The top 2% of companies based upon investor demand seat, well recognized, TopGun boards.
Global Healthcare TopGun Investor Relations & Development Executives:
(Below are Verbatim Quotes from Institutional Investors)

Michael Comilla – Abbott Laboratories

“Abbott’s IR team does a very good job of bringing out the entire team everywhere they go. They all specialize in certain areas, which is really smart because you can get into more of an in-depth conversation with them.”

Andy Barnett – AstraZeneca PLC

“Astra has done a good job with their IR. Andy Barnett is doing a great job; he is well-respected by investors.”

Elizabeth (Liz) Shea – AbbVie Inc

“AbbVie’s head of IR, Liz Shea, gives good insight into things. She makes it a clean, easy to follow story.”

Larry McGrath – CVS Health Corporation

“CVS’, Larry McGrath, does a good job given the fundamental challenges that the company is facing facing. He is managing the messaging very well, and he is very responsive. He doesn’t shy away from answering the tough questions and addressing them.”

Jacquie Ross – Gilead Sciences Inc.

“Gilead’s head of IR, Jacquie Ross, is miles ahead of everyone else. She is very on top of things and gives amazing levels of disclosure.”

Frank Morgan – HCA Healthcare Inc

“HCA’s strategy has not changed, and they are very clear about it.”

Ryan Weispfenning – Medtronic plc

“Medtronic has challenges, however, putting that aside, Ryan Weispfenning does a very good job in terms of working with investors, communicating the details, and setting up events for the management team.”

Thomas Kudsk Larsen – Sanofi

“Thomas Kudsk Larsen is doing a good job at Sanofi as head of IR. He is always very communicative and very helpful. He is obviously quite new to Sanofi, but he is making his mark there.”

Source: Brendan Wood International TopGun Index

Brendan Wood International (BWI), formed in 1970, originates performance investigation programs in the capital markets, including 2000+ live consultations with its network of investment professionals overseeing +/- $60 trillion invested in the +/- 1400 big cap companies on the BWI Index. The investment quality ratings and verbatim commentary are used by investors as measurements of investor demand. Corporate issuers use the findings for investor development purposes. The firm’s partners have formally presented at 1000+ C level strategy meetings and corporate off-sites in fifty cities. Brendan Wood founded the exclusive TopGun Club, a performance based recognition institution.

Disclaimer:

We wish to emphasize that all reports, evaluations and assessments contained herein, are based on information obtained by us in our research/investigations. Most of the factual information has been obtained by us from third parties, investment professionals, on whose responses we have relied in good faith, independent verification by Brendan Wood International being, under the circumstances, impossible. Wherever possible Brendan Wood International avoids subjective judgement and opinions. However, any such inferences are based on our years of experience and on information obtained by us in the course of our research. While we believe that you will find our reports to be an invaluable tool in formulating your own strategies and judgments, the foregoing should be borne in mind. This report is not meant as investment advice and should not be interpreted as advising on the value of a company’s securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling any company’s securities or any other conclusion relating to investment/divestiture of a company’s securities. Finally, this report is not intended as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any company’s securities.