Mark R. Benfield

Founder @Fulcrum Investor Relations & Communications

GA, US

Preparing to take a company public? Set up an Investor Relations function? Take the stress out of quarterly reporting? You need an expert on your team to provide reliable advice to develop sound investor communication strategies and drive shareholder engagement. In aviation, the fulcrum of an aircraft is the point at which the nose and tail are balanced; maintaining this balance requires careful calculation. Working with Fulcrum IR will help you calculate the steps necessary to achieve balance between the complexities of running a business and the stability external shareholders expect. Unlike others, I’ve spent a decade working for a mid-size industrial company in roles including Interim VP of Finance, ED of FP & A, Director of IR, Director of Government Affairs, and Manager of New BD. That means I get where you’re coming from and have dealt with your same problems. One of the most dangerous things a company can do is trust bad information and operate on assumptions. I approach problems with a quantitative, unbiased approach, then make an assessment with the best data available. I require everyone to get together to straightforwardly discuss assumptions that are being made and gain buy-in along the way for how to deal with missing information. That way, data drives recommendations instead of pre-conceived notions and no one is left out the loop about assumptions made to produce models. If you work with me, I’ll start by spending time face-to-face to understand your current processes. I’ll then gain buy-in from key stakeholders to implement industry best practices for IR and Communications. I know how to with a wide range of audiences from financial analysts to investors.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Kenan-Flagler Business School

Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Mercer University

BA