ARIR (the Romanian Investor Relations Association), the promoter of Investor Relations (IR) best practices in Romania, brought together representatives of the capital market, listed companies, investors and IR professionals for the eighth edition of Gala by ARIR, the annual event recognising performance in communication with investors, transparency and Investor Relations.
This year’s awards recognised 16 listed companies and the professionals behind their Investor Relations activity, based on both the assessment of international institutional investors through Extel and the evaluation of an independent jury of capital market professionals.
ARIR included distinctions for companies and executives across areas ranging from overall IR performance and annual reporting to ESG communication, digital communication, IR events and innovation, alongside special awards reflecting important developments in Romania’s capital market.
„For eight years, Gala by ARIR has recognised excellence in Investor Relations, awarding both companies and the professionals who build strong relationships with investors. Every year, however, we also celebrate the people behind these companies. Behind every well-prepared annual report is someone who stayed up late checking the numbers. Behind an earnings call is a team that anticipated the difficult questions. Behind a CEO who speaks confidently to investors are CFOs, IROs, legal, communications and sustainability teams, as well as Board members. Sometimes, behind a single sentence in a report are dozens of conversations, analyses and decisions. That is why, when we see the names of the companies on the screen and applaud the winners, I invite you to also applaud the people behind them,” underlines Daniela Maior, president and co-founder of ARIR.
The Gala by ARIR 2026 awards based on the ARIR & Extel assessment were:
Best Company in IR: Banca Transilvania; OMV Petrom; MedLife; Sphera Franchise Group; Transgaz.
Best IR Program: Banca Transilvania; OMV Petrom; MedLife.
Best CEO for IR: Omer Tetik (Banca Transilvania); Christina Verchere (OMV Petrom).
Best CFO for IR: George Călinescu, (Banca Transilvania); Alina Popa (OMV Petrom); Valentin Budeș (Sphera Franchise Group).
Best IRO: Aurel Bernat and Diana Mazurchievici (Banca Transilvania); Adriana Marin and Mădălina Gherman-Băltărețu (OMV Petrom); Cătălin Tuță (Transgaz).
Best IR Team: Banca Transilvania; OMV Petrom; Transgaz.
The Gala by ARIR 2026 awards based on the ARIR jury evaluation were:
Best Annual Report: OMV Petrom; Antibiotice; AROBS Transilvania Software; Cris-Tim Family Holding.
Best ESG Performance & Communication: OMV Petrom; AROBS Transilvania Software.
Best IR Website: OMV Petrom.
Best IR Event: Electrica.
Best IR Representative: Raluca Kasap (Electrica).
Best IR Innovation: Banca Transilvania; Transport Trade Services.
Best IR Use of Social Media: Banca Transilvania; One United Properties.
AeRO Company of the Year – Mention: ASCENDIA.
Four additional distinctions recognised companies whose recent activity has marked relevant moments for the Romanian capital market and the development of Investor Relations:
Special Prize for Successful Listing and Post-Listing Evolution: Electro-Alfa International.
Special Prize for International Recognition: DN AGRAR Group.
Special Prize for Consistency in IR: Nuclearelectrica.
Special Prize for Communication in Times of Change: Transelectrica.
Extel, formerly known as Institutional Investor Research, has conducted independent research for more than five decades, assessing performance across major financial markets and stakeholder groups. For the Investor Relations industry, Extel gathers the views of international investment and sell-side professionals, who evaluate companies’ CEOs, CFOs, IROs and IR programmes against a broad range of performance criteria.
The jury included Mădălina Andrei, Chief Investment Officer at BT Pensii; Răzvan Rusu, Portfolio Manager at Allianz Pensii; Mugur Popescu, Investment Director at BCR Pensii; Luiza Buzea, CSR Executive at Metropolitan Life; Andrei Svoronos, Associate Director at EBRD; Alexandra Smedoiu, Vice President of CFA Romania; Daniela Ropotă and Mihai Căruntu, Vice Presidents of AAFBR; Dorina Dinu, Equity Research Director at TradeVille; Elena Uleia, Portfolio Manager at Prime Transaction; and individual investors Rareș Mihăilă, Cătălin Chivu and Răzvan Mihăescu.
The jury’s assessment complemented the perspective of international institutional investors gathered through Extel, bringing together different views from across the investment and capital market community.
The Gala by ARIR awards recognise the year-round efforts to strengthen Investor Relations practices in Romania, improve dialogue between listed companies and investors, and align the local market more closely with international standards.
The 2026 jury brought together professionals with extensive experience in investments, asset management, capital markets and Investor Relations, whose evaluation complemented the institutional investor perspective provided through Extel.
Strategic Partners: Bucharest Stock Exchange, Banca Transilvania, OMV Petrom, Forvis Mazars.
Main Partners: Raiffeisen Bank International, Raiffeisen Bank, ICAP CRIF, TRANSELECTRICA, Electro-Alfa International, Transgaz.
Media Partners: Agerpres, Financial Intelligence, Financial Market, Money.ro, Piața Financiară, The Diplomat Bucharest and KLARMEDIA.
About the Romanian Investor Relations Association (ARIR)
ARIR promotes Investor Relations (IR) in Romania. We believe that by following high standards of transparency and corporate governance, and by maintaining proactive communication with investors, our members can create additional value, improve access to financing and build the reputation and trust required for long-term business development.
The Romanian Investor Relations Association – ARIR was founded in November 2018 at the initiative of Daniela Maior (Șerban), together with its founding members: Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), Franklin Templeton Management – Bucharest, Hidroelectrica, Nuclearelectrica, Teraplast, Transelectrica and Tony Romani.
The community was subsequently joined by Electrica, OMV Petrom, Antibiotice, Purcari, BRK Financial Group, Banca Transilvania, Transgaz, MedLife, Romcarbon, Farmaceutica REMEDIA, Autonom, IMPACT Developer & Contractor, One United Properties, Transport Trade Services, Patria Bank, BRD – Groupe Société Générale, Rompetrol, AQUILA, Bento, ROMGAZ, DN AGRAR, Sphera Franchise Group, ROCA Industry, Connections, 2performant and Electro-Alfa International as Associate Members.
ENVISIA, RTPR, Forvis Mazars, Marsh Broker de Asigurare – Reasigurare, Clifford Chance Badea, ICAP CRIF and XBRL Center joined ARIR as Affiliate Members.