ARIR (the Romanian Investor Relations Association), the organisation promoting Investor Relations (IR) in Romania, will bring together listed companies, investors, financial professionals and representatives of the regional Investor Relations community on October 6, 2026, for the eighth edition of Gala by ARIR, an evening dedicated to recognising excellence and best practices in Investor Relations.
This year, awards will be presented across 14 categories, with winners selected through both Extel, the platform dedicated to international institutional investors, and the vote of a jury comprising 13 capital-market professionals.
The categories open for nominations are: Best Annual Report, Best ESG Performance & Communication, Best IR Event, Best IR Representative, Best IR Use of Social Media, Best IR Website, Best IR Innovation, Rising Star, AeRO: Best IR & Communication, AeRO: Company of the Year, and AeRO: Rising Star.
In addition, following the Extel survey conducted with the participation of local and international institutional investors, awards will be presented in the categories Best IR Program, Best CEO in IR, Best CFO in IR and Best IRO.
Special guests and international perspectives
The 2026 edition will welcome Luca Niculescu, State Secretary at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Coordinator for Romania’s OECD accession process, as a special guest. His participation brings to the Gala a perspective shaped by international relations, economic governance and Romania’s positioning within global institutions, at a time when the country continues its accession process to the OECD.
The Gala programme will also feature Oskar Yasar, an executive search specialist focused on corporate communications and Investor Relations. Over more than two decades, he has recruited for senior communications and IR roles internationally, contributing to the placement of more than 300 professionals worldwide. Before moving into executive search, Yasar worked at Citigate Dewe Rogerson, where he advised on major corporate transactions and initial public offerings, including Orange’s £9 billion pan-European IPO and E.ON’s acquisition of Powergen.
The Gala will also welcome representatives of a partner organisation from Poland, creating an opportunity to exchange experience and discuss Investor Relations practices across Central and Eastern Europe.
Their participation will add a regional dimension to conversations around investor expectations, listed-company communications and the development of stronger Investor Relations standards across CEE markets.
Hosts of Gala by ARIR 2026
The evening will be hosted by Daniela Maior, President of ARIR, and Vlad Obreja, Head of Public Affairs at ARIR.
Together, they will guide the Gala programme, introduce the key moments of the evening and provide context for discussions on Investor Relations, transparency and the evolving expectations of listed companies and investors.
They will be joined by Mihai Găinușă, journalist and one of Romania’s best-known media personalities, who will co-host the event.
Gala by ARIR 2026 Jury
The eighth edition of Gala by ARIR will bring Romania’s capital-market community together on October 6, 2026, to recognise the companies and professionals whose Investor Relations work has contributed to stronger communication, greater transparency and investor confidence.
Companies and IR professionals were invited to submit the projects, practices and results that best reflect their work over the past year. The Gala will bring these achievements to the attention of investors, issuers and capital-market leaders, while recognising the teams and professionals contributing to higher Investor Relations standards in Romania.
The submissions were evaluated by the Gala by ARIR 2026 Jury, comprising professionals from pension fund management, investments, equity research, financial associations and the individual investor community:
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; as well as individual investors Rareș Mihăilă, Cătălin Chivu and Răzvan Mihăescu.
Now in its eighth edition, Gala by ARIR reflects ARIR’s long-term commitment to advancing Investor Relations practices and supporting a stronger and more transparent Romanian capital market.
Book Your Seat
The eighth edition of Gala by ARIR will take place on October 6, 2026, bringing together the companies, investors and professionals contributing to the development of Investor Relations in Romania, alongside international and regional guests.
Book your seat and join Romania’s capital-market community for an evening dedicated to recognising performance, exchanging expertise and discussing the next standards in Investor Relations. More details here.
Strategic Partners: Bucharest Stock Exchange, Banca Transilvania, OMV Petrom, Forvis Mazars.
Main Partners: Raiffeisen Bank International, Raiffeisen Bank, ICAP CRIF, TRANSELECTRICA, Electroalfa, 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.
More information about ARIR is available at www.ir-romania.ro.