Assistant VP, Analyst Relations

The Analyst Relations AVP will lead EXL’s global Analyst Relations program to build relationships with key market analysts, such as Gartner, Forrester, IDC, and Everest Group, to support EXL’s strategic business needs. The goals of the program are threefold: 

1)    Build brand visibility and equity through positive coverage in analyst reports.
2)    Support sales and marketing by ensuring analyst recommendations of EXL to end-user clients and effective use of analyst-generated content.
3)    Support EXL’s strategy development with access to analyst interactions and research. 

The Analyst Relations AVP will report to the External Communications VP in Marketing, and will have two team members based in India, on a dotted line basis.

It is an exciting time as we integrate our advanced analytics and deep domain expertise to deliver AI-fueled enterprise services and solutions, driving outcomes for our global enterprise clients and outpacing our industry peers. The next Analyst Relations leader will transform the program to support this strategic pivot and new business lines and solutions.  

The person should have an analyst relations background (with some existing relationships with global services analysts), ability to build relationships with senior leadership and key industry analysts, excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong project management skills and demonstrated industry knowledge. This person should excel at working in a dynamic cross-functional global business environment.

Key Responsibilities 
•    Manage relationships with analyst firms, including research subscriptions, and coordinate engagements for strategy sessions, custom research, and licensed reprints.
•    Identify key analysts for ongoing coverage aligned with EXL’s strategic imperatives, and ensure engagement with internal leadership through briefings, inquiries, and other interactions.
•    Recommend, guide and schedule senior leaders for interactions with key analysts.
•    Manage analyst subscriptions for maximum value, communicate availability of inquiries and research to strategy leaders. Support ad hoc research requests as feasible.
•    Build and oversee updating of the forecast of upcoming analyst research RFIs for inclusion in research, both evaluative and topical.
•    Oversee team members in coordinating EXL’s internal process of completing analyst RFIs, client references and briefings to support EXL’s position in evaluative analyst reports.
•    Coordinate licensing and marketing promotion and sales use for high-impact evaluative research. Ensure analyst firm compliance requirements are followed. Ensure effective, appropriate use in multiple marketing channels. Provide guidelines on how to use analyst credentials to sales team.
•    Develop and communicate best practices for speaking with analysts, securing client references, and completing research RFIs. Provide workshops, templates, guidelines and coaching to communicate best practices and standards as appropriate.
•    Ensure tracking for key analyst relations metrics and materials, including analyst mentions, analyst interactions and licensed analyst report and promotion materials.  

Education Requirements
•    Bachelor’s degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or related field required.

Experience
•    At least 4 years analyst relations experience, with 10 years total experience in other communications or marketing roles. Experience in professional services space strongly preferred.
•    Experience and in-depth knowledge of the IT services industry.
•    Experience building relationships with senior executives in the U.S. and India, and proven ability to establish credibility with warmth and professionalism.