What change in the industry over the past decade has had the biggest impact on your role?
Sophie Warrick, Head of EMEA Equity Research - J.P. Morgan
The scale and diversity of our client base. The number of contacts we speak to has grown significantly, the frequency with which they wish to engage with our analysts has increased, and their range of investment styles and time horizons is broader than in the past. Driving the right resource allocation and prioritisation—and ensuring our content is fit for purpose in both substance and delivery for this growing set of client needs—has been a defining feature of the past ten years and continues to evolve.
Michelle Teitsch, Director of Americas Equity Research - Morgan Stanley
The most significant change has been the pace and breadth of information flow, driven by technology, data availability, and evolving client expectations. Research analysts today must balance depth with speed, delivering differentiated insights while navigating an increasingly crowded and real‑time information environment.
This shift has elevated the importance of clarity, prioritization, and strategic thinking. It’s no longer enough to produce excellent analysis; teams must also articulate why it matters, how it fits into broader market narratives, and where it creates actionable value for clients. A key goal of our Research department has become delivering signal through noise, helping clients focus on what is most relevant and durable amid constant information flow.
At the same time, the role has become more collaborative. Cross‑asset perspectives, closer engagement with corporates, and global connectivity are now essential. Leading research today requires the ability to integrate diverse viewpoints, develop talent, and adapt continuously as markets and the industry evolve.
Pam Finelli, Associate Director and COO, Global Research - Deutsche Bank
The rapid evolution and integration of Artificial Intelligence that has profoundly impacted my role as COO for a Research division . My mandate now heavily involves accelerating AI adoption to benefit our analysts and processes. AI is helpful for so many parts of financial analysis and is providing meaningful productivity gains. This frees our analysts from routine and low value tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities: critical thinking, nuanced client engagement, and developing more innovative analyses. Embracing these technologies and understanding how best to leverage them to unlock new opportunities is so important for anyone in a research organization aiming to stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.
Anne Malone, Managing Director Head of NAM Equity Research - Citi Research
The most impactful change in the capital markets industry over the past decade has been the increasing importance of corporate access for institutional clients. This means that successful analysts must not only provide deep research and commercial insights but also cultivate strong relationships with corporate managements to secure access opportunities. Since interpersonal skills can influence these decisions, an analyst's skillset must extend beyond traditional written and oral communication or stock analysis. They must be the kind of analyst that clients and management teams genuinely enjoy spending time with. When evaluating candidates, I now look beyond their written output and stock-picking acumen, focusing on their corporate relationship-building capabilities. This is an indicator of their ability to secure client access and become a trusted advisor.
