Peter W. McDermott

Peter W. McDermott Profile Photo

Senior Client Partner, Global Corporate Affairs and IR, Head of Corporate Affairs Practice NA

Based in New York City, Peter McDermott is Senior Client Partner, Global Corporate Affairs and IR, and Head of the Corporate Affairs Practice for North America, for Korn Ferry.

A seasoned corporate affairs search consultant, with both US and European experience, Mr. McDermott has an impressive international track record placing senior-level corporate communications, IR, financial communications, corporate and public affairs, and brand PR talent, across a wide spectrum of clients.

Mr. McDermott joined Korn Ferry from a global boutique firm specialized in the communications and IR functions, where he held leadership positions in both their London and New York offices. Mr. McDermott also spent time in the APAC region doing both candidate and business development. Previously, Mr. McDermott was with a global executive search firm, where he supported diverse financial services practices through research, candidate identification and outreach.

He began his career as an intern with Bloomberg LP.

Mr. McDermott is active in several of the professional organizations that are connected with the top functional leaders; He serves on the board of the National Investor Relations Institute, New York; and is part of the team that sponsors the Korn Ferry/NIRI Study of the function. He is also Vice Chair, on the Operating Committee and co-Chair of the Membership Committee of Page Up, part of the Arthur W. Page Society, and on the Board of The LAGRANT Foundation, which promotes diversity in the field of advertising, marketing, and public relations. He is also on the Diversity Action Alliance Advisory Committee. Mr. McDermott is a graduate of the University of Richmond with a bachelor's degree in Rhetoric and Communications Studies and American Studies, coupled with a concentration in Ethnic Studies and a minor in History.

July 7, 2025

Navigating IR Job Searches Beyond LinkedIn

Networking strategies for senior IR roles beyond LinkedIn: professional organizations, personal outreach, and strategic follow-ups with finance teams.
June 25, 2025

What are Some Resume Red Flags?

How hiring managers weigh recent job turnover, and how candidates can explain frequent moves and keep non-corporate experience verifiable.
May 22, 2025

Can Experience Outshine Credentials in IR?

Whether IR candidates need a CFA or MBA, and how people coming from communications roles can compete with credentialed finance candidates.
April 30, 2025

Entrepreneurs: Cohesive Career Story from Spotty Resume

How founders and entrepreneurs can turn a spotty resume into a cohesive story by tying career moves together and showing impact in short roles.
April 25, 2025

How Can You Avoid Common Resume Pitfalls?

Common resume mistakes, like logos, charts, and clutter, and how to show career progression and impact clearly for recruiters.
April 18, 2025

Which Credentials Matter For Investor Relations Careers

Which credentials matter in investor relations, from the CFA and IRC to the MBA and CPA, and why hiring managers also weigh overall fit.
April 16, 2025

What is Activism and How Can IR Teams Be Prepared?

How shareholder activism has evolved, from board seats to ESG demands, and why IR teams must be proactive and data-driven to prepare.
April 9, 2025

The Evolution of Finance Roles: Peter McDermott on IR Careers

Recruiter Peter McDermott on why more analysts and finance professionals are moving into IR, and why CFOs value candidates with street experience.
April 8, 2025

Job Searching During Uncertain Times

Josh Wilson and Peter McDermott on job searching amid layoffs and market turmoil, and why uncertainty can create opportunities in investor relations.
April 4, 2025

Compensation in Investor Relations

Peter McDermott on how IR compensation is structured at public companies: base salary, bonus, and equity, with creative vesting schedules.
March 28, 2025

Managing Hot Topics in Investor Relations

How IR leaders are handling conversations about ESG and DEI amid activist scrutiny and political shifts.
March 26, 2025

How Do You Get Into Investor Relations

Recruiter Peter McDermott on how IR evolved from a rotation into a career path, and the accounting, finance, and communications backgrounds people come from.
March 21, 2025

Understanding The IR Function From Boards Seats to C-Suites

Peter McDermott on what boards, CEOs, and CFOs often misunderstand about investor relations, and why it's about more than the stock price.
March 18, 2025

The Evolution of Investor Relations: From PR to Strategic Partner

Peter McDermott on how investor relations evolved from a communications role into a strategic finance partner, with most IROs now reporting to the CFO.