An IRO's most basic responsibility is to communicate with the investment community and shape the company narrative. This important responsibility requires IROs to interact regularly with sell-side analysts and institutional investors, helping them interpret corporate disclosures, advancing the company narrative, and sharing feedback with company management. As a result, IROs are at the center (sic) of many disclosure-related activities, including quarterly earnings conference calls and press releases, among others. Brown, Call, Clement & Sharp (2019, p. 58). Managing the narrative: Investor relations officers and corporate disclosure. REQUIRED: In the context of the above quote, discuss how the role of investor relations professionals has developed to become what it is today. What are the critical challenges to executing the role successfully? In your answer you should draw on readings, cases and regulatory developments to substantiate your answer.