The Institute for Influencer and Industry Analyst Relations (IIAR>) has announced the winners of its 2025 annual awards, as determined by votes from industry analysts and analyst relations (AR) professionals. These awards are the only independent honours dedicated to recognising excellence within the technology industry’s AR and analyst professions.
To determine the winners, the IIAR> conducted two global surveys, gathering input from both AR professionals across various sectors and industry analysts. This unique approach, combining both sides, ensures broad coverage of expertise and perspectives. The evaluation process relied on the IIAR> SOSM methodology, which highlights best practices by assessing factors such as perceived impact on sales, strategic insights, media resonance, and the ease of collaboration with professionals.
This year, AR professionals from 11 different countries cast their votes, offering valuable insights into both the perceived benefits of engaging with analysts and the value analyst firms deliver to their clients. Among respondents, 61% represented organisations with annual revenues exceeding USD 1 billion. The average AR team size was 18 members (up by 3 compared to previous data), with a median team size of 7 (an increase of 2). Analyst firms were evaluated on:
- Quality of Analysts – the knowledge, quality and accessibility of analysts based on technology areas; industry insights and geo coverage
- Coverage Depth -the firm’s coverage of industry segment
- Content Quality – the quality and readability of research coverage for technology areas; industry insights and geo coverage
- Website and/or App – the ease of information access using the analyst firm website and / or App. The ease of booking enquiry and briefing calls with the analysts using the website
- Value for Money – the value for money with respect to the level of insight provided
- Client experience – experience taking into account the commercial aspect (sales helpfulness, flexibility, offerings transparency, etc)
The IIAR> analyst survey drew respondents from 59 firms across 31 countries. These analysts represented a broad spectrum of industries, ensuring extensive coverage of sectors and the AR professionals with whom they collaborate. The feedback collected was specifically aligned with the IIAR>’s “3Rs of Analyst Relations” framework, which serves as a foundation for assessing and guiding AR practices.
In 2025, analysts prioritise results-driven AR engagements, focusing on business impact, strategic insights, and open, confidential communication. However, frustrations arise from delayed responses, lack of follow-up, irrelevant information, and an overemphasis on marketing messages at the expense of transparency and relevance.
- Responsiveness – analysts expect AR pros to revert to them in a timely fashion with the information required for their research.
- Relationships – analysts have many stakeholders; they rely on someone easy to deal with who always goes that extra mile.
- Results – can AR pros deliver results for their employers?
Overall, the respondents from the 2025 IIAR> Awards Survey expressed their main challenges as centered around the need for more authentic expertise, ethical practices, personalised engagement and balanced focus from analyst firms and AR professionals. Respondents seek improved collaboration, transparency and value from both analyst firms and the AR community.
Aniruddho Mukherjee / IIAR> Board Member (@aniruddho, LinkedIn)
The IIAR> Analyst Awards 2025 winners
For the 17th year, AR professionals from 11 countries voted in the IIAR> Awards, to reward analysts who have made significant contributions to the community.
IIAR>Analyst of the Year 2025, Americas : Chirag Dekate / Gartner
IAR> Analyst of the Year 2025, Americas: Chirag Dekate / VP Quantum Technologies (Computing, Networking, Sensing), AI, Digital R&D, Emerging Tech / Gartner (LinkedIn).
Runner ups: Ed Anderson / Gartner (LinkedIn) and Patrick Moorhead / Moor Insights (LinkedIn).
IIAR> Analyst of the Year 2025, EMEA:
Jen Thomson / IDC
IIAR> Analyst of the Year 2025, EMEA: Jen Thomson / Associate Vice President Accelerated App Delivery, Cloud and Services Research, Europe, IDC (LinkedIn).
Runner ups: Alessandro Galimberti / Gartner (LinkedIn) and Andrew Buss / IDC (LinkedIn).
IIAR> Analyst of the Year 2025, APAC : Akimasa Nakao / Gartner
IIAR> Analyst of the Year 2025, APAC: Akimasa Nakao / Senior Principal Analyst, Gartner (LinkedIn).
Runner ups: Adrian Wong / Gartner (LinkedIn) and Shen Wang / Omdia (LInkedIn).
IIAR> Analyst Firm of the Year 2025: Omdia
We are delighted to announce that Omdia has won the IIAR> Analyst Firm of the Year Award, based on votes from the Analyst Relations community, breaking IDC’s impressive five-year streak at the top. IDC claimed second place, with Gartner, Everest Group, and Verdantix completing this year’s top five.
IIAR> New Analyst of the Year 2025: Mark Jaggers / Gartner
IIAR> New Analyst of the Year 2025: Mark Jaggers / Senior Director Analyst, Gartner (LinkedIn).
Runner ups: Jason Bremner / IDC (LinkedIn), Norkit Lepcha / Avasant (LinkedIn)
IIAR> Analyst Client Partner of the Year 2025, Americas : Alex Viscusi / Informa TechTarget
IIAR> Analyst Client Partner Of the Year 2025, Americas: Alex Viscusi / Account Director, Portfolio Sales, Informa TechTarget (LinkedIn).
Runner ups: Michael DeVagno / Informa TechTarget (LinkedIn), Kristina Miller / Gartner (LinkedIn).
IIAR> Analyst Client Partner of the Year 2025, EMEA: Judith Justin / IDC
IIAR> Analyst Client Partner Of the Year 2025, EMEA: Judith Justin / Associate Vice President Sales, Europe Core, IDC (LinkedIn).
Runner ups: Jonny Trick / Forrester (LinkedIn), Burns Taylor / Omdia (LinkedIn).
IIAR> Analyst Client Partner of the Year 2025, APAC: Karthik Jayakumar / Omdia
IIAR> Analyst Client Partner Of the Year 2025, APAC: Karthik Jayakumar / Director, Asia Pacific (ANZ, South East Asia & India), Omdia (LinkedIn).
Runner ups: Priyanka Chib / Avasant (LinkedIn), Cecilia C. / Frost & Sullivan (LinkedIn).
The IIAR> Analyst Relations Awards of the Year 2025 winners.
Thanks to the analyst community for taking time to vote and recognise their AR counterparts.
The IIAR>’s recognition of excellence within the analyst relations community marks a pivotal moment for our industry—not only as a celebration of the outstanding work of colleagues and peers but also as a valuable opportunity to gather insights directly from analysts. Responses from analysts representing over 59 firms form the foundation of this process and the resulting awards. Analysts were encouraged to provide detailed, constructive feedback, offering AR professionals the unique chance to engage in a two-way dialogue. We deeply appreciate the analyst community for dedicating their time and thoughtful input amidst their demanding schedules, including vendor briefings and research commitments. A heartfelt thanks to all who participated!
IIAR> AR Professional of the Year 2025, Americas: Stephanie Look / Google
IIAR> AR Professional of the Year 2025, Americas: Stephanie Look / Head of Analyst Relations, Google (LinkedIn)
Runner ups: Kayli Berlin / Databricks (LinkedIn), Jane Biba / Lumen (LinkedIn).
IIAR> AR Professional of the Year 2025, APAC: Irene Chow / Equinix
IIAR> AR Professional of the Year 2025, APAC: Irene Chow / Analyst Relations Lead, Asia Pacific (LinkedIn)
Runner ups: Shweta Wadhwa / Wipro (LinkedIn), Edgar Yang / Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (LinkedIn).
IIAR> AR Professional of the Year 2025, EMEA: Michael Rennett / SUSE
IIAR> AR Professional of the Year 2025, EMEA: Michael Rennett / Director, Analyst Relations, SUSE (LinkedIn)
Runner ups: Amanda Lopez / HPE (LinkedIn), Norbert Bras / PwC (LinkedIn).
IIAR> AR Team of the Year 2025: Google
In addition, analysts also voted Google the best IIAR> AR Team of the Year. This category recognises teams at Megavendors, defined as companies with over USD 20 billion in global annual revenues and providing a mix of three or more of the following: IT hardware, networking equipment, telecommunication services, enterprise software, IT services and outsourcing, and business consulting.
Google was closely followed by Amazon, Cisco, IBM and Microsoft all in this megavendors AR teams ranking.
IIAR> AR Agency of the Year 2025, Americas: Spotlight AR
Rick Nash / CEO, Spotlight AR (LinkedIn)
IIAR> AR Agency of the Year 2025, EMEA: Starsight Communications
Analyst relations veteran Ludovic Leforestier is the Founder, Starsight Communications (@lludovic, LinkedIn), voted top analyst relations EMEA agency in 2025 by industry analysts.
A category for agencies providing analyst relations services sees Spotlight AR and Starsight Communications in the top position in 2025 from Americas and EMEA respectively. Large unspecialised agencies and PR freelancers were equally shunned by analysts, demonstrating the value of specialist AR skills and staff.
Starsight Communications (see video of Ludovic Leforestier above) is followed by Loenberg AR and Dennington AR ; Spotlight AR is followed by Schaffer AR, Vested, WE and AR Insights in the Americas,
See the list of IIAR> Member AR Agencies here.
The Institute for Influencer and Analyst Relations (IIAR>) is a not-for-profit member organisation established to raise awareness of analyst relations and the value of industry analysts, promote best practice amongst analyst relations professionals, enhance communication between analyst firms and vendors, and offer opportunities for AR practitioners to network with their industry peers.
Past IIAR> Awards
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