Confidence in the markets is also built through words: *Beyond the Numbers*, the new book by Ivan Dompé
From extraordinary transactions to corporate crises, right through to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence: in *Oltre i numeri* (Beyond the Numbers), published by *Il Sole 24 ORE*, Ivan Dompé explains how financial communication affects companies’ reputations and their relationships with investors. Available at newsagents from 5 November and in bookshops from 6 November 2026
How is trust in the markets built? And what role does communication play in financial transactions, crises and changes in governance? These are the questions at the heart of Beyond the Numbers. Inside Financial Communication: rules, strategies and corporate life, the book by Ivan Dompé published by Il Sole 24 ORE, available at newsagents from 5 November 2026 and in bookshops from 6 November 2026. The book weaves together regulatory analysis, operational tools and business case studies to explore a profession that contributes to corporate reputation and relationships with investors, the media and stakeholders.
The theme of trust and transparency in globalised and digitalised markets, which forms the focus of the foreword, sets the tone for the book. “The ability to build trust, interpret change and manage relationships with stakeholders is set to become indispensable. The pages of this essay offer a valuable opportunity to better understand this challenge and the skills needed to tackle it”, emphasises Paolo Boccardelli, Rector of Luiss Guido Carli University.
Behind financial statements and extraordinary transactions lies a less visible body of work, consisting of relationship-building, information management and consensus-building. Dompé traces this journey through several key moments in the history of Italian capitalism: from the Olivetti/Telecom case to Pirelli, right up to the most recent events involving MPS, Mediobanca and Generali. The cases of Pirelli, Prysmian, Del Vecchio-Generali and Telecom Italia are used to explore in depth how communication plays a part in extraordinary transactions, crises and changes in corporate governance. The experiences and testimonies gathered from key figures in the financial world thus complement the analysis of the mechanisms that drive the markets.
The starting point is the evolution of the financial communicator: no longer merely a spokesperson, but a managerial figure called upon to interpret the context, ensure the quality of information and contribute to the company’s strategic decisions. Technical expertise, curiosity, active listening and continuous learning are the skills that underpin the transition from a profession once considered peripheral to a discipline central to governance and reputation.
The relationship between rules and responsibility is explored through an analysis of the Consob Regulation and the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR), with particular attention paid to the management of inside information and information symmetry. The discussion extends to the Corporate Governance Code and the ‘comply or explain’ principle, linking corporate identity, the quality of governance and sustainable success: a company’s reputation is inextricably linked to the way it is led.
