- Horse Racing
- Team Sports
- Outdoor Recreation
- Kayaking
- Gym Workouts
- Wine Tasting
- NASCAR
- DIY and Home Improvement
- I like looking at the stars and learning about constellations
Ian Lyons, CFA
Winchester,MA
Summary
Dynamic and results-oriented executive with extensive experience in institutional equity research sales, investor relations, and business development across global markets. Expertise in managing complex client relationships, driving revenue growth, and navigating procurement ecosystems within Fortune 100 companies. Proficient in equity, multi-asset, and commodities research, with strong command of financial platforms and CRM systems. Renowned for thought leadership, compliance standards, and delivering actionable insights that empower buy-side clients; holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation with deep understanding of global markets and investment strategy.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Residential Solar Consultant
Sunrun, Inc
05.2023 - Current
- Developed deep product expertise to confidently communicate technical and financial aspects of residential solar solutions
- Articulated features and benefits through compelling presentations tailored to individual homeowner needs, explaining complex in simple terms.
- Employed a consultative, question-based selling approach to uncover customer motivations and drive engagement
- Initiated and nurtured client relationships, conducting in-home consultations to present and demonstrate solar systems
- Prepared and delivered persuasive presentations that translated complex concepts into clear value propositions
- Collaborated cross-functionally with designers, installers, and service teams to ensure seamless project execution
- Leveraged mathematics, economics, and Excel modeling to quantify and illustrate long-term solar savings
- Utilized knowledge of commodities (natural gas, oil, uranium, copper) to highlight risks of fossil fuel scarcity and volatility
- Applied understanding of utilities, rate base economics, monopolies, and regulation to build a compelling case for rising electricity prices
- Achieved top-tier customer satisfaction, earning the highest number of Google 5-star reviews in the firm
- Exceeded sales quota by 300%, consistently outperforming targets through strategic selling and customer trust
- Demonstrated leadership and team-building skills, contributing to a high-performing, collaborative sales culture
- Maintain detailed records of customer interactions and pipeline activity using CRM tools, AI for customer follow up
- Represent Sunrun’s mission to create a planet run by the sun through ethical, customer-first sales practices
Financial Services Advisor
TD Bank
02.2022 - 11.2022
- Provided day-to-day financial support to retail banking clients while delivering strong customer service in a fast-paced, client-facing environment
- Received extensive training in retail banking products—including mortgages, trust accounts, home equity loans, and credit cards—as well as annuities and customer engagement protocols
- Utilized question-based selling skills and the ability to explain complex topics in simple terms to optimize product selection for customers
- Learned Salesforce software to manage client interactions and support service delivery
- Obtained Massachusetts State Life Insurance License
Sales Associate
Lowe’s
08.2021 - 02.2022
- Promoted from Lawn & Garden to Millwork and Doors based on performance
- Delivered solution-focused customer service and applied question-based selling to upsell and cross-sell
- Helped customers define full project needs and matched products accordingly
SVP, Institutional Equity Research Sales
Morningstar, LLC
03.2018 - 02.2021
- Learned the investment case for companies, articulated actionable ideals to Tier One Buyside Portfolio Managers and Analysts,
- Applied Morningstar’s MOAT methodology and authored investment ideas integrating valuation, quant analysis, and macro data, asked questions, collaborated with analysts.
- Managed Tier One institutional relationships and distributed research to PMs and analysts using Salesforce
- Increased firm vote ratings by 10 market share rankings and boosted regional revenues by 30%
- Reconciled quarterly votes and payments based on readership metrics, 1.7 million points of contact, data base management.
- Account coverage, New England FMR, Wellington, GMO, Putnam, Columbia Threadneedle, Baupost, Pyramis, Birch Hill, Amica, Manulife, Wells Fargo, Denver Janus Capital, Cambior.
Vice President, Investor Relations & Sales
Electrovaya
08.2017 - 03.2018
- Collaborated with the CEO, CFO, COO, led investor relations strategy for the publicly traded lithium-ion battery manufacturer, using PowerPoint and Zoom to communicate financial performance and ESG impact
- Sold ceramic lithium-ion battery systems to logistics companies, replacing legacy lead-acid batteries in industrial fleets
- Prospected for new business opportunities, utilizing relationship management skills, getting to hard to contact key decision makers.
- Identified procurement barriers in Fortune 100 companies and navigated vendor ecosystems to introduce new product classifications
- Initiated key relationship with Raymond Corporation via Abel Womack, a leading forklift distributor in the Northeast
- Collaborated with engineering teams to tailor battery solutions
Director of Research
Detwiler Fenton
02.2017 - 08.2017
- Led research sourcing for institutional investors, focusing on proprietary data points across diverse industries
- Conducted expert interviews and authored research notes on apparel, retail, semiconductors, social media, telecom, energy, and agriculture
- Communicated insights to QIBs, including a 2017 semiconductor contact’s comment: “Nvidia appears best positioned given current market dynamics”
- Ensured FINRA-compliant data point usage in collaboration with compliance teams
Executive Director, Institutional Research Sales
Nomura
05.2014 - 07.2016
- Learned the investment case for companies, employed a focused, actionable ideas approach.
- Authored sales commentary and investment ideas; improved European research rankings from below 20th to top 3
- Managed tier-one institutional relationships in Boston, including client engagement and revenue growth
- Client facing, led client meetings with PMs, analysts, CIOs, and broker liaisons; prepared Excel-based tracking tools for internal strategy
- Orchestrated roadshows for European Equity analysts, Economics, Strategy, Quant teams, deal and non-deal roadshows with C-Suite management teams
Director, Institutional Research Sales
Société Générale (SG)
01.2003 - 04.2014
- Managed global institutional accounts and developed strategies across equity, ETF, and multi-asset research
- Identified asset price and liquidity risks at the start of the 2007 financial crisis; partnered with cross-asset teams to deliver solutions
- Differentiated commodities research by analyzing physical market vs. fund flow dynamics
- Received highest votes at the firm, from Equity Portfolio Managers and Analyst's, Economics, Asset Allocation, Derivatives, Cross Asse for Institutional Equity Research Sales
- Improved European rankings from below 20th to top 5–1st positions
- Integrated ECM operations with trading desks and payment systems, executed accelerated book builds
- Collaborated with Societe Generale CEO, CFO, IR, CIB division leaders
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Economics Business Administration
The University of Western Ontario
London, OntarioSkills
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Client relationship management
- Expertise in product features and benefits
- Data-driven decision making
- Engaging communication techniques
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Analytical problem-solving
- Capital markets expertise
- Knowledge of renewable energy technologies
- Knowledge of industry compliance standards
- CRM and data management experience
Accomplishments
- Highest Google 5-Star ratings at Sunrun Nationally
- Exceeded sales targets by 300%
- Awarded the highest number of votes for Institutional Equity Sales
- Won the Canadian National Highschool Stock Market Competition
- Won the Abbott Men's Golf Tournament
- Wife and I raised three fantastic daughters!
Certification
- CFA Charter Holder
- FINRA Series 7
- FINRA Series 63
- FINRA Series 24
- FINRA SIE
- State of Massachusetts Insurance License
- Canadian Securities Course
- Canadian Securities Options Course
Interests
Timeline
Residential Solar Consultant
Sunrun, Inc
05.2023 - Current
Financial Services Advisor
TD Bank
02.2022 - 11.2022
Sales Associate
Lowe’s
08.2021 - 02.2022
SVP, Institutional Equity Research Sales
Morningstar, LLC
03.2018 - 02.2021
Vice President, Investor Relations & Sales
Electrovaya
08.2017 - 03.2018
Director of Research
Detwiler Fenton
02.2017 - 08.2017
Executive Director, Institutional Research Sales
Nomura
05.2014 - 07.2016
Director, Institutional Research Sales
Société Générale (SG)
01.2003 - 04.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Economics Business Administration
The University of Western Ontario