Macquarie University Appoints Interim AI Chief
Macquarie University has named Richard Watts‑Seale, the technical lead of its AI transformation program, as interim head of AI after Phil Laufenberg departed for a pro‑vice‑chancellorship at La Trobe University. The university assures that its AI initiatives, including the in‑house generative assistant ChatMQ used by 3,500 staff, will proceed uninterrupted. ChatMQ currently integrates OpenAI’s ChatGPT models via Microsoft Azure and Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet on AWS, with plans to add Google’s Gemini. La Trobe hired Laufenberg as both pro‑vice‑chancellor for AI and chief AI officer, signaling its own AI‑first strategy.
NACS CEO Frank Gleeson on the Evolution of Convenience Retail
NACS president and CEO Frank Gleeson says the convenience‑store sector is shedding its fuel‑and‑tobacco identity in favor of a food‑centric, digitally connected model. He notes that foodservice has become the primary growth engine, while loyalty programs, personalization and enhanced customer...
Orica Builds a Conversational AI Assistant for HR
Orica has launched a conversational AI assistant that sits atop its fragmented HR technology stack, using ServiceNow's MoveWorks overlay and Now Assist. The tool integrates SAP SuccessFactors, Dayforce, SharePoint and other systems, delivering natural‑language, multilingual support through Microsoft Teams. A proof‑of‑concept...
How Advisors Are Leveling Up With 351 ETF Conversions
Section 351 ETF conversions are emerging as a growth engine for registered investment advisors, allowing them to bundle existing client assets into a new exchange‑traded fund without triggering immediate capital‑gains taxes. The process streamlines trading, rebalancing, and compliance while preserving the...
IRS Watchdog Cites Resource Limits, Duplication in Partnership Audits
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) reported that limited resources and duplicated review steps have crippled the IRS’s partnership audit initiatives. A soft‑letter campaign to 483 large partnerships generated few usable responses, and the Large Partnership Compliance program...
UPS Retracts Driver Buyout Option in 13 States Under Union Pressure
UPS announced it will withdraw its $150,000 voluntary separation buyout program for parcel and linehaul drivers in 13 central states after intense pressure from Teamsters locals. The decision follows grievances filed by 37 local unions in the Central Region, which...
How to Make Change Feel Normal — Instead of Threatening — to Your Team
Leaders often turn to motivational speakers to spark enthusiasm during organizational change, but research shows inspiration alone is insufficient. Gartner finds only 32 % of leaders achieve healthy change adoption, while routinizing change is three times more effective. Embedding micro‑changes into...
$300 AI Tool Kits Let Criminals Bypass Bank Security
Criminals can now purchase AI‑enabled identity‑fraud kits for under $300, combining stolen personal data, synthetic‑material printers and deep‑fake software to bypass bank KYC checks in minutes. Demonstrations at the 2026 RSAC conference showed tools like ProKYC feeding fabricated videos into...
‘Too Much Space,’ Says State Farm CEO on Shuttering Corporate HQ
State Farm will relocate 13,000 Bloomington employees to its Corporate South campus by the end of 2027, citing that its current headquarters occupies roughly twice the space needed. The move is part of a broader effort to trim excess real‑estate...
Citigroup's Seasoned Mortgage Pool Secured $1 Billion in RMBS
Citigroup’s Mortgage Loan Trust issued a $1 billion residential mortgage‑backed securities (RMBS) transaction, CMLTI 2026‑RP1, backed by seasoned loans originated in 2019 or earlier. The pool shows strong performance, with 90.3% of loans maintaining a clean payment history and a low delinquency...
58% of Shoppers Lose Brand Trust over Faulty AI Suggestions
Rithum’s new study of 1,046 U.S. and U.K. shoppers shows that 58% of consumers blame retailers when AI‑generated product recommendations contain errors, and 16% would abandon a purchase after a bad suggestion. In the U.K., 70% have used AI tools...
Why Does Every Case of AI Hiring a Human Feel Like a Groveling Publicity Stunt?
RentAHuman, a gig platform that lets AI agents hire humans, has grown to over 660,000 "rentable" users but its job listings consist mainly of gimmicky tasks such as holding signs at Shibuya Crossing or releasing a lobster for a Claude‑based...
Tambourine Reimagines Nevis for a New Era of Luxury Travel, Honored with 2025 Adrian Award
Tambourine, a Fort Lauderdale hospitality marketing firm, earned a Silver 2025 Adrian Award for its comprehensive rebrand and digital overhaul of Nevis. The initiative lifted mobile engagement by 84%, hotel leads by 75%, and restaurant leads by a staggering 2,281%,...
ICHRAs, Local Health Networks Empower Employees to Access Better Care
Employers are rapidly moving from traditional defined‑benefit health plans to defined‑contribution models, chiefly through Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRA). Mercer projects average employer healthcare spending to hit $18,500 per employee by 2026, making cost predictability a priority. Employees cite...
Eight Pro Tips on Using Real-Time AI Language Translation in B-to-B Events
B-to-B event organizers are increasingly adopting real-time AI language translation to serve global, multilingual audiences. Platforms such as Wordly and Voxo offer affordable, software‑based solutions that can be set up in minutes and include features like ASL support, customizable glossaries,...
RIA Edge 100: How Root Financial Found Growth Through Simplicity
Root Financial leveraged a straightforward YouTube video strategy to grow its assets under management to $2.4 billion in just six years. The firm’s focus on clear, consumer‑friendly content attracted over 7,900 viewers per video and generated a flood of inbound client...
M&T Bank Deploys $138M for Philly Affordable Housing Project
M&T Bank is providing a $62.1 million construction loan and a $30.2 million tax‑credit equity investment as part of a $137.5 million financing package for the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Westpark Redevelopment. The project will deliver 327 mixed‑income units, including 190 affordable apartments for...
Interview: Databricks EMEA CTO on the Company’s Global Expansion in Challenging Times
Databricks’ EMEA CTO Dael Williamson outlines the company’s aggressive global expansion despite economic headwinds, highlighted by a new 29,885‑sq‑ft London headquarters and a $250 million R&D investment in India. The firm is capitalising on a projected three‑fold surge in the enterprise...
CYBERCOM 2.0 Seeks to ‘Deny Adversaries Freedom of Maneuver’
The Department of Defense is rolling out CYBERCOM 2.0, a revamped force‑generation model aimed at retaining elite cyber talent, deepening specialization, and preparing for AI‑driven threats. The initiative integrates cyber capabilities across all warfighting domains, treating the cyber sphere as connective...
AI Social Media Scams Are Coming for Your Accounting Firm: Why DNS Filtering Belongs in Your Security Stack
Artificial intelligence is enabling highly personalized social‑media phishing campaigns that target accountants with fake client messages, ads and login pages. These AI‑driven scams increase the risk of wire fraud, data theft and ransomware for firms handling sensitive financial information. DNS...
What TikTok’s Volatility Means for Retail Media Planning
TikTok’s uninstall rates have surged roughly 150% as U.S. regulatory uncertainty intensifies, prompting retailers to reassess video spend. The spike highlights the risk of concentrating advertising budgets on a single social feed during critical back‑to‑school and holiday periods. Marketers are...
Canadian Auto Production Fell in 2025 as Tariffs and Other Uncertainty Took a Bite
Canadian auto production slipped another 7% in 2025, falling to 1.2 million vehicles, marking a second consecutive year of decline. The drop is largely attributed to the United States’ 25% tariffs imposed in March and lingering uncertainty around the electric‑vehicle transition....
Assisted Prospecting with Clay in HubSpot (Part 2) | Webinar
The March 25, 2026 webinar walks viewers through an all‑bound prospecting system built on HubSpot and Clay. It shows how sales teams translate real‑time signals into daily outreach lists, prepare in minutes, and execute multi‑channel campaigns across email, calls, LinkedIn, and video....
YouTube Just Lowered the Bar for Affiliate Earnings—Now Creators With 500 Subscribers Can Cash In
YouTube has lowered the entry barrier for its Affiliate Shopping program, now allowing creators with just 500 subscribers to earn commissions on product tags. Eligible creators must also meet YouTube Partner Program criteria, such as three recent uploads and either...
Liability Under Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave
Massachusetts courts have clarified that the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law imposes liability only on employer entities, not on individual officers or directors. A Superior Court ruling dismissed claims against individuals, while the Supreme Judicial Court affirmed that...
Coming Soon: An Unusual Situation at the Fed’s Top Position
The Federal Reserve’s leadership transition has hit a snag as Justice Department investigators probe former Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks about a Fed building renovation. Senator Thom Tillis is refusing to advance the confirmation of incoming Chair Kevin Warsh until the...
Wealthsimple Gets Regulatory Approval to Enter Prediction Markets
Wealthsimple, the Toronto‑based fintech valued at roughly $10 billion, secured initial approval from the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) to launch prediction‑market contracts linked to economic indicators, financial markets and climate trends. The clearance permits binary “yes‑or‑no” forecast contracts, though the...
Federal Leaders Shift Workforce Strategies to Support AI Integration
Federal agencies, led by NASA and the Department of Transportation, are overhauling workforce strategies to accommodate AI‑augmented workflows. They plan to inventory current roles, map skill needs for the next three to six years, and launch upskilling, reskilling, and cross‑skilling...
Important Lessons From Running a Successful Video Game Crowdfunding Campaign
At GDC Festival of Gaming 2026, Playable Worlds’ vice‑president Niina Fujioka detailed how their Kickstarter campaign for the MMORPG *Stars Reach* exceeded its goal by over four times. The success stemmed from a story‑focused trailer, a modest funding target, and...
The Evolution of Fund Governance to Meet Investor Expectations
Independent directors in hedge funds have shifted from mere compliance roles to strategic pillars of governance, reflecting heightened investor scrutiny after the 2008 crisis. Investors now demand evidence of active board oversight, including meeting frequency, valuation challenges, and conflict management....
Helical Names Robert Fowlds as Chair, Richard Cotton to Step Down
Helical, a leading commercial‑real‑estate data platform, announced that long‑time chair Richard Cotton will depart at the end of April. Robert Fowlds has been named the new chair, effective immediately. The transition follows a period of steady growth for Helical’s subscription‑based...
How Lowe’s Creator Network Is Winning over the Next Generation of Shoppers
Lowe’s has rolled out a Creator Network, partnering with top influencers such as YouTuber MrBeast to reach Generation Alpha before they become homeowners. The program, launched in June 2025, offers creators personalized storefronts on Lowe’s site and commissions on sales,...
Bond Yields Fall After Promising Iran News, Offering Relief Following Latest Mortgage Rate Jump
Mortgage rates surged to a 6.43% 30‑year fixed level as the Iran conflict intensified, pushing borrowing costs higher. Ten‑year Treasury yields fell to around 4.32% after reports of U.S.–Tehran de‑escalation talks, offering a modest relief for mortgage pricing. The Federal...
Doctors Announce Six-Day Strike in England as Talks Break Down
Resident doctors in England will commence a six‑day strike on 7 April after the British Medical Association (BMA) rejected a government offer of a 3.5% pay rise. The dispute, now the 15th walk‑out since March 2023, also centers on job shortages and...
Meta Expands AI Commerce and Launches Small Business Initiative to Accelerate Adoption
Meta announced AI‑driven commerce upgrades for Facebook and Instagram, adding real‑time summaries of user reviews, brand insights, and product recommendations within ads. The company also rolled out an updated in‑app checkout powered by Stripe and PayPal, with future integrations planned...
Mars Accelerates Expansion Following Landmark Kellanova Acquisition
Mars Snacking announced 600 new jobs at its Chicago headquarters, following its $36 bn acquisition of Kellanova in December 2025. The company will occupy Kellanova’s former offices and a new hub in Fulton Market, bringing together its North American region, Accelerator...
Google Analytics Launches Scenario Planner and Projections via @Sejournal, @Brookeosmundson
Google Analytics has introduced two new beta tools—Scenario Planner and Projections—to help advertisers model and monitor paid‑media budgets across Google and non‑Google channels. Scenario Planner lets users simulate future budget allocations and forecast impacts on conversions, revenue, or ROI, while...
Maersk Warns of Prolonged Hormuz Shutdown as Shipping Costs Surge
Maersk warned that the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed to commercial traffic, forcing a reshaping of its global shipping network. The carrier announced an Emergency Bunker Surcharge and a Hormuz Freight surcharge to cover higher fuel and rerouting costs....
Starter Guide to UK Sanctions
The UK government’s starter guide outlines who must comply with sanctions, the types of measures—financial, trade, transport, immigration and director disqualification—and the reporting obligations for firms. It explains how designated persons and specified ships are identified, how asset freezes operate,...
Handle with Care: Many Workers Keen to Share Layoff Experience Online
A new Careerminds report finds that 69% of workers are willing to share or have already posted negative layoff experiences on platforms like LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Reddit, turning dismissals into public brand events. Layoffs are expected to remain common, with...
Corporate Report: HM Treasury Women in Finance Annual Review (March 2026)
The HM Treasury Women in Finance Annual Review for March 2026 shows signatories are advancing on their Charter commitments. In 2025, 71 % of participating firms either met or are on track to meet their targets for female representation in senior management....
Guidance: Women in Finance Charter
In 2015 a government‑commissioned review found women comprised only 14% of executive committees in UK financial services. The findings spurred HM Treasury to launch the Women in Finance Charter, now signed by over 400 firms representing roughly 1.1 million employees worldwide....
Zapier and Rillet Connect AI-Native ERP to Broader Finance Stack
Zapier and Rillet have announced an integration that links Rillet’s AI‑native general ledger with Zapier’s workflow‑orchestration platform, giving finance teams access to more than 8,000 business applications. The partnership lets AI agents handle core accounting tasks while Zapier automates data...
How Listening Is Shaping ‘Incredible’ Year for AICPA Chair Lexy Kessler
Lexy Kessler, AICPA chair, has leveraged a listening‑first approach to drive tangible change in the accounting profession. By leading the National Pipeline Advisory Group, she helped identify education cost and time as licensure barriers, prompting Ohio and over 25 states...
Minnesota Bank Bolsters C-Suite with Climate First Alums
B2 Bank, a Minnesota community lender owned by fintech entrepreneur Brian Barnes, has appointed three former Climate First Bank executives—Ryan Jaskiewicz as CEO, Chris Cucci as president, and Chris Van Buskirk as chief credit and risk officer. The new C‑suite brings...
Ex-Focus Exec’s RIA Investment Firm Makes First Bet With Texas Deal
Accelerated Wealth Partners, a new RIA investment platform backed by $200 million from J.C. Flowers, announced its first deal—a minority stake in Houston‑based RIA Advisors. RIA Advisors manages roughly $1.84 billion in assets and employs 27 staff, and will use the capital...
From Impression to Install: CTV Attribution and the Leadout That Doesn’t Get the Glory
The YouAppi‑Kochava 2026 CTV Growth Guide reveals that connected‑TV (CTV) ads precede search in 96% of install paths and social in 94%, positioning CTV as the true origin of user intent. Despite capturing 17.9% of U.S. media consumption, brands allocate...
Comcast: ‘Redefining Performance TV’ At IAB NewFronts
Comcast Advertising used its IAB NewFronts slot to unveil a new "performance TV" product that unifies targeting and attribution across its premium linear and streaming inventory. The solution promises advertisers more precise audience reach and clearer measurement of campaign outcomes....