Google Retires Several Legacy Ad Format Policies
Google announced that as of March 17 it is retiring several legacy ad format policies, including those governing form ads, image quality, responsive ads, and text ads. The removal reflects the migration of these older formats into newer, automated campaign types that operate under a unified policy framework. Advertisers are now directed to adhere to the current Google Ads policies that cover AI‑driven and automated ad experiences. This cleanup streamlines the policy landscape and eliminates outdated compliance requirements.
25-Year-Old Landed a Job By Using This Old School Method: ‘It Got All of Our Attention’
Camille K. Manaois, a 25‑year‑old social‑media strategist, mailed her résumé to six firms after months of fruitless online applications. Four companies replied, and a sports‑betting firm forwarded her materials to a communications agency, leading to an interview and a senior...
Keolis Appoints Lonchamp as EVP of Finance
Keolis North America announced on March 17 that Matthieu Lonchamp will serve as Executive Vice President, Finance, joining the regional executive committee in Boston. Lonchamp arrives from Schneider Electric, where he held senior CFO roles for North America Low Voltage...
Why Toxic Leadership Backfires: Study Reveals Long‑Term Damage to Productivity and Morale
A new study by Portland State University professor Liu‑Qin Yang examined workplaces in the United States and China and found that abusive managers trigger “organizational dehumanization,” making employees feel like interchangeable cogs. This loss of humanity fuels emotional exhaustion, burnout,...
FCA Call for Input – Understanding How Our Regulation Can Help SMEs Access Finance
On 18 March 2026, the UK Financial Conduct Authority issued a Call for Input inviting stakeholders to comment on how regulation can improve small and medium‑sized enterprises’ access to finance. The FCA aims to identify regulatory barriers that raise costs...
Boreal Ventures Closes on $43m for Fund II, Targeting $60m
Boreal Ventures announced the closing of $43 million for its second venture fund, with a target of $60 million. The fund’s limited partners include the Government of Quebec via Investissement Québec, BDC Capital, the Teralys seed fund backed by La Caisse, and...
Cramer Weighs in on 'Hack Downgrade' Of Starbucks — and What's Behind Amazon's Dip
Jim Cramer’s CNBC Investing Club highlighted a market pull‑back driven by hotter‑than‑expected wholesale inflation data and rising oil prices amid Middle‑East tensions. Amazon stock slipped nearly 2% after a Reuters report warned that AI‑driven cloud spending could surge, prompting concerns...
CFP Board's New CEO Pledges to Ensure CE Requirements Run 'Smoothly'
CFP Board appointed K. Dane Snowden as its new CEO, succeeding Kevin Keller. Snowden highlighted the upcoming increase in continuing education (CE) requirements to 40 hours over a two‑year cycle, with added ethics and practice‑management components and carry‑over provisions. He...
IOCO Scraps ‘Work From Home’ – and Says It’s Boosting Productivity
iOCO, the JSE‑listed technology services group, has eliminated its work‑from‑home policy, requiring all 4,300 staff to work full‑time from the office. CEO Rhys Summerton said the change has produced measurable gains in productivity, fewer errors and higher customer satisfaction. The...
Future White Sox Owner Nears Deal For 47-Acre Potential Stadium Site
Justin Ishbia's private‑equity firm is nearing a deal to acquire a 47‑acre former Amtrak rail yard in Chicago’s South Loop, reviving prospects for a new White Sox stadium as the current Rate Field lease expires in 2029. The site, adjacent...
SMX Now: Learn How Brands Must Adapt for AI-Driven Search
Visibility now hinges on AI-driven search, not just rankings. SMX launches its monthly SMX Now webinar on April 1, featuring iPullRank experts Zach Chahalis, Patrick Schofield, and Garrett Sussman. They will unveil iPullRank’s Relevance Engineering (r19g) framework for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and an...
Small Team, Big Game: How We Built Mr. Beast’s AI-Powered Puzzle in 27 Days
Salesforce built an AI‑powered puzzle for MrBeast’s $1 million game in just six weeks, handling over 275,000 registrations and processing 4.5 billion tokens. The team deployed 78 production orgs and engineered a multi‑org sharding architecture capable of 1.5 million concurrent users without downtime....
Pizza Hut Sparks Nostalgia with Space Jam Collaboration
Pizza Hut has teamed with Warner Bros. Discovery to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Space Jam, launching a limited‑time Space Jam × Triple Treat Box priced at $21.99. The promotion coincides with the NCAA March Madness tournament, where the chain updates its...
Guidance: Preston Guidance: February 2026
The UK government has published the February 2026 Preston guidance, delivering updated earnings and interest factors for employers to calculate pension reinstatement for part‑time staff. The guidance follows landmark European Court of Justice and House of Lords decisions that granted part‑timers...
Fortinet’s AI-Driven Defense for a Machine-Speed Era
At Fortinet Accelerate 2026, the company unveiled FortiOS 8.0 and previewed FortiSOC, its cloud‑delivered Security Operations Platform. The new OS adds AI‑aware controls, deep OCR‑based DLP, expanded SASE capabilities and built‑in post‑quantum cryptography to protect the growing shadow‑AI surface. FortiSOC consolidates...
Google Brings Vehicle Feeds to Search Campaigns
Google Ads now supports vehicle feed integration in Search campaigns, allowing automotive advertisers to pull inventory from Merchant Center into text ads. The update adds clickable assets that display make, model, price and images alongside standard ad copy. Users can...
FedEx to Shutter 9 New York Parcel Centers
FedEx announced the closure of nine parcel centers in New York and one in Pennsylvania as the final phase of its Network 2.0 integration. The program consolidates legacy express and ground operations into a single surface network, aiming to cut excess...
CHPA Names Seven New Board Members and Taps Bayer’s David Tomasi as Chair-Elect
The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) announced seven new board members and named Bayer’s North America consumer‑health president David Tomasi as chair‑elect, effective March 2027. The appointments were unveiled at CHPA’s Self‑Care Leadership Summit, which gathered over 300 industry executives....
Credit Secondaries: What’s in It for Buyers?
The article examines why investors are flocking to credit‑secondaries, highlighting the asset class’s ability to purchase high‑quality debt portfolios at steep discounts. Buyers benefit from immediate cash‑flow generation, bypassing the traditional J‑curve associated with primary credit funds. Market participants also...
DRC Moves to Approve Chemaf Sale to US Firm Virtus Minerals
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is poised to approve the sale of mining firm Chemaf to U.S.-based Virtus Minerals. Under the deal, Virtus will pay $30 million for equity and commit roughly $750 million to revive the stalled Mutoshi copper‑cobalt project,...
This Startup Wants to Make Enterprise Software Look More Like a Prompt
Eragon, a San‑Francisco startup founded by former Oracle and Salesforce executive Josh Sirota, closed a $12 million Series A round at a $100 million post‑money valuation. The company is building an agentic AI operating system that lets enterprise users run and orchestrate SaaS...
Economic Uncertainty and Digital Payment Infrastructure
The ongoing Middle East conflict has driven oil‑gas price spikes, heightening economic uncertainty across the region. In the Philippines, digital‑payment platforms have become a key buffer, with 72 % of consumer transactions conducted electronically in 2025 and a three‑fold rise in...
Exclusive: SharkNinja Is Paying Employees $1 Million to Experiment with AI
SharkNinja has earmarked $1 million for a new internal AI‑innovation program called “Jailbreak.” Each week a cross‑functional panel awards winning employees cash prizes ranging from $2,500 to $25,000, with a $100,000 grand prize at year‑end. The initiative joins a growing wave...
How to Calculate the Cost of Launching a Startup
The article breaks down the hidden and visible costs of launching a startup, emphasizing that entrepreneurs often underestimate both financial outlays and the emotional toll. It highlights specific line items such as professional support subscriptions, incorporation fees, and office space...
Higher Energy Prices Might Eat Your Tax Refund, Economists Say
Stanford economists estimate that rising gasoline prices could cost the average U.S. household about $740 this year, roughly matching the projected $750 boost from the 2023 tax refund legislation. Their model assumes a brief Strait of Hormuz closure, with gasoline...
Labor Updates: LIRR, TTC
The Presidential Emergency Board’s second review of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) contract dispute sided with the five‑union coalition, recommending a 14% wage increase over four years and retroactive pay. The board deemed the union’s final offer more reasonable...
PE-Backed Tech24 Snaps up Pacific Standard Service
Tech24, a commercial foodservice equipment repair and maintenance provider, announced the acquisition of Pacific Standard Service. The deal, backed by private equity, broadens Tech24’s geographic reach and service capabilities. Pacific Standard Service adds a substantial customer base and skilled technicians...
The Design Playbook Keeping Glenfiddich on Top of the Single-Malt Scotch Market
When William Grant & Sons launched Glenfiddich in the United States in 1963, it introduced a premium single‑malt whisky to a market dominated by blended scotches. Over six decades later the brand remains the top‑selling single‑malt in America, thanks to...
Why S-Corp Status Isn’t Always the Smartest Move for High-Earning Founders and Firm Partners
High‑earning founders and firm partners often hear that electing S‑corp status will automatically cut self‑employment taxes by shifting profit to distributions. The article warns that the savings depend on a defensible salary, real compliance costs, and how the election interacts...
Third Circuit Ames to Level Playing Field for Reverse Discrimination Claimants Under New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination
On March 6, 2026, the Third Circuit in Massey v. Borough of Bergenfield held that New Jersey’s “background circumstances” rule— which required majority‑group plaintiffs to prove employer intent— is incompatible with the NJ Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). Citing the U.S....
Coca-Cola Launches FIFA World Cup 2026 Campaign in Canada
Coca‑Cola has launched a nationwide FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in Canada, featuring limited‑edition collectible cans, QR‑code contests, and Panini sticker‑tied bottles. The brand will also operate fan‑zone experiences in Toronto and Vancouver, offering product sampling, apparel customization, and social‑media‑ready installations....
After Months of Wrangling, the EU Unveils 28th Regime Plan: ‘This Is Just the Beginning’
European Union leaders announced the first formal proposal for a new "28th regime" aimed at simplifying cross‑border operations for startups. The framework seeks to harmonise licensing, tax and regulatory requirements across member states, reducing administrative friction. Initial measures include a...
What It Takes to Execute a Successful Company Turnaround
Peter Cuneo, former Marvel CEO, outlines a repeatable playbook for rescuing underperforming businesses. He stresses that cultural misalignment is often the hidden cause of failure and that diagnosing problems requires listening to insiders. Successful turnarounds hinge on assembling a decisive...
Congo Export Curbs to Keep Cobalt Scarce Till 2030
The Democratic Republic of Congo, responsible for over 70% of global cobalt, imposed an export ban in February 2025 and later introduced strict quotas, slashing refined output by roughly 20%. The curbs created an 82,000‑ton deficit in 2025 and drove...
Former Uber CEO Says Waymo ‘Obviously’ Ahead of Tesla in Robotaxi Race
Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said Waymo is clearly ahead of Tesla in the robotaxi race, citing Waymo’s proven sensor suite, lower hardware costs and 400,000 weekly rides across ten U.S. cities. He contrasted this with Tesla’s vision‑only approach, which...
TalentNeuron Launches Synappy, Bringing Conversational AI to Workforce Intelligence
TalentNeuron unveiled Synappy, an AI‑driven conversational assistant that translates massive labor‑market data into instant, evidence‑based answers for workforce decisions. Built on a platform that ingests more than 3 million job postings daily across 200+ markets, the tool tracks 65,000 skills and...
Building Material Price Growth Remains Entrenched Above 3%
The Producer Price Index shows residential construction inputs rising 0.7% in February, pushing the year‑over‑year price index for new‑home inputs to 3.4%. Goods components, which make up roughly 60% of the index, climbed 1.1% month, the strongest gain since August...
AICPA Requests Guidance on the Paid Family and Medical Leave Credit
The American Institute of CPAs has formally asked the Treasury and IRS for guidance on the revised Section 45S paid family and medical leave credit introduced by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation broadens eligibility, allowing a larger pool of employers to claim...
Condor Software Raises $24M for Life Sciences Finance Platform
Condor Software announced a $24 million Series A round, led by Insight Partners, bringing its total funding to $36 million. The capital will accelerate development of its AI‑driven financial intelligence platform that unifies clinical, operational, and accounting data for life‑science firms. Early adopters—including...
Google’s $32B Wiz Bet: Why Security Consolidation Means You’re Losing Negotiating Power
Google is reported to have renewed its bid for cloud‑security firm Wiz, lifting the offer to roughly $32 billion, which would become the largest cybersecurity acquisition ever. The deal would give Google Cloud a full‑stack security platform covering CSPM, CWPP, CIEM,...
Google’s $32B Wiz Bet: Why Security Consolidation Means You’re Losing Negotiating Power
Google has reportedly raised its bid for cloud‑security firm Wiz to about $32 billion, eclipsing its earlier $23 billion offer and setting a record for cyber‑security acquisitions. The deal would give Google ownership of a full CNAPP stack—including infrastructure, container, API, and...
Capital One Deprecated an AI Tool It Once Championed. Its DevEx Chief Says That’s the Point.
Capital One’s developer experience (DevEx) team, led by SVP Catherine McGarvey, recently retired an AI‑driven ticket‑assignment tool after engineers expressed dissatisfaction. The group emphasizes "enablement"—providing the right tools, knowledge, and feedback—to boost productivity across its 14,000 technologists. AI tooling is...
Ireland Facing Skills Wall as Hiring Demand Remains Strong
Ireland’s hiring market stays robust, with unemployment under 5% and a rise in permanent and contract vacancies, but recruiters warn the talent pool is not keeping pace. Two‑thirds of surveyed firms expect no improvement in skill availability, creating a widening...
Commission to Probe Showmax Closure
The Competition Commission announced a probe into Canal+'s compliance with the merger conditions attached to its takeover of MultiChoice, focusing on the recent shutdown of the Showmax streaming service. Regulators will assess whether Canal+ adhered to voting‑right caps and the...
Transparency Data: HMT Workforce Management Information: February 2026
HM Treasury has published its February 2026 internal workforce management data, detailing monthly staff headcounts and pay‑bill costs across the department and its agencies. The figures are presented for transparency but are not official statistics and have not been centrally...
Idealist Leads C$50 Million Growth Equity Investment in Sustainable Agriculture Company Solugen
Idealist led a C$50 million growth‑equity round in Solugen, a biotech firm that creates sustainable chemicals for agriculture using engineered enzymes. The Canada Growth Fund joined as a co‑investor, providing additional capital to accelerate Solugen’s commercial rollout. The funding is earmarked...
How a Fortune 100 Retailer Rebuilt Its Mobile Foundation To Outpace Desktop
A Fortune 100 retailer overhauled its mobile architecture, adopting a unified deep‑linking and QR‑code framework to accelerate app installs and transaction volumes. The new foundation integrated privacy‑first measurement tools, allowing the retailer to track cross‑channel performance without compromising user data....
UBS Nears Full Credit Suisse Integration by Finishing IT Project
UBS has finished migrating roughly 1.2 million former Credit Suisse clients onto its own platforms, marking a pivotal step in the three‑year integration that began after the 2023 rescue acquisition. The bank now enters the final integration phase, focusing on decommissioning...
Scotland's 'Kingdom of Fife' Shops for PR
Scotland’s Kingdom of Fife is issuing a two‑year RFP for a destination‑marketing firm to run its “Welcome to Fife” campaign. The effort seeks to brand the region as a world‑class, sustainable tourism hub, highlighting historic sites, golf courses, fishing villages...
CV Advisors and Dynasty-Backed Americana Partners Add C-Suite Talent
CV Advisors appointed fintech veteran David Sabo as its new chief technology officer to spearhead an AI‑driven technology roadmap, while Americana Partners hired seasoned finance executive Mike Mitchell as chief financial officer to steer financial strategy and expansion. CV Advisors...