Breakout Ventures Closes $114M Fund, Plans 20 Investments
Breakout Ventures announced the close of a new $114 million venture fund, its first dedicated vehicle, aimed at backing roughly 20 early‑stage companies. The capital raise underscores the firm’s confidence in high‑growth sectors such as SaaS, fintech and artificial intelligence. Breakout plans to deploy the money over the next 18‑24 months, targeting seed and Series A rounds. The fund’s size places it among the mid‑tier early‑stage funds that have been proliferating this year.
Private Equity’s Rising Use of RWI-Fueled Searchlight’s Euclid Exit
Searchlight Capital’s Euclid fund achieved a $4 billion distribution to its limited partners, defying a generally sluggish private‑equity exit environment. The performance was driven by a series of recent portfolio company sales that leveraged the firm’s revenue‑weighted investment (RWI) methodology. By...
OceanSound Hires TPG’s Laura Noisten to Lead Capital Markets
OceanSound announced the appointment of Laura Noisten, formerly of TPG, as head of capital markets. The move comes as the firm prepares for a significant expansion in size and operational complexity. Noisten will be tasked with building the necessary capital...
Aalberts Reports the Progress of Its Share Buyback Programme 02 – 06 March 2026
Aalberts N.V. disclosed that between 2 March and 6 March 2026 it repurchased 166,300 shares for €5,602,990.88, at an average price of €33.69 per share. This transaction brings the cumulative buyback to 197,900 shares worth €6.72 million since the programme’s launch on 27 February...
Executive Coaching Without Clear Purpose Is Just Conversation
Executive coaching only delivers impact when anchored to a clearly defined business purpose. CHROs must identify the specific leadership gap, transition or cultural challenge before any session begins. Research shows 61% of new executives feel unprepared, contributing to a 50‑60%...
How Automation Prepares You for Agentic NetOps
Enterprises embracing cloud and AI still perform most NetOps tasks manually, creating scalability and error‑prone challenges. Network automation promises to cut human error, improve security, and lower operating costs, serving as the foundation for the emerging agentic NetOps model. By...
Denis Beau: Economic Developments in France and the Euro Area
Denis Beau highlighted that France and the euro area have remained surprisingly resilient despite a cascade of shocks, including the Covid‑19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and heightened trade tensions. Inflation has dropped sharply, reaching 1.7 % in January and nearing...
NSE Tells Brokers to Disclose and Remit Excess STT Retained for FY24 and Earlier Years
India’s National Stock Exchange has issued a circular directing all brokers and sub‑brokers to disclose any Securities Transaction Tax (STT) collected but not yet deposited for FY 2023‑24 and earlier periods. The directive follows a notice from the Income Tax Department...
Datadog Announces Local UK Storage for Regulated Industries
Datadog will open a UK‑resident data centre later this year, offering local storage for operational data. The move targets regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, government and higher education, where data‑governance rules are tightening. Local hosting reduces latency and lets...
Employers Failing to Assess Homeworker Safety, Says HSE
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) warns that many employers are neglecting their legal duty to assess health and safety risks for home‑based staff. Recent ONS data show that 25% of workers are hybrid and 13% fully remote, meaning...
SS Innovations Raises $18.6M as Surgical Robot Nears US Market
SS Innovations announced an $18.6 million private placement to accelerate its global rollout, including a U.S. launch of the SSi Mantra surgical robot. The company filed for FDA 510(k) clearance in December, with a decision expected by mid‑2026, and aims to compete...
Michele Bullock: Listening to Australians, Interpreting the Data and Setting Monetary Policy
Michele Bullock, the Reserve Bank of Australia governor, outlined why the Board unanimously raised the cash rate in February. She highlighted that inflationary pressures have intensified since mid‑2022, driven by capacity constraints and a still‑tight labour market. Underlying price growth...
Sarah Hunter: Recent Refinements to the Dual Mandate and Navigating Back to Target
Sarah Hunter, speaking at a Norway conference, outlined the outcomes of the 2022‑23 Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) review and the subsequent refinements to its dual mandate. The review praised three decades of strong economic performance under flexible inflation targeting...
Hormuz Has Exposed Shipping’s New Visibility Divide
The recent missile and drone attacks in the Strait of Hormuz exposed a stark visibility divide in maritime logistics. While insurers pulled war‑risk coverage and AIS signals were jammed, some operators leveraged digital twins and scenario modelling to reroute traffic...
Ocado Might Disagree, but Kroger’s Tough Decisions Around Its E-Commerce Re-Think Were the Right Thing to Do. New CEO Gregory...
Gregory Foran, Kroger’s new CEO, has backed the company’s 2023 decision to scrap its Ocado‑run automated fulfillment centers and pivot to a hybrid model that uses stores as local hubs and partners with UberEats, DoorDash and Instacart. The move is...
Edward Matthew Named VP, International A&R and Head of Creative for Scandinavia at Warner Chappell
Warner Chappell Music has appointed Edward Matthew as Vice President of International A&R and Head of Creative for Scandinavia, operating from Stockholm and reporting to Shani Gonzales and Lars Karlsson. Matthew, founder of the Stockholm‑based Lilly Raye Music, has partnered with Warner Chappell since 2019, with...
ERP News Magazine March 2026 – Issue #58
ERP News Magazine released its March 2026 Issue 58, spotlighting the rise of intelligent ERP and the transformation of CRM into an intelligence layer. The edition features expert interviews on AI‑driven ERP workflows, agent‑mediated commerce, adaptive transformation delivery, and cloud‑centric modernization....
Former CEO Tom Heidman Becomes Supervisory Director at Jumbo
Tom Heidman, former interim CEO of Jumbo, has been appointed to the Dutch retailer’s Supervisory Board as vice‑chair, replacing Piet Coelewij whose term ends on March 28, 2026. He will join chair Colette Cloosterman‑van Eerd, Jacqueline Hoogerbrugge and Edwin Bouwman starting April 1, 2026....
BioNTech Co-Founders to Exit Company and Start a New One
Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci announced they will leave BioNTech by the end of 2026 to launch a new company focused on next‑generation mRNA technologies. BioNTech will concurrently narrow its portfolio, concentrating on late‑stage therapeutic candidates and its existing vaccine...
How a Former USAID Staffer Returned to Entrepreneurship
After USAID’s 2025 workforce reductions, senior digital adviser Siobhan Green re‑entered entrepreneurship, co‑founding Fenix Digital with ten former colleagues. The consultancy, structured as an equity‑based LLC, blends cash contributions and labor tracked by time cards, allowing members to share risk...
Open-Source Software Can Help Indian IT Startups Crack a $100B Untapped Market
Indian IT startups are pivoting from traditional outsourcing to serving domestic MSMEs by deploying open‑source ERP platforms such as Odoo. The Indian MSME digitisation market is projected to reach $100 billion by 2035, creating a massive revenue pool. Odoo’s partner programme...
How to Build a Successful In-House Agency
In‑housing has shifted from a cost‑cutting tactic to a strategic function, with brands seeking tighter integration, accountability and outcome‑based measurement. A new Campaign Red report shows 66 % of UK and EMEA marketing leaders intend to expand their in‑house agency scope,...
PureGym CIO Andy Caddy Keeps the Sector Fit for Growth
PureGym’s Group CIO Andy Caddy is steering the fast‑growing fitness chain through a digital‑first strategy as it expands to 720 gyms across the UK, Denmark, Switzerland, the US and the Middle East. The team owns the end‑to‑end online membership platform...
Established Beauty Brands Risk Stagnation without Operational Discipline, Says Natural Spa Factory Founder
Natural Spa Factory founder warns that beauty brands hitting £5m revenue often stall because they cling to the tactics that got them to £500k. Over‑reliance on existing retail partners, rising customer‑acquisition costs and thin margins signal deeper operational gaps. Adding...
Build a Strong Culture of Recognition | 2-Minute Video
Recognition drives engagement; Awardco study shows a 40‑point drop without it. HRMorning episode with Laura Shanley explains building a continuous recognition culture across remote, hybrid, and on‑site settings. Simple practices like two‑minute meeting shout‑outs boost well‑being, with recognized employees 2.4×...
Renfrewshire Council Awarded Menopause Friendly Accreditation
Renfrewshire Council, Scotland’s ninth‑largest authority, earned Menopause Friendly Accreditation after a comprehensive programme supporting its predominantly female workforce. With 75% of its 8,500 employees women averaging 46 years old, the council introduced paid menopause leave, monthly “Let’s Pause” gatherings, and...
Why Founder Storytelling Is Essential for PR Visibility
Founder storytelling has become a cornerstone of modern PR, shifting focus from product features to the personal motivations behind businesses. Authentic narratives, like Sam Naughton's miscarriage‑inspired clinic and Nicky Wake's grief‑driven ventures, generate deeper media interest and trust. These stories...
Basil Health Raises $1.5 Mn in Pre-Series A Round
Indian beverage startup Basil Health announced a $1.5 million pre‑Series A raise from Whiteboard Capital, Brigade REAP, Barbershop Fund and several angel investors. The capital will fund expansion of its IoT‑enabled kiosk and automated beverage machine network beyond Delhi NCR, Bangalore and...
Bonnier News Notches Another Strong Business Result, and CEO Is Bullish on 2026
Bonnier News reported 2025 EBITA of SEK 1.08 billion, a 29% YoY increase, on revenue of SEK 10.9 billion, up 3%. Digital subscription revenue surged 14% with the +Allt bundle reaching nearly 500,000 digital subscribers and over 1.1 million total users. Reader revenue...
Markets Showing Immutable Laws in Action on Iran, Says BlackRock's Wei Li
BlackRock chief global investment strategist Wei Li argued that the market’s reaction to the Iran war illustrates enduring financial principles rather than a blanket risk‑off shift. Oil prices surged roughly 8% as the conflict escalated, pushing U.S. Treasury yields up...
AI Can Double Output. Human Biology Can’t
Accenture recently tied senior‑manager promotions to AI‑tool usage, signaling a broader corporate shift that treats AI‑driven output as a new performance baseline. Companies are increasingly using generative tools to double data analysis, coding speed, and meeting volume, then resetting targets...
Caroline Abel: Opening Remarks - "Navigating Risk and Resilience - AML/CFT Strategies for a Transparent Financial System for Reporting Entities...
Caroline Abel opened a workshop in Seychelles to boost AML/CFT resilience, highlighting a partnership with the London Stock Exchange Group’s Risk Division. The session underscored the island’s ongoing legal and supervisory reforms, driven by past Mutual Evaluations and national risk...
Ardian to Add Italian Business to Self-Storage Platform; Bridgepoint’s Fera Science Makes Mineral Play
Ardian announced the acquisition of an Italian self‑storage business, adding it to its pan‑European platform. The deal gives the platform operations in Italy, complementing existing assets in France and the UK. Meanwhile, Bridgepoint’s portfolio company Fera Science, which provides scientific...
5 Tips for Communicating the Value of IT
CIOs are under growing pressure to prove that technology drives profit, not just costs. Industry analysts and senior IT leaders argue that communicating IT value requires regular, business‑focused storytelling rather than technical jargon. They recommend highlighting tangible outcomes, using stakeholder‑centric...
How Voice AI Is Redefining Sales in 2026
Voice AI, a $3.2 billion market today, is set to exceed $47 billion in the next decade, reshaping both B2B and B2C sales. AI agents automate demo creation, handle outbound calls, and personalize interactions, dramatically cutting production time and labor. Real‑time lead...
US February NFIB Small Business Optimism Index 98.8 vs 99.6 Expected
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index slipped to 98.8 in February, missing the 99.6 consensus. Despite the dip, the reading stays above the 52‑year historical average of 98. NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg noted higher sales and profits but warned...
Tandem Bank Names Finance Veteran as New Chair
Tandem Bank has named Stephen Jones, a veteran of UK banking, as its new chair. Jones currently serves as executive chair of investment banking at Panmure Liberum and previously held senior roles at Santander, Barclays, and UK Finance. He succeeds Paul Pester, who...
Lotus to Leverage Reduced EV Import Tariffs in Canada
Geely‑owned Lotus will become the first Chinese electric‑vehicle brand to sell in Canada under a newly reduced import tariff of 6.1 %, as announced by CEO Feng Qingfeng. The Canadian government will issue up to 24,500 permits per six‑month period, cutting...
Starbucks Launches Tiered Loyalty Program to Boost Engagement
Starbucks introduced a three‑tier Rewards program—Green, Gold and Reserve—aimed at deepening engagement among its 35.5 million U.S. members. The new structure raises star‑earning rates from 1 Star per dollar at entry level to 1.7 Stars for Reserve members and eliminates star expiration for...
Uzbekistan’s Uzum Hits $2.3B Valuation as Fintech Drives Growth
Uzbek fintech platform Uzum secured a $131.5 million investment led by Oman’s sovereign wealth funds, lifting its valuation 53% to $2.3 billion. The round combines $81.5 million in equity and $50 million in convertible notes as the company eyes a $250‑300 million pre‑IPO raise in...
Stagwell Posts 2% Q4 Growth
Stagwell reported fourth‑quarter revenue of $807 million, a modest 2% increase, and adjusted EBITDA rose 3% to $129 million. The company highlighted a strategic shift toward artificial‑intelligence‑driven services, positioning AI as the engine for future growth. It also announced a $350 million expansion...
Iran War Could Knock UK Homebuyer Confidence, Says Builder Persimmon
Persimmon warned that the escalating conflict with Iran could erode UK home‑buyer confidence, adding pressure to an already fragile mortgage market. The builder still expects to complete 12,000‑12,500 homes in 2026, a modest rise on 2025, and reported a 9%...
New University Comic Brings Menopause in the Workplace to Life
A new comic titled "Navigating Menopause in the Workplace" has been created by University of Aberdeen PhD researcher Chithramali Rodrigo and a cross‑disciplinary team to translate menopause research into an accessible visual format. The story follows Melanie’s journey from symptom...
Ryozo Himino: Japan's Economy and Monetary Policy
Ryozo Himino delivered a speech in Wakayama outlining Japan’s macro‑economic landscape through a detailed AD‑AS diagram. He organized endogenous variables in a circular layout, positioning stable exogenous factors at the core and short‑lived variables on the periphery. The presentation linked...
National Grid: Raising Economic Moat Rating to Narrow and Fair Value Estimate
Morningstar raised National Grid’s economic moat rating to Narrow and lifted its fair‑value estimate by 19% to GBX 1,440. The utility accepted the final RIIO‑T3 2026‑31 regulatory determination and extended its business plan to 2031, keeping 10% asset‑growth guidance while boosting...
3 Science-Backed Ways to Practice Optimism at Work (that Aren’t Phony or Forced)
Optimism often feels forced in corporate settings, leading to heightened stress and reduced cognitive performance. Clinical research shows that suppressing negative emotions keeps the nervous system in a threat state, limiting prefrontal cortex activity essential for planning and decision‑making. The...
Big Interview | Capital City College CPO: My Mission to Recruit, Retain & Inspire in Further Education
Trovene Hartley, Chief People Officer at Capital City College (CCC), is steering the UK’s largest further‑education provider through a period of intense staffing pressure and financial constraint. She recently resolved a nine‑month pay and conditions dispute affecting the sixth‑form campus...
Chiara Scotti: Programme for Strengthening the Central Bank Capacities in the Western Balkans with a View to the Integration to...
The European System of Central Banks has launched Phase III of an EU‑financed technical cooperation programme to strengthen central bank capacities in the Western Balkans. Hosted by Banca d’Italia, the initiative builds on two successful phases that delivered training, internships and...
How Inclusive Leadership Drives Stronger Creativity and Performance
The article argues that inclusive leadership is now a strategic imperative for communications firms, where Millennials and Gen Z comprise nearly 60 % of the workforce and demand values‑aligned cultures. It cites data showing low employee engagement and a 23 % profitability gap...
Why Blended Workforces Fail without This New Kind of Leadership
Organizations are shifting to an "agentic" blended workforce that mixes permanent staff, freelancers, contractors, and AI agents, delivering rapid skill access and demand‑driven scaling. This model promises flexibility and resilience but exposes a leadership gap, as traditional management struggles to...