🎯Today's Leadership Pulse
Updated 1h agoWhat's happening: Flying Tiger Copenhagen names Jens Aarup Mikkelsen as new group CEO
Flying Tiger Copenhagen announced Jens Aarup Mikkelsen as its new group CEO, taking over from Martin Jermiin who will remain on the Zebra A/S board. Mikkelsen steps down from his CEO International role, where he led the retailer’s franchise expansion beyond Europe since 2021. The internal succession is positioned to preserve continuity while accelerating the company’s global growth.
Also developing:
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By the numbers: Aritzia acquires Fred Segal IP to revive Melrose Avenue flagship
News•Feb 18, 2026
How to Build a Due Diligence Habit That Strengthens Every Decision You Make
The article reframes due diligence as a daily habit rather than a one‑off exercise for big deals, using a used‑car purchase as a relatable example. It outlines a repeatable framework—define what you’re buying, inspect fundamentals, verify claims, and secure documentation—before committing. Entrepreneurs who embed these steps into low‑stakes decisions develop the discipline to walk away from bad opportunities. Institutionalizing checklists and SOPs turns due diligence into a competitive advantage that speeds better, lower‑risk decisions at scale.
By Entrepreneur
News•Feb 18, 2026
N.I.H. Director Will Temporarily Run C.D.C. in Leadership Shake-Up
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the current NIH director, has been named acting director of the CDC, a role he will hold while continuing to lead the National Institutes of Health. He replaces Jim O’Neill, who is slated for a nomination to...
By New York Times – Health
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Why Knowing Your Purpose Matters More Than Having All The Answers
Fifteen years ago the author accepted Guy Kawasaki’s invitation to record a podcast despite not having a show or a clear concept. Driven by a long‑standing purpose of helping leaders improve their craft, the first episode launched a series that...
By Tanveer Naseer
News•Feb 18, 2026
Retiring Cineplex CEO Ellis Jacob to Be Honored at CinemaCon
Ellis Jacob, who has steered Canada’s Cineplex for 23 years, will receive Cinema United’s Legend of Cinema Award at CinemaCon in April. Under his leadership, Cineplex grew into the fourth‑largest theater chain in North America. Jacob also chaired Cinema United’s...
By The Wrap
![[Industry News] PQube Appoints Games Industry Veteran Dominic Wheatley as Chairman](/cdn-cgi/image/width=3840,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://mcvuk.com/wp-content/uploads/Dominic-Wheatley-PQube-1.jpg)
News•Feb 18, 2026
[Industry News] PQube Appoints Games Industry Veteran Dominic Wheatley as Chairman
PQube, a leading UK games publisher, has appointed industry veteran Dominic Wheatley as Chairman. Wheatley co‑founded Eidos and launched iconic franchises such as Tomb Raider and Championship Manager. He previously steered the growth of Catalis, Kuju, Curve Games, Testronic and Blaze...
By MCV/Develop
News•Feb 18, 2026
Think RTO Is Harmless? Top Talent Disagrees
Top talent is pushing back against strict return‑to‑office (RTO) mandates, as highlighted by JPMorgan Chase employees fearing career repercussions for opposing the policy. Research from Gartner shows high‑performers, women and millennials are most likely to leave firms with rigid RTO,...
By Human Resource Executive
News•Feb 18, 2026
The $2 Trillion Blind Spot in Modern Rewards
Most organizations still tie rewards to individual output despite vocal support for collaboration. Gallup reports U.S. employee engagement at a 10‑year low of 31% in 2024, translating to roughly $2 trillion in lost productivity. Studies show high‑quality recognition can reduce turnover...
By Human Resource Executive
Social•Feb 18, 2026
True Career Power Comes From Sovereignty, Not Branding
You don't need a better brand. You need Sovereignty. You can have a great personal brand and still feel like a passenger in your own career, waiting for permission, chasing recognition, tying your worth to a job title. Professional Sovereignty is the...
By Dr. HUME (Hume Johnson)
Social•Feb 18, 2026
Every Great Tech Team Needs Vision, Design, Execution
Every iconic tech company follows the same pattern. I’ve seen it repeat again and again. → The visionary founder who bends reality → The designer who shapes taste and experience → The quiet engineer who makes it actually work Different names. Same archetypes. Apple had them. Tesla had...
By Pascal Bornet
News•Feb 18, 2026
Intellinetics, Inc. Appoints Alison Forsythe as President and CEO
Intellinetics, a NYSE American‑listed digital transformation solutions provider, announced Alison Forsythe as its new President and Chief Executive Officer effective February 17, 2026. Forsythe brings over 20 years of SaaS and enterprise software leadership, most recently as CEO of AI‑powered...
By AI-TechPark
News•Feb 18, 2026
When Senior Leaders Are Asked To Carry Too Much
Biopharma senior leaders are increasingly shouldering operational work left behind by downsizing, stretching their capacity beyond strategic duties. The overload fragments focus, slows decisions, and erodes communication, while burnout remains hidden behind continued presence. As pressure builds, the organization’s decision‑making...
By BioSpace
News•Feb 18, 2026
Katie Collin on Why Female Leadership in the Top 100 Is Sliding
In this episode, Nikita Alexander talks with Ramsay Brown Partner Katie Collin about the recent drop in female leadership within the UK’s Top 100 firms, now down to just 12 % at senior levels. Collin attributes the decline to cyclical workload pressures that...
By Accountancy Age
Podcast•Feb 18, 2026•36 min
Lessons From Firefox and Twitter - Alan Byrne (Product Leader, Mozilla)
Alan Byrne, Mozilla’s Firefox extensions product leader, argues that effective product work relies on judgment rather than rigid frameworks, critiquing tools like RICE and MoSCoW for masking subjectivity. Drawing on his stints at QuickBooks and Twitter, he explains when lean...
By The Product Experience (Mind the Product)
News•Feb 18, 2026
Media33 Appoints Ex-Spark Foundry Managing Director Pete Butler to Managing Partner Role
Media33 announced the appointment of Pete Butler, former Managing Director of Spark Foundry, as its new Managing Partner effective 1 March 2026. Butler will collaborate with the executive team to drive the agency’s next growth phase, enhance client partnerships, and boost strategic and...
By Campaign Brief
News•Feb 18, 2026
Too Many Initiatives, Not Enough Alignment: A Change Management Playbook for Leaders
The session led by Dr. Terra Greenwell, former Chief Academic Officer of Jefferson County Public Schools, tackles the problem of initiative overload in K‑12 districts. Attendees will learn how to evaluate every tool, program, and purchase against a clear strategic...
By Education Week (Technology section)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Redefine Pay Now or Risk "a Much Broader Retention Issue"
HR leaders are being urged to rethink remuneration as a widening pay perception gap emerges. Robert Walters' 2026 Salary Guide shows 81% of employees feel their wages lag behind rising living costs, with 41% believing they are underpaid, while 85%...
By HR Daily (Australia)
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
When a COO Must Push Back to Protect the Business
The episode explores how COOs must sometimes push back against new initiatives to safeguard execution and focus. It highlights warning signs such as added priorities without trade‑offs, overly optimistic timelines, and strategies that ignore operational realities. By contrasting the CEO’s...
By COO Alliance Blog
News•Feb 17, 2026
The Myth of More Time
The article debunks the common belief that leaders simply need more hours, arguing that the real shortage is a lack of systems to protect existing time. It stresses that without structured processes, executives become bottlenecks, reacting rather than strategizing. High‑intent...
By Inc.
News•Feb 17, 2026
Inside Palantir’s Sudden HQ Move to Miami—And What It Signals for the Tech Industry
Palantir announced it is moving its corporate headquarters from Denver, Colorado to Miami, Florida. The relocation follows a broader wave of tech companies gravitating toward Florida, drawn by the state’s no‑income‑tax policy and lower regulatory pressures. Miami has emerged as...
By Inc.
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Design Hybrid Work Intentionally; Leadership Shapes Future
Last month I had the pleasure of speaking at the Vienna-based International Organizations HR Network (VBIO) at the United Nations in Vienna on rethinking hybrid work. Three reminders: • There’s no one-size-fits-all hybrid model. Design it intentionally. • Hybrid isn’t an HR issue,...
By Ranya Nehmeh
News•Feb 17, 2026
Renegade Global CEO Amy Jo Martin Explains How Cutting Meetings Can Help You Soar
Renegade Global CEO Amy Jo Martin argues that excessive meetings cripple productivity and proposes a disciplined cutback. She cites internal data showing meetings occupy roughly 30% of senior leaders' weeks and outlines a framework for replacing low‑value gatherings with asynchronous tools and...
By Chief Executive
News•Feb 17, 2026
Henrik Berndtson Named Head of Nordics at AEG Ticketing Division AXS
AEG’s ticketing arm AXS has appointed Henrik Berndtson as Head of the Nordics, placing him in Stockholm to steer regional operations. The move aligns with AXS’s aggressive European rollout, complementing recent hires in Europe and a joint venture in Japan. Berndtson...
By Music Business Worldwide (MBW)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Familiar Faces: Why Food and Beverage Companies Are Bringing Back Former CEOs
Amid a volatile market, three major food and beverage firms—Boston Beer, Simply Good Foods, and Hormel—have reinstated former CEOs Jim Koch, Joe Scalzo, and Jeffrey Ettinger. The boards cite the leaders’ prior growth records as a source of stability while...
By Food Dive (Industry Dive)
News•Feb 17, 2026
Alde Medi Impex Names Parag Bhatnagar as VP-HR
Alde Medi Impex appointed Parag Bhatnagar as vice president‑human resources to lead HR for its corporate office and the upcoming Kashipur manufacturing facility. Bhatnagar brings over 20 years of cross‑industry experience, previously serving as corporate HR head at Biodeal Pharmaceuticals...
By HR Katha (India)
News•Feb 17, 2026
‘Greater Diversity Reshapes Expectations’: Women in Energy Storage Network on Strengthening and Empowering an Inclusive Industry
The Women in Energy Storage Network (WinES), founded in 2024, now serves over 1,600 members across the UK’s fast‑growing energy‑storage sector. It earned the 2025 Diversity and Inclusion Award, highlighting its role in elevating female talent. WinES will host a...
By Energy Storage News
News•Feb 17, 2026
Velera’s Chuck Fagan: ‘Speed to Member Impact’ Is the Only KPI That Matters for Credit Unions
Chuck Fagan, CEO of Velera, told PYMNTS that credit unions must make "speed to member impact" their primary KPI, measuring how quickly they deliver solutions from concept to market. He warned that the term "credit" alienates millennials and Gen Z,...
By PYMNTS
Social•Feb 17, 2026
When Leaders Feel Obligated, Teams Suffer
A lot of people take on leadership roles, not because they want to, but because someone told them they “should” or they “had to” to achieve success. They approach the role like a transaction, not a responsibility. Now there are teams...
By Julia Rock
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Executive Ownership Drives Successful Business Transformations
Business transformations require strong executive ownership and decisive decision-making. Don't delegate all choices; leaders must guide consensus to navigate the inherent risks and ensure success beyond just a tech upgrade. #BusinessTransformation #Leadership #ChangeManagement https://t.co/3eDHQ4CWSO
By Eric Kimberling
News•Feb 17, 2026
LaunchVic OG Boss Kate Cornick Departs to Become Tech Council CEO
LaunchVic CEO Dr Kate Cornick resigned after a decade to become chief executive of the Tech Council of Australia, succeeding Damian Kassabgi. During her tenure, Victoria’s startup ecosystem expanded to 4,400 firms and a $139 billion valuation. The move coincides with...
By Startup Daily (ANZ)
Social•Feb 17, 2026
Daily Habits, Not Promotions, Drive Lasting Success
Don’t obsess about getting promoted. Embrace daily attitudes and activities that earn promotions. Don’t concentrate on living a fruitful life. Practice life-giving habits. Dreams frustrate until they distill into daily habits. From: https://t.co/JXkB2kNxzc
By Dan Rockwell
News•Feb 17, 2026
From Buffett to Next‑Gen: How CEO Turnover and Younger Chiefs Are Reshaping the S&P 1500
CEO turnover among the S&P 1500 accelerated to roughly 12‑13% in 2025, the highest rate since 2010, with 168 new chiefs appointed. The incoming cohort is markedly younger, averaging 54 years, and 80% are first‑time CEOs lacking prior public‑company leadership...
By CEOWORLD magazine
News•Feb 16, 2026
How Choice Architecture Can Help Boost Engagement
CEOs are wrestling with back‑to‑office mandates as hybrid roles dominate, with 85% of UK hybrid listings requiring at least two office days. Gallup’s 2024 data shows employees who control their work arrangements are 43% more engaged, warning that strict schedules...
By CEOWORLD magazine
News•Feb 16, 2026
V2 AI Bolsters Senior Exec Team with Three New Hires
V2 AI announced three senior executive hires—Hannah Williams as Managing Director, Peter Burns as Partner, and Michael Ewald as Director. Williams joins from Amazon LEO after a decade in IT, Burns arrives from Google with nearly 30 years of experience,...
By ARN (Australia)
News•Feb 16, 2026
Havas Red Appoints Erin Sing to Executive Director, Melbourne Role
Havas Red has named Erin Sing as Executive Director of its Melbourne office, adding to a year of strong local wins and the launch of a new Havas Village. Sing arrives with more than 16 years of in‑house and agency experience,...
By Campaign Brief
News•Feb 16, 2026
Digitas Australia Names Miriam Healy as Chief Technology Officer
Digitas Australia announced Miriam Healy as its new chief technology officer. Healy, who joins from a previous engineering director role, brings more than 25 years of experience delivering large‑scale digital products for household brands. In her CTO role she will...
By Mumbrella Australia
Social•Feb 16, 2026
Choose the Letter: Prioritize Product Over Business Wrapper
Are you an envelope entrepreneur or a letter entrepreneur? Someone who's about the container, the business on the outside, or someone who's more focused on the letter, the product inside? You can be both, but I think most are definitely one or...
By Jason Fried
Social•Feb 16, 2026
Pause, Listen, and Question Your Own Assumptions
Everyday Pauses: Resisting the impulse to speak. Keep your lips together. Listen to understand. Shifting to curiosity. Humility learns. Ego knows. Ask yourself, “What might they understand that I don’t?” Challenge your own wisdom.
By Dan Rockwell
News•Feb 16, 2026
Most Entrepreneurs Never Practice This Skill — and It's Why They Panic Under Pressure
Entrepreneurs often panic not because they lack skills, but because unfamiliar emotions catch them off guard. The article argues that emotional rehearsal—visualizing how challenges will feel—creates a mental memory that steadies the nervous system. Seasoned founders rely on this familiarity,...
By Entrepreneur
News•Feb 16, 2026
HIMSS26: AdventHealth CEO to Give Keynote Address at the Executive Summit
AdventHealth President and CEO David Banks will deliver the opening keynote at HIMSS26’s Executive Summit in Las Vegas, titled “Leading Through Healthcare’s Perfect Storm.” He will frame the current systemic headwinds as an opportunity to shift from episodic, diagnosis‑centric care to...
By Healthcare IT News (HIMSS Media)
Blog•Feb 16, 2026
Company Wants References From “Coworkers You Didn’t Get Along With”
A candidate interviewing for a remote, mission‑driven company faced an extreme hiring process, including 10+ video calls, unpaid work tests, and a request for references from coworkers they didn’t get along with. The article condemns the practice as unreasonable and...
By Ask a Manager
News•Feb 16, 2026
Hyatt’s Pritzker Announces Retirement, Cites Epstein Association
Tom Pritzker, who has guided Hyatt Hotels Corp. for more than two decades, announced his retirement as executive chairman and his decision not to stand for re‑election to the board. Since taking the helm in 2004, Pritzker has overseen the...
By Bloomberg — Business
News•Feb 16, 2026
Compassionate Leadership in Times of Disruption
Healthcare leaders traditionally separate emotion from decision‑making, but a recent hospital closure in New York demonstrates that compassionate leadership can coexist with operational rigor. The tertiary medical center reduced from 700 to 200 beds, faced financial loss, and ultimately closed...
By Becker’s Hospital Review
News•Feb 16, 2026
6 Powerful Leadership Lessons From Past U.S. Presidents That Still Hold Up Today
The article distills six leadership lessons drawn from U.S. presidents—Washington, Reagan, Johnson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Clinton—and shows how they translate to modern business. It highlights integrity as a strategic asset, the power of clear vision, the upside of long‑term...
By Entrepreneur
Podcast•Feb 16, 2026•0 min
Corporations Are Full of BS
The episode explores a new research paper that introduces the Organizational Bullshit Perception Scale (OBPS), a tool for quantifying employees' perceptions of corporate dishonesty and empty rhetoric. The authors differentiate corporate "bullshit" from lying, defining it as statements made without...
By The Contrarian HR
News•Feb 16, 2026
Iceland Launches First Customer Led Colleague Award
Iceland has introduced its inaugural Customers’ Choice Award, allowing shoppers to nominate staff from any of its 1,000 stores for exceptional service. Nominations close on 8 March 2026 and the program is sponsored by Agristo, the retailer’s frozen potato supplier. The...
By The Retail Bulletin
News•Feb 16, 2026
Leadership Enters the ‘Explain Yourself’ Era
Robert Walters’ Talent Trends 2026 research reveals that 84% of managers say their decisions are under tighter scrutiny than two years ago, while 79% of employees are watching leadership choices more closely. Workers prioritize people‑related decisions and burnout‑related policies, prompting a...
By Startups Magazine
News•Feb 16, 2026
Cybersecurity Leader Pete Angstadt Joins DTEX’s Advisory Board
DTEX, a leader in risk‑adaptive security, announced that cybersecurity veteran Pete Angstadt has joined its Advisory Board. Angstadt brings decades of go‑to‑market leadership, having scaled revenue at ForgeRock, Ping Identity, Securiti and Oracle’s cloud security unit. His expertise in identity‑focused...
By AI-TechPark
News•Feb 16, 2026
Genki Forest Calls 2025 a Breakthrough Year, Tightens Ops to Focus on Steady Growth
Genki Forest celebrated its ninth anniversary by declaring 2025 a breakthrough year, achieving its first sustainable profitability and higher‑quality growth. The company credited tighter expense control, disciplined pricing and a trimmed SKU portfolio for the improvement, while deepening channel penetration...
By KrASIA
News•Feb 16, 2026
Hog’s Breath Ex-CEO Returns to RFG in New Role
Tom Elliott, former CEO of casual dining chain Hog’s Breath, has rejoined Retail Food Group (RFG) as the group strategy and performance manager. Elliott, who spent 14 years at RFG in marketing, brand management, and operations roles, left to lead...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 16, 2026
How One Teaspoon Turned Counter‑culture Denim Into a 25‑Year Global Business
One Teaspoon, founded by Liz Roberts in 1999, has evolved from a counter‑culture denim experiment into a globally distributed brand sold in over 40 countries. The label has remained entirely self‑funded, preserving full control over pricing, design, and retail partnerships....
By Inside Retail Australia