HB on the Scene: Newport Hospitality Group Brings ‘Living Hospitality’ to Life
Newport Hospitality Group hosted its 2026 Leadership Retreat at the Ellie Resort in Myrtle Beach, centering on the “Living Hospitality” theme. CEO Andrew Carey emphasized building a shared identity that transcends individual hotel brands, while offering practical tools to improve operations. The agenda featured speakers on leadership, marketing, profitability and AI, showcasing tools like Copilot, Claude and Gemini. Attendees also benefited from extensive networking through golf outings and dinners, reinforcing the company’s culture of relationship‑focused growth.
10 Signs Your Workplace Culture Needs a Reset
Workplace culture deteriorates gradually, manifesting as operational inefficiencies and employee disengagement. The article outlines ten warning signs—from silent meetings to misaligned promotions—that indicate a culture reset is needed. It argues that superficial perks won’t fix the problem; instead, leaders must...
PLMA Shares 2026 Board Of Directors, Executive Committee
The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) announced its 2026 Board of Directors and Executive Committee on April 20, naming Mark Cheney of Upstate Niagara Cooperative as chairperson for a one‑year term. The executive committee also includes First Vice Chair Anthony Biggers...
ARF's McDonald Retiring, Second Ad Trade Chief Search Begins
The Advertising Research Foundation announced that CEO Scott McDonald will retire early next year, prompting a second executive search for his successor. CBIZ Talent Solutions, which placed McDonald in 2017, will again lead the search, slated to launch by late June....
7 Strategies for Creating High-Performing Culture, Building a Winning Team
Jim Knight, founder of Knight Speaker, outlines seven intentional strategies to build a high‑performing culture, from defining purpose to continuous improvement. He illustrates each tactic with real‑world examples such as Patagonia’s mission focus, Zingerman’s communication training, Atlassian’s autonomy‑driven "ShipIt Days,"...
When Apologizing to Customers Hurts More Than It Helps
Research published in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that proactive apologies for service failures that customers haven’t noticed can hurt satisfaction, trust, and repeat purchases. A field experiment with a major food‑delivery platform found that apologizing for deliveries up...
Leaders, Treat Resistance to Change as Valuable Data
Leaders often label pushback as "knee‑jerk resistance," but the article argues that every form of resistance is valuable data about underlying fears, losses, or genuine flaws in a change initiative. By diagnosing the root causes—such as loss of identity, uncertainty,...
IPO-Bound Acko Trims 5% Workforce
Indian insurtech Acko announced a 5% workforce reduction, laying off roughly 60 staff as it reorganises around artificial‑intelligence‑driven workflows. The cuts are not a cost‑saving measure but a shift toward AI‑led processes and new performance metrics. The move coincides with...
There's Growing Pressure on the PyTorch Foundation. New Executive Director Mark Collier Tells Us His Priorities
Mark Collier has been named Executive Director of the PyTorch Foundation, taking over operational leadership as the AI ecosystem faces simultaneous shifts in hardware, software and model architectures. He brings experience scaling open‑source initiatives like OpenStack and will work with...
DT CEO Laments “Overly Restrictive Framework of EU AI Regulations”
Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Höttges warned at the Hannover Messe that the EU’s current AI regulatory framework is overly restrictive and could hamper Europe’s industrial competitiveness. He stressed that secure networks, sovereign data centres and AI computing power are essential for...
Redefining Success With Victoria Thomas, CFO Of Kellymoss
Victoria Thomas, CFO and co‑owner of Kellymoss Racing, steered the Porsche‑centric team from a nine‑person shop to an 88,000‑square‑foot operation with 135 staff and 48 national championships. Her unconventional path—emancipating at 17, earning a GED in the top three percent,...
Tech CEOs Think AI Will Let Them Be Everywhere at Once
Tech CEOs are betting on artificial intelligence to extend their personal reach within companies. Meta is building a photorealistic AI avatar of Mark Zuckerberg that can answer employee questions in video chats. Block’s Jack Dorsey proposes collapsing middle management by...
AI Is Scoring Your Job Candidates. Can You Explain How?
AI video‑interview scoring tools are increasingly used, yet most operate as opaque black boxes that assess tone, eye contact and facial cues rather than the substance of a candidate’s answers. Regulators in the U.S., New York, Illinois and the EU...
Ferragamo Family Appoints Former Estée Lauder CEO as Strategic Advisor
Ferragamo Finanziaria, the family’s holding company, named former Estée Lauder chief executive Fabrizio Freda as a special strategic adviser. Freda will guide the luxury group’s strategic decisions, help restructure operations, and support the search for a new CEO after a year‑long vacancy....
Trifork Announces New Board Members to Advance Product-Led Growth and AI Strategy
Trifork Group AG announced at its annual meeting that Anja Monrad will serve as Chairperson and AI veteran Danny Lange has joined the board of directors. The appointments are part of a broader push to scale the company’s product‑led business...
Tales of Management: Myths and Fears About Leadership
IESE professor Santiago Álvarez de Mon dissected five pervasive leadership myths—micromanagement, title‑based authority, avoiding terminations, one‑way feedback, and profit‑only success—while also highlighting three common managerial fears such as isolation, demotivated teams, and difficulty showing empathy. He argued that authentic leadership...
Peak Brain Power Comes After 50: Here’s Why Your Business Can’t Afford to Ignore That
Recent research overturns the long‑held belief that cognitive ability peaks in early adulthood, showing that crystallized intelligence—knowledge, judgment, and pattern recognition—continues to improve into the 50s. While fluid intelligence, the capacity for rapid abstract problem‑solving, declines after the late teens,...
CISOs Reshape Their Roles as Business Risk Strategists
CISOs are evolving from pure technical stewards to enterprise risk strategists, exemplified by ThoughtWorks' Nitin Raina, who simultaneously serves as global CISO and head of enterprise risk. Recent surveys show 78% of CISOs share security‑risk accountability with other C‑suite executives,...
7 Reasons You Keep Getting Passed over for CIO
The article identifies seven recurring gaps that keep IT leaders from landing CIO roles, from remaining order‑takers to lacking storytelling skills. It highlights the shift in the CIO’s mandate: 65% now report directly to the CEO, up from 41% a...
2 Strategic Choices that Shape Spokesperson Success
Ragan Training’s new online course, “Building and Training Effective Media Spokespeople,” teaches communicators how to diagnose common spokesperson failures and strategically match the right voice to each situation. The program emphasizes that breakdowns stem from inadequate preparation rather than personality,...
Why the CEOs of Canada's Big Banks Are Optimistic Even as the Economy Lags
Canada’s big‑bank CEOs remained upbeat at their recent AGMs despite sluggish GDP and weak job growth. They highlighted the country’s strategic energy position, noting a roughly 5% GDP lift for every $10 rise in West Texas Intermediate crude. RBC warned...
Stop These 6 Communication Habits That Drive Co-Workers Crazy
Modern workplaces rely heavily on digital communication, but common habits still irritate colleagues. A recent survey cited by NYU psychologist Tessa West highlights that nearly 90% of employees find email miscommunication problematic, while other habits—such as misleading instant‑messaging status, surprise...
This University Leader Has Advice for His Corporate Counterparts
Amid a crisis of confidence in higher education, Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier credits a non‑political, purpose‑first strategy for the university’s recent gains. Under his leadership, undergraduate applications jumped 12.6% in 2025 and early‑decision interest rose 20%, driving acceptance rates down...
AI Doesn’t Create ROI. Organizations Do.
Investments in AI often deliver modest or no profit impact, with 95% of pilots failing to show measurable P&L gains. Yet task‑level productivity gains in coding, writing and support are well documented. Adoption is spreading: large U.S. enterprises now use...
Q&A: Marián Jancarik, Managing Director, Jetron
Jetron’s managing director, Marián Jancarik, credits years of hands‑on aircraft sales experience for the firm’s advisory‑driven brokerage model. He emphasizes relationship‑focused transactions, rigorous market analysis, and a client‑first listening approach. Jetron now operates from Geneva, Bratislava and Prague, handling over...
Silicon In Focus Podcast: Shaping Technology for Transformation
Silicon In Focus host David Howell interviews Dai Vaughan, CTO of Public Digital, about the hidden "leadership debt" that hampers digital transformation. Vaughan argues that legacy systems are only part of the problem; entrenched habits and governance structures slow AI...
HRDA Frankly Speaking: Reading the Data
HR leaders must translate employee‑survey data into actionable stories that reveal systemic gaps for managers. I/O psychologist Kamaria Scott advises focusing on underlying themes such as trust, clarity, resources, and recognition rather than raw percentages. She stresses linking survey signals...
Why Smart Leaders Aren’t Panicking About AI—And What They’re Doing Instead
The Inc. article maps a five‑stage confidence cycle that leaders traverse whenever a transformative technology—now AI—disrupts their industry. It argues that smart executives avoid panic by recognizing the pattern, from the initial disruption shock to building momentum through pilots and...
Big Interview | People Director, UK and Ireland Gi Group - 'I Didn't Know What HR Was'
Cindy Gunn, People Director for Gi Group UK and Ireland, recounts a serendipitous start in a café that led her into HR, eventually earning a CIPD qualification while working full‑time. She progressed from admin roles in the late‑1990s to senior...
Redefining Leadership in Athletics: The CEO Model
Intercollegiate athletics has rapidly transformed, with NIL compensation, billion‑dollar media contracts and nine‑figure budgets prompting universities to treat departments like businesses. The University of South Florida responded by creating a chief executive officer role for its athletics program, appointing alumnus...
Chef Dave Pynt to Sit at the Helm of People People Brewing Co
Chef Dave Pynt, founder of Burnt Ends Hospitality Group, will head the newly announced People People Brewing Co in Singapore. The 9,000‑square‑foot venue, located at Resorts World Sentosa, brings together culinary, hospitality, brand‑building and consumer‑strategy expertise from co‑founders Loh Lik...
Your Boss’s Feelings Matter Too
A new LSE Business Review analysis challenges the myth that senior leaders are emotion‑free, citing a review of 101 academic studies that link leader feelings to downstream outcomes. The authors highlight the double‑edged nature of emotions—anger can deter misconduct yet...
Duncan Brand Announces Release of “Mind the Gap,” Addressing Gaps in Leadership Development Practices
Duncan Brand, founder of Intrinsic Leader, LLC, has launched his new book “Mind the Gap,” which examines persistent gaps in leadership development and proposes structured approaches to bridge them. Drawing on more than two decades of consulting across technology, healthcare,...
Dress for Success Victoria Names Karina Bruce as CEO
Dress for Success Victoria has named Karina Bruce as its new chief executive officer. Bruce arrives with more than 25 years of retail and fashion experience, including senior roles at Country Road Group and founding the Hear Us Roar initiative. She previously served...
Citadel HR Chief Exits
Citadel Securities' chief human‑resources officer, Karen Smith, announced her departure after six years, citing personal reasons. Smith oversaw a rapid expansion of the firm's talent pipeline, scaling the workforce from 1,200 to over 2,000 employees amid a competitive hiring market....
Luxon Is Still Ghosting His Chief Whip, and It Might Come Back to Haunt Him
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon admitted that about five National backbenchers are “moaning” as fresh polls show Labour overtaking his party and the coalition slipping toward a minority. Luxon repeatedly claimed he was unaware of chief whip Stuart Smith’s attempts to raise...
Meet Jere Calmes: The Iconic CEO Who Turned Reset Into Momentum
Jere Calmes, CEO of The Iconic since 2023, was named #8 in Inside Retail’s Top 50 People in E‑Commerce. He led a strategic reset that trimmed an unsustainable cost base built during the pandemic and refocused the business on technology, logistics...
Moral Leadership: Do Women Negotiate More Ethically than Men?
Recent research from Harvard’s Program on Negotiation and university scholars finds that women are generally less likely to employ deceptive tactics in negotiations, with 11% using deception compared with 25% of men. The studies link this gap to stronger moral...
CFI Names Amr Abdelbaky as CEO of CFI Egypt
CFI Financial Group has appointed Amr Abdelbaky as chief executive officer of CFI Egypt, its brokerage arm focused on the Egyptian market. The platform gives traders access to more than 200 stocks listed on the Egyptian Exchange, including major firms...
New Era Energy & Digital Announces Appointment of Andy Casazza as Chief Corporate Officer
New Era Energy & Digital appointed Andy Casazza as Chief Corporate Officer, effective April 28, 2026. Casazza brings over 25 years of finance, operations, and capital‑formation experience from senior roles at Windy Cove Energy II and Pure Earth Plasma Holdings....
Succession Ambiguity Is a Universal Risk
Asia now hosts the world’s largest billionaire pool, with 981 ultra‑rich individuals and an estimated US$5.8 trillion slated to change hands by 2030. Yet 37% of family enterprises lack a formal succession plan, creating a governance gap as wealth accelerates. Regional...
Focus on Partnerships, Not Paychecks: Why Agencies Must Reinvent Themselves
In a recent Adspeak episode, ADWEEK’s Alison Weissbrot convened a Brandweek panel with leaders from M&C Saatchi, Team Epiphany, and Known to discuss how agencies must reinvent partnership models as budgets tighten and AI reshapes workflows. The panel argued that traditional fee‑based...
Flow Traders Appoints Frank Drouet as CEO Asia-Pacific
Flow Traders announced Frank Drouet as Chief Executive Officer for its Asia‑Pacific division, joining the firm’s Executive Committee. Drouet arrives with more than three decades of experience in equity derivatives, volatility trading and institutional markets, most recently as Deputy Head...
Are Workplace Silos Really So Bad?
The article challenges the growing trend of dismantling workplace silos, arguing that fully integrated teams can dilute ownership, expertise, and resilience. It cites real‑world observations from publishing, where consolidating senior leadership left junior staff spread thin across multiple publications. The...
Aligning Strategy, People, and Communications During Facility Closures
In 2025 a leading manufacturer consolidated six distribution centers into a single, centralized facility to cut costs and stabilize operations. The company enlisted BDO’s Global Employer Services and People Strategy & Solutions teams to manage the people‑side and communications of...
The Thinking Crisis: Why Organizations Are Losing Talent They Can’t Replace
A new national study reveals that 44% of employees and 59% of executives have left jobs because their thinking was not valued, not due to pay or perks. The research identifies a "thinking crisis" driven by fear of mistakes (76%),...
In an Age of Insularity, CHROs in Asia-Pacific Must Move From Talent Metrics to Business Impact
Edelman’s Delicia Tan warns that Asia‑Pacific CHROs must move beyond traditional talent metrics and focus on tangible business impact. While Singapore and Hong Kong retain high institutional trust, internal surveys reveal growing anxiety about skill relevance and leadership confidence. Companies...
Mental Wellness & The Culture You Leave Behind
John Trautwein, founder of the Will To Live Foundation, urges CEOs to confront the hidden mental‑health crisis in their workplaces. He cites that one in five employees silently battle diagnosable mental illness, a stigma‑driven condition that can erode productivity and...
Heidi Steffen to Become President of TitanTV
TitanTV announced that chief revenue officer Heidi Steffen will assume the role of president on May 11 2026, succeeding retiring president Mick Rinehart. Steffen is celebrated for her expertise in broadcast metadata quality and has authored a recent industry white paper. CEO Chris Kelly highlighted...
A Talent Playbook for the AI Era
Companies are pouring money into artificial intelligence, but talent shortages are the primary obstacle to scaling deployments. The article argues that the real bottleneck is a skills gap, not technical integration or regulatory hurdles. It recommends aggressive upskilling and a...