
South East Water Chief Executive to Forgo His Bonus over ‘Unacceptable Outages’
South East Water chief executive David Hinton announced he will forgo his performance bonus, taking only his £400,000 salary (about $508,000) after a series of water outages left thousands in Kent and Sussex without tap water. The disruptions in November‑December 2025 and January 2026 were deemed foreseeable by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which labeled the response among the worst it has seen. Hinton apologized before MPs, admitting communication lapses and pledging reforms. The episode has intensified scrutiny of the board’s governance and eroded customer confidence.
Conversation with… Paul Brennan, Managing Director of Sofa Club
Paul Brennan, who rose from a Saturday trolley‑boy at Marks & Spencer to senior roles at Marc Jacobs and Browns, is now the managing director of Sofa Club. He says his fashion background informs a new, fashion‑led approach to furniture retail, emphasizing...

How Growing Up on a Grape Farm Prepared Me to Lead a Tech Company
The PhoneBurner CEO recounts how growing up on a 700‑acre grape farm shaped his approach to leading a tech company. He draws parallels between vineyard cycles and product development, emphasizing deliberate, seasonal investment over constant feature churn. Risk management lessons...
US C-Suites Taking Action, but Mostly Stick to Similar Playbooks: PwC
PwC’s latest survey of 633 U.S. CEOs and senior executives shows a sharp rise in confidence, with 90 % believing their firms are stronger than two years ago. Yet 73 % report taking only one to three of the same strategic actions—such...
Byline Bank CEO Discusses Approaching $10B Threshold
Byline Bank, a Chicago‑based lender with $9.65 billion in assets, is closing in on the $10 billion threshold that will trigger new regulatory scrutiny. CEO Alberto Paracchini explained that the bank has been preparing for this milestone since it was $2‑$2.5 billion smaller, focusing...

He Bought a Business for $22,000 and Scaled It to 235 Locations. This Simple Strategy Made His Employees Millionaires.
Eddie Flores Jr. bought a single restaurant for $22,000 and grew L&L Hawaiian Barbecue into a franchise network of more than 235 locations. The company’s model hands ownership to employees, turning many franchisees into millionaires. By anchoring the brand in...

Bloober CEO Says Relying on One Title Creates 'Too Much Risk' In Today's Market
Bloober Team announced a refreshed executive lineup and reaffirmed its two‑project development model to mitigate market risk. CEO Piotr Babieno said the studio will maintain exactly two first‑party productions, balancing ambition with quality oversight. The company also highlighted its co‑development...

The Impact of Caregiving on Talent and Leadership in CPA Firms
The Accounting MOVE Project has launched its 2026 study, titled “Caught in the Middle,” to examine how caregiving responsibilities affect mid‑career accountants, especially women, and the firm’s leadership pipeline. Prior data showed 63% of firms list burnout as their top...
Williams-Sonoma Names President of Rejuvenation
Williams‑Sonoma promoted longtime executive Aujsha Taylor to president of its Rejuvenation division. Taylor, who joined the company in 2003 and most recently served as senior vice president of the brand, will steer merchandising, product innovation and growth initiatives. CEO Laura...
Making Moves: New Packaging Leaders Appointed in 2026
In 2026 a wave of executive changes swept the packaging sector. Dow elevated longtime COO Karen Carter, a 30‑year veteran of its packaging and specialty plastics unit, to CEO. Georgia‑Pacific, Aptar, Stephen Gould, US Plastics Pact and Sonoco also announced new CEOs,...

Autism Charity Unveils Next Chief
Autistica, the UK autism research and support charity, has named Elizabeth Archer as its next chief executive, succeeding James Cusack who left for the PSP Association. Archer currently leads the PDA Society and brings experience from Ambitious About Autism, SENDirect,...
Dow Names Former Packaging Leader as CEO
Dow announced that Chief Operating Officer Karen Carter will become CEO on July 1, 2026, succeeding Jim Fitterling who will move to executive chair. Carter brings over 30 years at Dow, most recently leading the packaging and specialty plastics unit, which...

Up the Ranks: Tapaswee Chandele Named Global CPO at The Coca-Cola Company, Succeeding Lisa Chang
The Coca‑Cola Company announced that Tapaswee Chandele will assume the role of Global Chief People Officer on May 1, 2026, succeeding Lisa Chang after a seven‑year tenure. Chandele, a 25‑year Coca‑Cola veteran, most recently served as Senior Vice President and Executive Assistant to CFO...

Steering the Development Office From the Head of School Seat
The article argues that a head of school must view fundraising as a partnership with the advancement director rather than a peripheral task. By acting as chief relationship manager and storyteller, the head co‑creates data‑driven goals, personalizes donor outreach, and...
How This Master’s Programme Is Building Tech Leadership Talent
Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet celebrates 20 years of its MSc in Leadership, Innovation and Technology by offering four fully funded places, each valued at €20,000 (approximately $21,800) per year. The two‑year part‑time program, delivered at Technological University Dublin, targets experienced...
Tenet CIO to Retire at Year End
Tenet Healthcare announced that Chief Information Officer Paola Arbour will retire on Dec. 31, 2026, but will remain on a part‑time basis through early 2028 to aid the transition. Arbour, who has led Tenet’s IT strategy, operations and finances since 2018,...

In-N-Out’s Owner Says the Chain Will Never Offer Online Ordering. Here’s Why.
In‑N‑Out’s owner Lynsi Snyder‑Ellingson reaffirmed the chain’s refusal to adopt online ordering, emphasizing that real‑time customer interaction and ingredient freshness are core to the brand. She explained that digital platforms would erode the personal experience that defines the company’s culture....

LucidHealth Appoints David Grau as Chief Executive Officer
LucidHealth announced that David Grau will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer on May 1, 2026, while founder‑CEO Steve Corbeil moves to Executive Chairman. Grau, who joined the company in 2020 as Chief Strategy Officer and became COO in...
Maine Firefighter Resignations Leave Volunteer Department Depleted
The Wales, Maine volunteer fire department has lost at least 12 firefighters, leaving roughly 10 volunteers on staff. The resignations follow a dispute over fire chief Scott Dimmick’s leadership, with volunteers citing concerns about operations, training, and equipment readiness. Town...

Larry Mestel to Receive City of Hope’s 2026 Spirit of Life Award
Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave Music, has been named the 2026 recipient of City of Hope’s Spirit of Life award. The honor will be presented at a gala on October 27, 2026 at Los Angeles’ Pacific Design...
GoTo Foods Appoints Chief Digital and Development Officers
GoTo Foods appointed Biplav Misra as its first chief digital officer and Tatiana Lambert as chief development officer, expanding a leadership overhaul that began with CEO Omer Gajial earlier this year. The hires are designed to accelerate disciplined growth, improve...

Sales Target Achievement Rises 22% when Managers Build Trust Skills, Research Shows
Research by Mindtools Kineo shows that a one‑point rise in a manager’s ability to build trust on a five‑point scale correlates with a 22% increase in sales‑target achievement. The analysis of 279 managers, drawn from a global sample of 2,200, also...

Atrium Hospitality Hosts 2026 SPIRIT Leadership Conference
Atrium Hospitality convened nearly 400 senior leaders at the Embassy Suites in Rogers, Arkansas for its 2026 SPIRIT Leadership Conference. The multi‑day event celebrated 2025 achievements, reinforced the company’s Service‑Perseverance‑Inclusion‑Respect‑Innovation‑Teamwork values, and featured a keynote on "The Human Edge" by...

‘Absolutely No Intention’: Publicis Group CEO Rules Out Building a Trade Desk Rival Amid Ongoing Dispute
Publicis Groupe told clients to pull spend from The Trade Desk after an audit flagged transparency issues, but offered no clear alternative. CEO Arthur Sadoun confirmed on the earnings call that the firm will not build its own demand‑side platform,...

Unique Training & Development Launches Plant Manager Excellence Public Workshop to Close Manufacturing Leadership Gap
Unique Training & Development announced a Plant Manager Excellence Public Workshop aimed at closing the persistent leadership gap in manufacturing. The two‑day Chicago kickoff is followed by eight monthly online sessions, with a virtual option and self‑study make‑up classes for...

RIA Edge Podcast: Building a Sustainable RIA with Oliver Cross
The RIA Edge Podcast episode features Oliver Cross, founding partner and head of growth at Verum Partners, discussing how the firm grew from a breakaway team into an independent registered investment adviser with over $1 billion in assets under management. Cross...

Dealer CEO Shares How Her Firm Grew 1,042%
Designed Wealth Management, an independent dealer founded in 2021, posted a 1,042% revenue surge over the past two years, propelling CEO Kunza to the #3 spot on The Globe and Mail’s Top Growing Women‑Led Companies list. The firm now employs...

RWS Global Announces Executive Leadership Transition
RWS Global announced a leadership transition in which founder, chairman and CEO Ryan Stana will move to the role of executive chairman, while chief operating officer Jake McCoy steps in as interim CEO. The change, backed by minority investor Bluestone Equity...
Our Favorite Management Tips on Organizational Change
Harvard Business Review’s latest management tips outline a disciplined playbook for leading organizational change. The guide stresses triaging change capacity, conducting a “do‑nothing” analysis, building a guiding coalition, and delivering early wins before launch. It also highlights empathy, transparent communication,...

Lucid Motors Names New CEO, Lands More Money From Uber and Saudis
Lucid Motors announced Silvio Napoli, a veteran of the Schindler Group, as its new chief executive, ending a year‑long search after Peter Rawlinson’s abrupt exit. At the same time, Uber pledged an additional $200 million for 25,000 robotaxi‑ready Gravity SUVs, bringing...
Everyone Improving Every Day
Gemba Academy argues that sustainable growth requires a cultural shift where every employee contributes to daily improvement. Leaders must move from delegating problem‑solving to empowering all staff, providing simple kaizen tools and basic Lean training. Small, consistent changes compound into...

On the Move: INFINITE Names Wiedeke Head of Talent
On April 14, 2026, three firms announced senior leadership appointments aimed at bolstering talent, strategy, and external engagement. Infinite created a new Head of Talent role, hiring Eric Wiedeke to drive global people initiatives. Anomaly promoted Kira Montgomery to executive...

Kaynes Technology Appoints Dheeraj Tandon as CHRO & VP-HR
Kaynes Technology India has appointed Dheeraj Tandon as chief human resources officer and vice‑president of HR. Tandon will steer enterprise‑wide talent strategy, partner with the board on CXO hires, and align HR frameworks with the company’s digital‑transformation agenda. He will...
WPP Appoints Chief People Officer as Part of Elevate28 Strategy
WPP announced two senior HR appointments as part of its Elevate28 transformation plan. Mark Taylor has been named chief people officer, while Marie‑Claire Barker takes a senior talent leadership role. The moves are designed to foster a collective culture across...

We’ve Entered a New Era of Risk for the Modern CEO
The article argues that CEOs are entering a new era of risk where geopolitical events, such as escalating Taiwan Strait tensions, spill over into political, economic, cultural, and technological domains. Traditional risk models focus narrowly on geoeconomic exposure, leaving firms...

Resilience and Leadership in Current Circumstances
Anouschka Menzies, co‑founder and co‑CEO of Bacchus, outlines how consistent leadership and internal resilience are essential for agencies navigating uncertain periods such as the pandemic. She stresses that agencies must act as steady partners, offering measured advice and clear communication...

Speaker Q&A: Kolarele Sonaike
Kolarele Sonaike, a barrister, communications coach and author, will speak at the FD Show on May 14, delivering a session titled “Spreadsheets to Stories: How to present with confidence and impact to non‑finance stakeholders.” He has coached executives at Meta,...

Future Fund Flags Potential Investment Team Job Cuts
Australia's sovereign wealth fund, the Future Fund, announced it may reduce staff within its investment team as part of a broader cost‑management drive. CEO Raphael Arndt said the fund will "make changes where it is prudent to do so" to...
Creating a ‘Shared Understanding’ Around Change Comms
Jessica Pantages, VP of corporate marketing at Egnyte, warned that traditional top‑down emails no longer create shared understanding during continuous organizational change. She highlighted how AI adoption, economic pressure and private‑equity ownership fuel change fatigue and fragment communication across Slack,...

Bloober Team Expands Leadership, as Studio Steps up to Seven Horror Titles in Active Development
Bloober Team, known for the Silent Hill 2 remake and Layers of Fear series, has added three senior executives from Activision, CD Projekt and Klabater to its leadership team. The studio will continue running two core single‑player horror projects while co‑developing five...

Nine Out of 10 Firms Have Regretted AI-Led Job Cuts
A Careerminds UK poll of 600 HR leaders reveals that 91% of firms regret AI‑driven redundancies made in the past year. Only 27% reported financial benefits, while 31% are worse off, and many have already begun rehiring. The study highlights...

Ground Control CIO Chris Howell Re-Thinks Quoting to Drive Growth and Cut Carbon
Ground Control, a UK B‑Corp that manages external facilities and biodiversity services, has built a marketplace model that connects large tier‑one clients with local SMEs while handling insurance and compliance. The company, already carbon‑neutral, launched an Intelligent Quoting App on...

GSK Elevates Vasudevan Lakshmanan as Malaysia Country HR Head
GlaxoSmithKline has appointed Vasudevan Lakshmanan as country HR head for Malaysia. He will steer the HR function, aligning talent priorities with commercial objectives and fostering a performance‑driven culture. Lakshmanan brings experience across more than 30 markets in Asia, the Middle...

SB Meets… Paolo Dalla Mora, Liquid Ventures
Liquid Ventures has launched as Europe’s first venture builder dedicated to the fast‑growing no‑ and low‑alcohol sector. Unlike traditional incubators, it co‑creates brands with full operational infrastructure, from branding to distribution, and backs them with capital. The firm sees untapped...
The AI Inflection Point: What Security Leaders Must Do Now
AI has moved from experiment to production in cybersecurity, forcing security leaders to treat it as an operating‑model shift rather than a bolt‑on tool. Threat reports show AI‑enabled adversaries accelerating attack timelines to under 30 minutes, outpacing human‑only triage. CISOs...
How to Improve Remote Engagement in Hybrid Work
Remote engagement problems stem from underlying structural and cultural gaps rather than remote work itself. Dr. Kinga Mnich outlines a practical framework that uses six levers—belonging, operating system, autonomy, equity, growth, and well‑being—to diagnose and fix disengagement in hybrid teams....

How Ivan Espinosa Got Nissan to Face Reality
Ivan Espinosa, appointed CEO of Nissan a year ago, has launched an aggressive turnaround that slashes plants, trims the model lineup and accelerates product development. Sales have fallen from a 2018 peak of 5.8 million to 3.2 million, and the share price...

Recruit for Attitude, Train for Skill: Are We Ready to Take This Seriously?
The article argues that rapid AI‑driven change makes traditional, experience‑focused hiring obsolete. Companies should prioritize attitude traits—curiosity, adaptability, resilience—and learning agility over static technical skills. This shift requires recruiters to redesign interview questions and managers to adopt coaching‑style leadership. Without...
Leaders and Visionaries in Shipping – Captain Gianluigi Aponte
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is on the cusp of operating a fleet of 1,000 vessels, roughly 10 million TEUs, marking a historic scale for the privately held carrier. Founder and Group Chairman Gianluigi Aponte grew MSC from a single ship in...
Fraser Anderson Appointed Permanent Chief Executive of The Glasshouse
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music has named Fraser Anderson its permanent Chief Executive, effective immediately. Anderson, who served as interim CEO for the past six months following Abigail Pogson’s move to London’s Barbican Centre, was selected after a competitive...