Concentrix Corporation, a leading global provider of customer experience (CX) services and technologies, today announced it has closed its combination with Webhelp and the integration of the two companies is underway. While the combined company finalizes its permanent name, it will operate under the trade name Concentrix + Webhelp.

This combination further positions Concentrix + Webhelp as a global CX leader, with an expanded breadth of generative AI solutions, digital capabilities, and high-value services. It also strengthens its end-to-end CX value proposition, with one of the most robust, well-balanced global footprints in the industry to help the world’s best brands transform customer experiences and achieve their business goals.

“I am excited to embark on this new journey together and believe that, with our combined strengths, we are uniquely positioned to redefine the industry and design, build and run the future of CX for our amazing and valued clients. I want to thank our game-changers around the world who have made this possible. I am truly honored to work with such a diverse and talented team,” said Chris Caldwell, CEO of Concentrix + Webhelp.

The company also welcomes two new members to the Board of Directors, Olivier Duha and Nicolas Gheysens. Olivier is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, co-founder, and former CEO of Webhelp and will serve as Vice Chair of the Board. Nicolas is a Partner at Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (“GBL”), the company’s largest shareholder following the Concentrix + Webhelp combination, and brings with him a wealth of investment and board experience, backing the growth of large and successful businesses across Europe.

“We are fortunate to add such strong skill sets with deep background in the customer experience industry to our Board. With the addition of Olivier and Nicolas, we expand our international expertise in leading large, complex multinational companies on a successful path for growth,” said Kathryn Marinello, Concentrix Chair of the Board.

This combination is a milestone moment, bringing together two recognized market leaders with complementary cultures, footprint, capabilities, and vision for growth across more than 70 countries. At closing, the transaction was valued at approximately $4 billion, including net debt.

Companies to Showcase AI-Enhanced Hardware Cybersecurity and OCP-Compliant Server Designs at OCP Summit 2023

OCP Summit 2023 — VVDN Technologies, a global provider of product engineering, manufacturing and digital services and solutions, and Axiado Corporation, an AI-enhanced hardware cybersecurity company, today announced their collaboration on a new hardware-anchored, AI-driven approach to platform security for Open Compute Project (OCP) compliant servers. This collaboration combines VVDN's expertise in designing and manufacturing OCP-compliant servers with Axiado's industry-leading DC-SCM control module and trusted control/compute unit (TCU). With this collaboration, VVDN and Axiado are reshaping the server technology landscape and ushering in a transformative era in data center security with servers driven by Axiado's pioneering TCUs.

"VVDN is deeply committed to data center excellence," said Puneet Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO, VVDN Technologies. "Our relentless pursuit of advanced systems and solutions, especially in secure server design, development, and manufacturing, not only sets us apart in the Indian market but also on the global stage. This dedication is the cornerstone of our technological evolution and growth."

Key Collaboration Highlights

• OCP Summit 2023 demonstration: VVDN will demonstrate the OCP-compliant a Host Processor Module (HPM) family powered by Axiado's TCU.
• VVDN's OCP-compliant HPM family: VVDN is committed to building a comprehensive family of HPM reference designs for OEMs based on the OCP standard, all set to interoperate seamlessly with Axiado's TCU technology.
• Open RAN/telco and cloud/data center applications: VVDN recognizes an imminent market inflection point for servers in Open RAN/telco and cloud/data center applications, aligning with Axiado's vision.

Axiado's partnership with VVDN is the first of many that the company plans to establish with HPM manufacturers to broaden the adoption of its hardware-anchored, AI-driven approach to platform security.

"Axiado is fully aligned with VVDN and with using OCP standards as an anchor for future collaboration," said Gopi Sirineni, President and CEO, Axiado. "We are committed to forging powerful alliances with ODMs/OEMs, cloud service providers, and the entire security ecosystem, with the goal of fortifying the world's digital infrastructure and elevating global cybersecurity to unprecedented levels."

Sherman Edmiston III and Richard J. Salute bring extensive technology, accounting, and business expertise to Near’s Board of Directors

Near Intelligence, Inc. (Nasdaq: NIR), a global data intelligence platform that curates one of the world's largest sources of intelligence on people and places, today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors, effective September 19, 2023:

• Richard J. Salute, former Director of Capital Markets and SEC Practice at J.H. Cohn and CohnReznick LLP, and served in various leadership roles over 29 years at Arthur Andersen.
• Sherman Edmiston III, former managing director of Zolfo Cooper LLC (now Alix Partners), and currently a Managing Member of HI CapM Advisors, Ltd.

“We’re thrilled to bring these talented and experienced leaders to Near’s Board,” said Anil Mathews, CEO of Near. “Each provides a unique perspective with diverse backgrounds across technology, accounting, and business strategy. Near welcomes their partnership and values their input to further our mission helping customers extract insights from data that help them make better decisions.”

Richard J. Salute said: “Near has exhibited impressive growth over the years, working to expand into new geographies, prioritizing relationships with customers and partners. I see great potential in Near’s exclusive high-quality data and forward-looking strategy. I’m excited to collaborate with the Near team and fellow board members to expand market reach and drive Near’s mission.”

Meltwater, a leading global provider of social, media and consumer intelligence, today announces the launch of its new AI Ethical Principles which guide the company's AI innovation and ensure a commitment to AI safety, transparency, and accountability within the organization and the broader industry. 

While AI technology brings unprecedented opportunities, it also poses significant safety concerns that must be addressed to ensure its reliable and equitable use. As Meltwater continues to make significant investments into its cutting-edge AI and machine learning engine, the company also recognizes its pivotal responsibility in shaping the future of AI and tackling AI safety challenges in order to contribute to the responsible advancement of this transformative technology.

“AI continues to change the way we work every day, and with rapid innovations and shifts in these technologies it is imperative that those developing AI technologies are dedicated to safety, transparency, and accountability. Our commitment to our customers – to deliver solutions that help them harness the full power of the internet and understand and analyze billions of new conversations happening every day – also means we have a commitment to responsibly develop our technologies in ways that benefit society as a whole and keep safety, privacy, and security at the forefront,” said Aditya Jami, CTO of Meltwater.

The new Meltwater Ethical AI Principles are inspired by the ethical guidelines from industry leaders such as Google and the OECD and serve as a foundation for how Meltwater conducts research and development in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Data Science. They underscore the company's commitment to ethical AI practices, in order to ensure these systems are reliable, ethical and beneficial to all, and aligned with Meltwater's deeply held corporate values. 

The Meltwater Ethical AI principles are:

• Benefit society whenever opportunities arise in inclusive and sustainable ways.
• Bias and drifts are defects. They fail the business and our customers.
• Safety, privacy, and security as first-class citizens.
• Trace everything and be accountable. Transparency is key.
• We are scientists and engineers; everything must be proven and tested.
• Use open source whenever possible; vet everything else and assume it is unsafe.

In addition to launching these principles, Meltwater has taken concrete steps to strengthen its commitment to ethical AI practices:

• Establishing a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), with industry leaders in AI and machine learning who support the company in setting its AI strategy
• Adhering to the PR Council’s guidance for Generative AI that was introduced in April 2023
• Adhering to the WFA GARM's Brand Safety Floor & Suitability Framework by providing multiple AI models to detect harmful, abusive, and unsafe content in text, audio, images, and videos, including misinformation use cases through Meltwater’s partnership with Newsguard

Meltwater is dedicated to fostering a responsible AI ecosystem and invites industry peers, stakeholders, and partners to join in the journey towards ethical AI practices. By setting these principles and collaborating with leading organizations, Meltwater aims to drive positive change and create a safer, more inclusive AI future. The company will continue to invest in its technology and people to continue providing breakthrough AI innovations and provide more value than ever to its customers. 

Gorilla Technology Group Inc., a global provider of Smart Country AI, IoT technologies and Cybersecurity, announced that it has started a strategic partnership with InfoSec Global, a leader and pioneer in crypto-agility. InfoSec Global helps clients establish the foundation of zero trust security through cryptographic agility management solutions.

Gorilla has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions enabling governments to adapt efficiently to the evolving security landscape. The Smart Government Security Convergence solution facilitates better decision-making, proactive threat detection, and swift responses to emerging risks. With the partnership between Gorilla and InfoSec, the deployment of this groundbreaking solution is set to reach new heights.

Jay Chandan, Chairman and CEO of Gorilla Technology, expressed enthusiasm about this collaboration, stating, "Our partnership with InfoSec Global represents a significant step forward in our mission to empower governments with the tools they need to enhance security, control and efficiency. By leveraging InfoSec's Crypto Agility Platform, we will empower government agencies with future-proof sovereign applications that can seamlessly adopt any current, future or national cryptographic standards.

Key highlights of the partnership include:

1. Future Proof Security and Post-Quantum Readiness: Leveraging InfoSec Global’s Crypto Agility Platform, Gorilla will strengthen the security framework of its Smart Government Security Convergence solution, ensuring that sensitive government communications and documents remain secure in the face of evolving threats, including the quantum threat.
2. Sovereign Applications: Gorilla and InfoSec Global will collaborate to deploy state-of-the-art crypto-agile applications tailored to the unique needs of government agencies. These applications will enable secure and efficient communication among government officers, ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information with a full control over the cryptography used to protect classified information.

“InfoSec Global is proud to join forces with Gorilla in this endeavor. Our Crypto Agility Platform is designed to meet the most demanding security requirements, and together with Gorilla, we will deliver solutions that redefine the standards for secure communication and document management in the public sector,” said Dr. Zubin Dastoor, CFO of InfoSec Global.

Questor Technology Inc. (“Questor” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: QST) announces the resignation of James Inkster, Derek O’Malley-Keyes, Glenn Leroux and Stewart Hanlon (collectively, the “Resigning Directors”) from the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Questor Board”). The positions made available by the resignations have been filled through the appointment of four new directors being, Dr. Normand Brais, Mr. Paul Huizinga, Mr. Bastien Commet and Mr. David Stam (the “New Directors”). The Questor Board will now be comprised of the New Directors as well as Audrey Mascarenhas, who has also resumed her position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective immediately and will take on the role of Chair of the Questor Board. In conjunction with his resignation from the Questor Board, Mr. O’Malley-Keyes has also stepped down from his position as interim President and Chief Executive Officer.

Following the previous announcement on August 23, 2023, regarding the departure of Ms. Mascarenhas from the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, certain shareholders of Questor, including Ms. Mascarenhas, comprising a majority position of shareholdings in the Company, engaged in communications with the Resigning Directors regarding the future direction of the Company and certain other related matters. The communications ultimately led to the decision by the Resigning Directors that stepping down from the Questor Board is in the best interests of the Company.

THE NEW DIRECTORS

The Company is extremely pleased to welcome Normand, Paul, Bastien and David to the Questor Board. Alongside Ms. Mascarenhas, it is expected that their diverse experience and expertise will help drive growth and success at Questor. Their contributions will help Questor continue to make a positive impact on the environment and the bottom line for our clients and help the Company grow both domestically and internationally. The New Directors will help in positioning Questor well to address important challenges facing industry.

Dr. Normand Brais holds a mechanical engineering degree and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from Polytechnique of Montreal. He was appointed as a professor at the Energy Engineering Institute of Polytechnique after he graduated. He has founded several technological companies in fields as various as atmospheric pollution from combustion equipment, biomass combustion, water treatment, photonics, and air/surface UV disinfection. He is the founder of Natcom, an ultra-low NOx burner manufacturer and of BMA, a consulting firm specializing in industrial combustion. In 1995 he founded Sanuvox Technologies, which is now a worldwide leader in air and surface disinfection for hospitals and buildings using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.

Mr. Paul Huizinga has over 30 years of global executive leadership experience across the Energy, Utilities and Resources services sectors. As a proven business leader with a track record of driving innovation and growth, Paul provides a wealth of experience across a broad range of business segments, including engineering and construction, management and technology consulting, operations and maintenance and corporate strategy. Key roles included Regional Managing Director (Alberta) for Accenture, CEO of FT Services, and Senior Vice-President operations for Worley. Paul has a BA Economics for the University of Calgary and an MBA from the University of Houston Clear Lake.

Mr. Bastien Commet has an entrepreneur spirit and is a value investor. Bastien currently works as a fund manager in Paris, and the funds he manages hold approximately 5% of the issued and outstanding shares of Questor. Bastien has a strong understanding of high yield and equity market investments and has also gained practical experience in fundamental research, engineering and lean manufacturing process analysis through his career at Solvay Rare Earths, Safran and Airbus. He has a proven ability to deal with complex issues with a quantitative focus in cross-cultural environments. Bastien has a MSc in Supply Chain Management from Rennes Business School and a MSc in Finance from Neoma Business School.

Mr. David Stam is a graduate in Arts and Law from the University of Alberta and was an active member of the Alberta Bar for over 35 years. He commenced his career in private practice with two law firms in Edmonton. He then joined the Department of Justice (Canada), carrying out a wide array of litigation matters for several government departments and agencies. For the last few years of his professional life he worked for a major provincial insurer, concluding his legal career as Associate Counsel at a small full service firm in Edmonton. In addition, David has lectured in law and continues to do so at both the University of Alberta and McEwan University.

Listed as a Top 3 Finalist in CSCMP’s 3 Vs Awards that Celebrate the Incredible Potential within Startup Ecosystems

AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Management System (WMS) accelerator, announces being named as a Finalist for CSCMP’s Best Innovative Startup/Early-Stage Award. As a Finalist, AutoScheduler is one of the top three companies in the startup/early-stage category that will present their case at the upcoming CSCMP Conference.

“It is truly an honor to be named to this prestigious list that recognizes innovation for delivering value,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “Our technology has deployed successfully to the largest CPGs, manufacturers and distributors, helping better meet on time, in-full deliveries, reduce overall warehouse touches, and improve efficiencies.”

According to a CSCMP announcement, “Due to overwhelming responses and truly exceptional entries, we were forced to delay this announcement, but after careful deliberation and consideration, our panels have made their selections. It is with great excitement that we now reveal the judges' top finalists for the 3 Vs Business Innovation and the Best Overall Innovative Startup/Early-Stage contests.”

AutoScheduler is listed in the Best Overall Innovative Startup/Early Stage category and will present their case at CSCMP’s EDGE 2023 Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition in the exchange’s Innovation Theater on Monday, October 2, 2023, at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida.

New research from ebbo dives into consumers' willingness to sign up for paid enrollments and how these offers can impact loyalty program engagement.

Subscriptions are everywhere – from streaming content to meal services to apparel boxes, the subscription model has been adopted by many brands to provide convenience to their customers, reach a bigger audience and bring in steady incremental revenue.

And more recently, there's been a rise in subscription-based loyalty programs and incentives, specifically paid enrollment, where consumers can sign up for limited-time benefits or offers in exchange for a fee.

To better understand the impact of paid enrollment and how consumers feel about them, ebbo, a leading provider of end-to-end loyalty solutions, surveyed 1300 U.S. consumers about the factors that drive engagement in these offers as well as how they impact customer loyalty.

ebbo's research found that 54% of consumers are willing to participate in a subscription-based paid enrollment program if the benefits were deemed valuable, with discounts, coupons and/or cash-back on purchases being the most important paid enrollment benefits to consumers at 70%.

• Key findings from the data study include:
• 64% of existing loyalty members would sign up for a valuable paid enrollment.
• 60% of consumers are interested in free loyalty programs that offer paid enrollment benefits.
• 74% of consumers indicated that discounts on products (i.e. a restaurant subscription that gives free drinks or discounted menu items) would incentivize them to sign up for a paid enrollment.
• 71% of consumers are likely to recommend subscription products they're excited about to friends and family.
• 28% of consumers say their preferred brands don't offer paid enrollment.

"Given the rise of the subscription economy, there's no better time to apply this model to loyalty," said Tyler Haskins, EVP of Marketing at ebbo. "Consumers are interested in paid enrollment and it provides an opportunity for brands to better engage them while adding an incremental revenue stream."

Download the full ebbo 2023 Paid Enrollment Data Study here.