Ivalua, a global leader in spend management, has announced a significant leadership transition. Founder David Khuat-Duy will step into the newly created role of Chief AI Officer, while Franck Lheureux, who has been with Ivalua for seven years, will take over as CEO. This move aims to enhance the integration of Generative AI into Ivalua's solutions while sustaining rapid growth and customer satisfaction.

David Khuat-Duy’s New Role

• As Chief AI Officer, David Khuat-Duy will focus exclusively on accelerating the integration of Generative AI into Ivalua’s platform.
• The goal is to harness AI to improve efficiency, decision-making, and cost reduction for customers.
• David will remain Executive Chairman of Ivalua’s Board, ensuring strategic oversight.

Franck Lheureux’s Appointment as CEO

• Franck Lheureux, with over 25 years of experience in enterprise software, has driven exponential growth at Ivalua since joining in 2018.
• As CEO, Franck aims to maintain Ivalua’s award-winning culture and accelerate its expansion.
• He is renowned for supporting Digital Transformation programs for Fortune 500 companies worldwide.

Why This Transition Matters

Generative AI is rapidly transforming industries, creating opportunities for businesses to optimize operations. Ivalua’s focus on embedding AI into its Source-to-Pay platform positions it as a leader in:

• Enhancing Security and Usability: AI-powered tools tailored to customer needs.
• Driving Innovation: Leveraging large language models for actionable insights.
• Delivering Results: Improving decision-making and cost efficiency for clients.

Words from Ivalua’s Leaders

David Khuat-Duy, Chief AI Officer

"AI capabilities are evolving at a breakneck pace and set to transform how businesses operate. Ivalua’s strong foundation allows us to unlock the promise of AI and maximize its impact for our customers and employees."

Franck Lheureux, CEO

"It is an honor to lead Ivalua, a company with such a rich culture and innovative technology. I am committed to fostering our culture while accelerating growth to achieve even greater heights."

Ivalua’s Continued Excellence

• Top Employer Recognition: Named by Comparably for Best Culture, Diversity, Happiness, and Career Growth.
• Customer Satisfaction: Maintains a 95-100% retention rate for over 20 years.
• Industry Leadership: Consistently recognized by analysts for technology, vision, and customer partnerships.

With this leadership transition, Ivalua reaffirms its commitment to innovation and excellence in spend management. By leveraging Generative AI, the company aims to set new benchmarks in efficiency, decision-making, and customer satisfaction.

ZoomInfo, a leading Go-To-Market Intelligence platform, has announced the appointment of Katie Rooney to its Board of Directors, effective February 1, 2025. With over 20 years of experience in finance, operations, strategy, and corporate development, Rooney will also serve on the Board’s Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.

• Appointment Significance: Rooney's financial acumen and operational expertise will play a pivotal role in strengthening ZoomInfo's market position.
• Leadership Endorsement:
  • Henry Schuck, Founder and CEO of ZoomInfo, praised Rooney’s transformative growth achievements.
  • Patrick McCarter, Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, emphasized Rooney’s alignment with ZoomInfo’s mission to deliver customer-centric solutions.
• Board Composition: Rooney’s appointment brings the Board of Directors to 10 members, with nine being independent.

About Katie Rooney

• Professional Background:
  • Current Chief Financial Officer at Maven, the largest virtual health platform for women and families.
  • Former CFO and COO of Alight, a cloud-based human capital technology provider, where she drove significant corporate initiatives.
  • Previous senior finance roles at Aon, including leading the carve-out of Alight to The Blackstone Group.
  • Vice President of Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley, specializing in medical technology companies.
• Core Competencies: Proven expertise in corporate profitability, M&A, risk management, and operational strategy.

Quotes from Leaders

• Henry Schuck: "Katie’s track record of driving growth and efficiency makes her an invaluable addition to our board."
• Katie Rooney: "I’m honored to join ZoomInfo’s board. The company’s disciplined investments in product and customer success present an exciting opportunity to deliver consistent growth and shareholder value."

Katie Rooney’s appointment signals ZoomInfo’s commitment to enhancing its leadership team with seasoned professionals to guide the company’s growth trajectory. Her extensive expertise will contribute to the company’s ongoing success in the go-to-market intelligence domain.

Acxiom, a leading connected data and technology foundation for global brands and agencies, has appointed Tom Zawacki as its Chief Growth Officer (CGO). Reporting directly to Global CEO Jarrod Martin, Zawacki will spearhead the company’s growth initiatives, focusing on unlocking new markets, enhancing revenue opportunities, and delivering impactful client solutions for acquisition and retention.

• Tom Zawacki’s Background:
  • Over 30 years of expertise in data, AI, and global omnichannel marketing.
  • Former roles include President of Enterprise Solutions and CMO at Data Axle, where he achieved significant ROI for clients.
• Career Milestones:
  • Pioneered AI integration with IBM Watson at Rocket Fuel.
  • Led multimillion-dollar partnerships with Fortune 500 companies.
  • Executed brand positioning and growth strategies for XPlusOne and co-founded Lemonade Inc., a social commerce company.

Leadership Endorsement

• Jarrod Martin, CEO of Acxiom:
  “Tom’s exceptional track record in driving sustainable brand growth and fostering relationships makes him the ideal CGO. His leadership will be instrumental as Acxiom expands into new markets and builds on its 2024 momentum.”

Tom Zawacki’s Vision

• Client-Centric Approach:
  “Acxiom’s focus on understanding clients and their customers resonates deeply with me. Predictive marketing today relies on meaningful connections, and I’m honored to join this talented and dedicated team.”

Accolades and Education

• Awards:
  • Mazda’s Strategic Partner of the Year (2015).
  • TIME Magazine/CNN Website of the Year (2007).
  • Internet Marketer of the Year (1998).
• Academic Background:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Princeton University.

Tom Zawacki’s appointment underscores Acxiom’s commitment to delivering innovative growth solutions and strengthening its leadership team. His vast experience and vision will shape the company’s trajectory as it continues to provide meaningful value to its clients.

Generative AI is rapidly transforming public relations (PR), with 75% of professionals integrating the technology into their work, according to Muck Rack's third State of AI in PR report. The survey, which includes responses from over 1,000 PR professionals, highlights the significant impact of AI on PR workflows, boosting work quality and efficiency.

• AI Use in PR
  • Main Use Cases:
    • 82% of PR professionals use AI for brainstorming.
    • 72% leverage AI for drafting content.
    • 59% utilize AI for research and crafting social media copy.
  • Paid AI Tools: 57% of professionals report using at least one paid AI tool.
  • Lower Adoption in Specific Areas: Only 21% use AI for finding journalists.
• AI’s Impact on Efficiency:
  • 93% of AI users say it speeds up their work.
  • 78% claim AI boosts the quality of their work.
  • Reduced Need for Edits: The need to edit AI-generated text has decreased, with only 61% revising most AI text in 2024, compared to 71% in 2023.

AI Policies and Training in the Workplace

• Lack of Formal Policies: Over half of organizations lack formal AI usage guidelines.
• AI Training: More than a third of PR professionals report limited access to formal AI training.
• Disclosure Gap:
  • 37% of brand professionals expect full disclosure of AI use by agencies.
  • Only 20% of agency professionals disclose AI use consistently.

Concerns about AI in PR

PR professionals remain cautious about AI, with top concerns including:

• Over-reliance by newcomers on AI instead of mastering industry principles.
• Unscrutinized AI output.
• The risk of devaluing human content creators.
• Environmental concerns from non-AI users.

Methodology

Muck Rack surveyed 1,013 PR professionals between Nov. 13 and Dec. 17, 2024, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9%. The survey was distributed primarily via email.

Generative AI is revolutionizing the PR industry, enhancing productivity and creative output. However, challenges remain around training, policies, and disclosure. As AI continues to shape the future of PR, these factors will be key in ensuring its effective and ethical use.

Emovid, the world’s first multimodal communication platform, has officially launched its business offering. Emovid bridges the gap between traditional text-based messaging and video-based communication, allowing users to record a video from anywhere and deliver it in a multi-modal form video, audio, text, and translation regardless of the recipient's platform or device. This innovative platform utilizes various communication modes such as visual, auditory, gestural, and written elements to simplify and enhance communication.

• Multimodal Communication:
  • Emovid delivers messages in multiple formats: video, audio, text, and translation.
  • Reduces misinterpretation, reading fatigue, and scheduling challenges.
  • Ensures clarity, engagement, and efficiency in communication.
• Patented Authenticity Approach:
  • Verifies the identity and authenticity of every video received.
• Communication Modes Supported:
  • One-to-one correspondence.
  • Group conversations.
  • One-to-many private broadcasts (BCC mode).
• AI Enhancements:
  • AI-powered speaking guidance, summaries, action items, and translation in 60 languages.
  • Deep AI analysis of multi-video threads.
• Studio Quality Video Recording:
  • Features like filters, lighting, teleprompter, and facial smoothing.
• Flexible Responses:
  • Recipients can respond using video, audio, or text.
• Privacy and Security:
  • Privacy controls, encryption, built-in monitoring, and tracking.
• Cross-Platform Support:
  • Works on any device with no apps or downloads required.

Business Impact

Emovid enables dynamic and personal communication, improving team collaboration and connection. Early results show that Emovid can be 4x to 5x faster than typing an email, reduce meeting time by 50%, and foster deeper emotional connections at scale.

Founder Insights

Victor Cho, co-founder of Emovid, says, “AI productivity and communication tools can be built to either replace people or amplify and empower them. We believe firmly in the latter. Our platform multiplies your ability to have trust-building face time—on your own time. It’s a game-changer.”

Early Adoption and Testimonials

• Jeffrey W. Hayzlett, a global business celebrity, shares, “Emovid is my number one tool that I use in my arsenal every day. I send 30 or 40 Emovids a day to potential customers or people I want to do business with. It’s not only efficient; it’s also effective.”

Emovid’s multimodal communication platform is revolutionizing how businesses connect and collaborate. By providing flexibility, speed, and personal engagement, it enhances productivity and builds stronger relationships in both professional and personal settings.

Certain, a leader in event management software, has launched Session Advisor AI, an advanced AI-powered solution designed to provide highly personalized session recommendations at scale. Unlike traditional solutions that require manual configuration of complex rules, Session Advisor AI uses attendee profiles, interests, and interaction-based behavior to offer tailored session suggestions that drive increased participation and enhance event value.

• AI-Driven Personalization:
  • Continuously refines recommendations based on attendee interactions, preferences, and behaviors.
  • Learns from both individual attendee data and the behaviors of their peers, creating a network of insights.
  • Delivers increasingly personalized and relevant session suggestions, improving attendee experience.
• Simplifying Decision-Making:
  • Helps attendees navigate overwhelming session catalogs by surfacing the most relevant content.
  • Optimizes session participation by offering personalized, actionable recommendations.
• Advanced Data Capabilities for Marketers:
  • Uncovers key intent indicators by analyzing attendee behaviors, allowing marketers to prioritize high-value leads.
  • Provides real-time analytics on session attendance, engagement, and ROI, offering insights to refine strategies.
  • Identifies groups of attendees with shared interests, fostering meaningful connections and enhancing networking opportunities.
• Seamless Integration:
  • Integrates effortlessly with websites, session catalogs, and email campaigns to deliver a seamless branded experience.
  • Available both as a standalone solution and for Certain customers.

Business Impact and ROI

Session Advisor AI enhances the event experience by delivering highly personalized recommendations that drive deeper engagement. Marketers benefit from real-time data that helps optimize event outcomes, improve lead quality, and provide meaningful follow-ups. With its advanced event intelligence and customizable features, it enables businesses to maximize event success and foster greater connections among attendees.

With Session Advisor AI, Certain revolutionizes event personalization by offering a dynamic and adaptable solution that grows smarter with every interaction. It ensures that attendees are always presented with the most relevant content, driving deeper engagement and maximizing business impact at scale.

PR Newswire is launching its AI-powered solutions in the EMEIA region, following its successful rollout in North America. This new offering is part of PR Newswire's continued global investment in using AI and data to enhance the work of communications professionals and solidify the company's leadership in innovative PR solutions.

• Automated Content Creation:
  • Generate high-quality press releases with just a few clicks.
  • AI algorithms analyze user input and craft content tailored to specific industries and target audiences.
• Brand Voice Matching:
  • AI leverages data from previous releases to generate content that matches an organization's brand voice and tone.
• Press Release Score:
  • Analyzes each release for readability, structure, engagement, and formatting.
  • Provides recommendations to improve the release based on these criteria.
• Upload & Enhance with AI:
  • Upload existing press release drafts and refine them using AI-generated insights.
• Comprehensive Workflow:
  • Allows users to create, edit, distribute, and manage press releases from a single platform, streamlining the process.
• Security and Privacy:
  • Powered by Google Gemini with enterprise-level security, ensuring sensitive data is protected and not used to train third-party models.

Additional Enhancements for EMEIA Customers

• Improved Member Center Portal:
  • A redesigned press release order form with an intuitive submission process and a new "Saved Distribution" feature.
  • Customers can save their preferred newslines and layouts for future use.
• SocialBoost AI Post Generator:
  • PR Newswire's SocialBoost AI tool helps generate optimized social media posts tailored to different platforms.
  • Users can submit a snippet of their press release, and the tool will automatically generate shareable posts.

Business Impact and Future Vision

The launch of these AI-powered tools represents PR Newswire's commitment to providing innovative solutions that help communicators create more effective, engaging content. While AI is not meant to replace the human creative process, it is designed to amplify it, offering tools that help PR professionals improve their efficiency, creativity, and impact.

PR Newswire's new AI solutions in the EMEIA region provide a game-changing set of tools for communications professionals. By simplifying and elevating the press release process, these AI-powered tools enhance content quality, engagement, and the overall impact of press releases, offering measurable benefits to customers.

Microland, a global leader in digital transformation, has been named a Leader in the U.S. region in the Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps) quadrant of the 2024 ISG Providers Lens Study for Intelligent Automation Services. This recognition underscores Microland’s leadership in driving innovation and excellence in the AI-powered IT operations space.

• The study emphasizes the growing role of intelligent automation service providers, whose capabilities combine evolving technologies with scalable enterprise solutions.
• Customer-centric design, purpose-built automation, and business experience are key elements in achieving outstanding performance metrics in intelligent automation.
• Microland's AIOps platform, Intelligeni, is highlighted as a powerful AI-driven solution that enables improved IT operations and real-time analytics.

Microland’s Intelligeni AIOps Platform

• AI-Driven IT Operations:
  • Automates IT operations and provides real-time analytics to enhance hybrid IT management.
  • Streamlines problem resolution and increases scalability within IT environments.
• Automated Ops Model:
  • Built on the Intelligeni platform, it creates resilient IT environments capable of adapting to change without disruption.
  • Integrates with various monitoring sources for comprehensive observability and accurate health assessments of IT operations.

Microland Leadership and Recognition

• Satish Sukumar, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Platforms, expressed the company’s honor at being named a leader, emphasizing Microland’s focus on delivering innovative AI-powered solutions that increase IT resilience and efficiency.
• Sam Mathew, President, Microland, highlighted the company’s continued commitment to providing intelligent solutions that optimize IT operations and lay the foundation for sustainable digital transformation.
• Ashwin Gaidhani, lead author of the ISG Providers Lens Study, praised Microland for offering a complete suite of platforms and guidance that empower customers to gain comprehensive visibility into their IT infrastructure.

Impact of the ISG Providers Lens Study 2024

The ISG Providers Lens Study serves as a vital tool for decision-makers in business and IT. It provides in-depth transparency into the strengths and weaknesses of key providers, helping organizations make informed choices in selecting the right solutions for their digital transformation needs.

Microland's recognition as a leader in the AIOps sector reflects its innovative approach to AI-powered IT operations. The company’s commitment to providing resilient, scalable solutions continues to drive success for enterprises navigating the complexities of digital transformation.