JUMIO ANNOUNCES ANNA CONVERY AS CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

Addition of CMO position underscores company’s continued and amplified growth in the digital identity space and ability to attract innovative, top-caliber talent

PALO ALTO, Calif., July 28 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Jumio, the leading provider of AI-powered end-to-end identity verification and eKYC solutions, today announced the addition of Anna Convery as chief marketing officer.

Convery joins Jumio from Radware, a leading cybersecurity provider, where she held the global position of chief marketing officer for nearly five years. In this role she was responsible for the marketing strategy that shaped the future of the Radware brand while directly increasing the marketing contribution to drive revenue and increase market share. Prior to Radware, Convery held marketing, sales and product management roles at OpenSpan and NICE Systems Ltd. With extensive experience in cybersecurity, AML, fraud, robotic process automation, voice analytics, biometrics, enterprise customer experience and customer journey analytics, Convery focuses on building highly scalable, highly optimized marketing functions that deliver revenue and market value. 

Convery’s appointment is the latest development in a landmark year for Jumio in which the company grew revenue and sales over 150% in Q2 2021, achieved all-time record sales for its end-to-end AML compliance solutions, welcomed Bala Kumar as chief product officer and secured a $150 million investment from Great Hill Partners. 

“I am so proud to welcome Anna to the team. It’s because of Jumio’s position as a leader in the digital identity market that we’re able to continuously attract top-caliber talent across all functions, from sales and marketing to technology, innovation and customer experience,” said Robert Prigge, Jumio CEO. “Anna’s experience in building powerful, public brands will be invaluable to Jumio as we accelerate our growth strategy.” 

Convery, recognized as a Woman of the Year in Technology by the Georgia chapter of Women in Technology, is a longtime advocate for the advancement of STEM education and professional development for women and girls. 

“I am delighted to join a global world-class leadership team and to help further Jumio’s mission to make the internet a safer place. I very much look forward to working with Jumio’s extensive and ever-growing network of customers and partners,” Convery said. 

To learn more about Jumio and its award-winning, AI-powered identity solutions, visit jumio.com. 

About Jumio 

When identity matters, trust Jumio. Jumio’s mission is to make the internet a safer place by protecting the ecosystems of businesses through a unified, end-to-end identity verification and eKYC platform. The Jumio KYX Platform offers a range of identity proofing and AML services to accurately establish, maintain and reassert trust from account opening to ongoing transaction monitoring. 

Leveraging advanced technology including AI, biometrics, machine learning, liveness detection and automation, Jumio helps organizations fight fraud and financial crime, onboard good customers faster and meet regulatory compliance including KYC, AML and GDPR. Jumio has carried out more than 400 million verifications spanning over 200 countries and territories from real-time web and mobile transactions. 

Based in Palo Alto, Jumio operates globally with offices in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific and has been the recipient of numerous awards for innovation. Jumio is backed by Centana Growth Partners, Great Hill Partners and Millennium Technology Value Partners. 

For more information, please visit www.jumio.com.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210727005274/en/ 

Contact 

U.S. Media Contact
Alex Mercurio
10Fold Communications
jumio@10fold.com 
925-271-8227 

Europe Media Contact
Gemma Lingham
FleishmanHillard UK
gemma.lingham@fleishman.com
+44-752-569-9347 

Source : Jumio

--BERNAMA

Gupshup secures additional US$240 million, hastening global conversational messaging vision

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 -- Gupshup has announced raising an additional US$240 million in follow-on funding from an industry-leading group of investors including Fidelity Management and Research Company LLC, Tiger Global, Think Investments, Malabar Investments, Harbor Spring Capital, certain accounts managed by Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC, White Oak, Neeraj Arora and others. (US$1 = RM4.226)

This funding round follows the US$100 million raise from Tiger Global in April, at a US$1.4 billion valuation.

Gupshup will use this investment to continue executing its vision and for secondary purchase of shares from current and former employees as well as prior investors, and further continue investing in product innovation for digital commerce enablement as well as expanding go-to-market initiatives in mobile-first economies worldwide.

The conversational messaging leader is also exploring M&A opportunities to expand its business opportunities. The company earlier announced an expansion in its executive team with leadership hires in Corporate Development, International Business Development, Sales, Customer Success, Marketing, and IT.

“Conversations represent the new digital storefront for businesses - virtually every business will need to build them,” said Gupshup co-founder and CEO, Beerud Sheth in a statement.

“We are transforming digital commerce around the world with conversational messaging. We look forward to partnering with our new investors given their incredible track record of backing category-creating companies. We are also gratified by the opportunity to provide partial liquidity and great returns to early investors and employees that put their faith in Gupshup.” 

Gupshup's last funding round was in April, having raised US$340 million in 2021, and growing rapidly over the last few years, exiting 2020 with an annual revenue run rate of approximately US$150 million. 

The company is present in India, LATAM, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the United States.

For more information, visit www.gupshup.io.

-- BERNAMA

China’s ZYIC Credit Ratings unchanged following severe rainfall in Henan province - AM Best

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 -- AM Best has commented that the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of ‘bbb+’ of Zhongyuan Agricultural Insurance Co Ltd (ZYIC) China remain unchanged.

This follows heavy rains that have flooded the province of Henan since July 19, according to the global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry, in a statement.

This extreme weather disaster, which has affected the central and northern part of the province most severely, has broken meteorological records that stood for the past few decades.

ZYIC is a professional agricultural insurer incorporated in Henan province. Its underwriting book contains over 60 per cent crop and livestock insurance, while other lines of business include motor, property, liability, accident and health.

Based on the latest information provided by ZYIC, AM Best sees no imminent pressure to the company’s credit fundamentals.

However, it is still too early to measure full extent of the damages and losses derived from this weather-related event as rescue work is still underway and claims reporting will take time.

AM Best will continue to monitor the development of the event and hold discussions with ZYIC’s management to assess the subsequent implications for its balance sheet strength and operating performance.

More details at www.ambest.com.

-- BERNAMA

STEP & REPEAT-THE TIKTOK FASHION REALITY COMPETITION BY GLAMHIVE AND MARY KAY GLOBAL DESIGN STUDIO-IS TURNING HEADS ON THE VIRTUAL RUNWAY

 

SEATTLE & LOS ANGELES, July 23 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Lights. Camera. Fashion. Step & Repeat, a first-of-its-kind fashion reality competition hosted on TikTok, is currently turning heads on virtual runways across the world. Created by Glamhive and the fashion-forward thinkers at the Mary Kay Global Design Studio, the competition elevates professionals in wardrobe, makeup, and hair stylists at every career level in a friendly, supportive, and inspirational five-week style competition and mentorship program on the ever-increasing social media platform TikTok.
 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210722005314/en/ 

Since its unveiling on June 22, Step & Repeat has reached the devices of millions of TikTok users worldwide, resulting in participation in more than 30 countries. Each week, Step & Repeat host Johnny Wujek (celebrity clients include Katy Perry and Mariah Carey) announces a theme-based challenge, signaling to amateur and seasoned stylists alike, across the globe that it’s time to get creative—and think outside the closet.

“I love that we are able to showcase a global creative platform and movement,” said Wujek.

“It’s been so fun to watch people interpret each theme and challenge in their own personal way. Fashion is all about bringing people together to celebrate everything that makes up the glamour: from the clothes to the makeup and the hair.”

Each round, celebrity judges Nicole Chavez (celebrity clients include Scarlett Johansson and Kristen Bell), Claire Sulmers (founder of Fashion Bomb Daily), and Andrew Fitzsimmons (celebrity clients include the Kardashians) duet some of the entries and ultimately determine winners. Each receives a cash prize and a one-hour mentoring session with one of nineteen industry leaders.

“This has been a fun, new way to connect and communicate with established creatives and the best emerging talent,” said Chavez. “I love sharing my experience and encouraging the next generation to make it to the top.”

During mentoring sessions, winners receive 1:1 coaching in creating a business around makeup, hair, or style—or maybe all three.

“I loved mentoring one of the incredible winners of the Step & Repeat TikTok challenge,” said Brian Underwood, Beauty & Wellness Director for Oprah Daily. “Hearing about her creative journey, the challenges she's faced over the past year, and her inspiring plan for the future was an energizing experience. And I was so impressed by the content she created. These are the creative minds of tomorrow.”

Participants aren’t just spectators—they’re building their personal businesses and learning through Step & Repeat’s experts. Stephanie Sprangers, Founder and CEO of Glamhive, says that’s by design.

“Our vision for this show is to harness the power of entertainment content and combine it with big-name talent and user generated content,” says Sprangers. “It’s all about inclusivity and opportunity. Winners have the chance at a conversation that could truly be life-changing. This is what excites everyone the most.”

The creativity continues in the final week of the competition as the crown for creativity will culminate with the most intriguing challenge yet: rejected Met Gala themes.

“It has been remarkable to see the level of talent throughout this process,” said Fitzsimmons. “Social media is a great equalizer in that it allows anyone with a talent and a dream to share their work on a global scale. It's been so exciting to see global influences reflected throughout this competition.”

Step & Repeat has already started to garner the attention of TikTok users, topping over 1.5 million views and has been featured in the UK Daily Mail, The Daily Front Row, and Vogue Business.

“Being a part of this competition has been thrilling, and offers an innovative view on the next big stylists, makeup artists, and hair stylists,” said Sulmers. “I've enjoyed seeing the diversity of participants, and their skills are unmatched.”

For more information, visit https://www.glamhive.com/tiktok.

About Glamhive

Glamhive was founded by entrepreneur Stephanie Sprangers in 2017 with the vision to democratize personal styling and the premise that the confidence that comes with glamour should not be exclusive to the rich and famous. The online styling experience offers anyone with WiFi connection access to stylists who will provide them with the support they need to be the best version of themselves. The Glamhive platform is a seamless end-to-end platform for stylists to help them grow their network and their business, 100% virtually.

About Mary Kay & Mary Kay Global Design Studio

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her beauty company more than 58 years ago with three goals: develop rewarding opportunities for women, offer irresistible products, and make the world a better place. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in nearly 40 countries. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skin care, color cosmetics, and fragrances, and partnering with organizations from around the world to drive a positive social impact. The Mary Kay Global Design Studio is the in-house creative agency serving as the creative incubator for Mary Kay’s fashion, designer and influencer collaborations and branding campaigns, to transform product and packaging design and consumer-facing digital innovation. Learn more at MaryKay.com.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210722005314/en/ 

Contact

Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications
marykay.com/newsroom
(+1) 972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com 

Source : Mary Kay

--BERNAMA

​BEST'S MARKET SEGMENT REPORT: AM BEST MAINTAINS STABLE OUTLOOK ON JAPAN'S NON-LIFE INSURANCE MARKET

 

HONG KONG, July 23 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best is holding its stable market segment outlook on Japan’s non-life insurance industry, predominantly driven by carriers’ profitable underwriting performance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the new Best’s Market Segment Report, titled, “Market Segment Outlook: Japan Non-Life Insurance,” premium rate adjustments, which are likely to improve the profitability of the fire insurance line; and solid risk-adjusted capitalisation to weather potential financial market volatility also are key supporting factors behind the stable outlook. For fiscal-year 2020, the economic fallout from the pandemic led to a slowdown in economic activity domestically and regionally. Most major domestic non-life insurers saw a negative impact on certain lines of business due to the pandemic, such as the premium revenue of marine and travel insurance. Nonetheless, the overall underwriting performance of non-life insurers in Japan generally has been positive despite the impact of COVID-19. According to the report, this is because the increase in claims related to COVID-19 have been relatively low, as domestic non-life insurers typically have limited net retained exposure to event cancellation and business interruption risks in Japan. Net incurred losses of most major domestic non-life insurers declined in fiscal-year 2020, primarily due to a decrease in large-scale natural catastrophe occurrences, as well as the positive effect of stay-at-home policies on the claim frequencies of voluntary automobile and travel insurances. Furthermore, with increases in the premium rates for voluntary automobile insurance and fire insurance, most major domestic non-life insurers reported a material improvement in their combined ratios for private insurance. Voluntary automobile insurance accounts for over half of Japan’s non-life insurance net premium written, excluding compulsory automobile liability insurance. As a result, the underwriting profitability of the non-life market is tied more closely to the underwriting performance of the voluntary automobile insurance business. The majority of domestic non-life companies have very strong capital positions. In addition, the amount of excess solvency margin held by most domestic insurance companies is also sizable relative to the value of equities and foreign securities, which suggests that there is a significant amount of excess capital available to cushion against market volatility.   To access the full copy of this market segment report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=310960. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright © 2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.   View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210722005606/en/ Contact Jason Shum Associate Director +852 2827 3424 jason.shum@ambest.com Christopher Sharkey Manager, Public Relations +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159 christopher.sharkey@ambest.com Jim Peavy Director, Communications +1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644 james.peavy@ambest.com  Source : AM Best --BERNAMA

Zoom enters definitive agreement for Five9 acquisition

KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 -- Zoom Video Communications Inc has announced entering a definitive agreement to acquire Five9 Inc, a leading provider of the intelligent cloud contact centre, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately US$14.7 billion. (US$1 = RM4.215)

Combining Five9’s Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) solution with Zoom’s broad communications platform will transform how businesses connect with customers, building the customer engagement platform of the future.

The acquisition is expected to help enhance Zoom’s presence with enterprise customers and allow it to accelerate its long-term growth opportunity by adding the US$24 billion contact centre market.

“We are continuously looking for ways to enhance our platform, and the addition of Five9 is a natural fit that will deliver even more happiness and value to our customers,” said Zoom Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Eric S. Yuan, in a statement.

“Zoom is built on a core belief that robust and reliable communications technology enables interactions that build greater empathy and trust, and we believe that holds particularly true for customer engagement,” he said.

According to Five9 Chief Executive Officer, Rowan Trollope, joining forces with Zoom will provide Five9’s business customers access to best-of-breed solutions, particularly Zoom Phone, enabling them to realise more value and deliver real results for their business.

Following the close of the transaction, Five9 will be an operating unit of Zoom and Trollope will become a President of Zoom and continue as CEO of Five9, reporting to Yuan.

Goldman Sachs & Co LLC serves as exclusive financial adviser and Cooley LLP, as legal counsel to Zoom. Qatalyst Partners is serving as exclusive financial adviser and Latham and Watkins LLP serves as legal counsel to Five9.

-- BERNAMA

NIPPON EXPRESS ITALIA ACQUIRES GDP CERTIFICATION FOR COMPANY-OWNED WAREHOUSE NEAR MILAN MALPENSA AIRPORT

TOKYO, July 14, 2021 /Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/ --

Nippon Express Italia S.P.A. (hereinafter "NE Italy"), a local subsidiary of Nippon Express Co., Ltd., obtained Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification from the certification body CERTIQUALITY S.r.l., effective May 25, for its company-owned warehouse near Milan Malpensa Airport, evidencing its compliance with GDP standards for the proper distribution of pharmaceuticals established by the European Commission.

Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/img/202107057256-O1-8WLOD7vP

Photo: Warehouse interior https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M103866/202107057256/_prw_PI2fl_6BqC8KcY.jpg

Italy is a key global manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, accounting for 12% of the world's pharmaceutical production and 22% of Europe's. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is a growth industry domestically as well, having achieved 168% growth over the past ten years.

NE Italy has constructed new temperature-controlled facilities equipped with cooling units to maintain 2 - 8 C (20 m2) and 15 - 25 C (470 m2) temperature ranges within its company-owned warehouse in Lainate, located about 30 km southeast of Milan Malpensa Airport. This will allow NE Italy to meet the logistics needs of customers in the pharmaceutical industry by combining temporary storage services using these facilities with Nippon Express's temperature-controlled international transport services.

Nippon Express will be further enhancing its services to meet increasingly sophisticated and diverse pharmaceutical logistics needs and bolstering its efforts on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry, positioned as a priority industry in its current business plan.

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=40529

BEYOND LIMITS ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH MITSUI TO EXPAND GLOBAL ACCESS TO COGNITIVE AI SOLUTIONS

LOS ANGELES, July 13 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beyond Limits, an industrial and enterprise-grade AI technology company built for the most demanding sectors, today announced a new partnership with Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) to expand access to Cognitive AI solutions in the Asia-Pacific region.

The collaboration will establish digital transformation and AI-readiness consulting services for Mitsui’s clients in Japan and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, in addition to expanding globally. The services will first be deployed with one of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plants where Mitsui is involved as an investor, utilizing Beyond Limits’ Cognitive AI solution to accumulate operational knowledge, analyze datasets, and boost production efficiency. 

“Beyond Limits is committed to developing AI solutions that go beyond solving today’s challenges to address the needs of new industries and regions that are recognizing the impact of artificial intelligence,” said Leonard Lee, President, Beyond Limits Asia-Pacific. “We’re proud to partner with Mitsui, an established leader in business development and trade in so many global industries. This collaboration is a testament to our joint commitment to building knowledge and value with AI for many sectors which are just now exploring its potential.”

The AI market in the Asia-Pacific region, including software and other services, is expected to reach a value of $136 billion by 2025 according to a report by research firm Tractica. The high market potential, coupled with growing technology adoption across traditional industries including infrastructure, energy and manufacturing, is expected to create a need for expert resources as more companies look to capitalize on digital services. 

“Mitsui announced the DX Comprehensive Strategy in November 2020,” said Yuji Mano, Managing Officer, General Manager of Integrated Digital Strategy Division at Mitsui. “We are working to improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness, and create new business models by integrating the various sites of Mitsui’s global portfolio with the power of digital. Through this partnership, we will accelerate our short to medium-term goals through efficiency improvement and execution of high added value of the existing business.” 

“Mitsui is delighted to partner with Beyond Limits,” said Hiroki Tanabe, Deputy General Manager, Forth Dept, Division III, Infrastructure Projects Business Unit at Mitsui. “We have been working on this deal for several years, and believe that the integration of Mitsui’s Operation Technology (OT) knowledge & Digital Transformation (DX) expertise under global portfolio and Beyond Limits’ AI technology will be able to deliver impact for companies across the energy industry and beyond.” 

For more information on Beyond Limits’ Cognitive AI energy solutions, click here. 

About Beyond Limits 

Beyond Limits is an industrial and enterprise-grade artificial intelligence company built for the most demanding sectors including energy, utilities, and healthcare. 

Beyond traditional artificial intelligence, Beyond Limits’ unique Cognitive AI technology combines numeric techniques like machine learning with embedded human knowledge to provide clear, reliable recommendations. Customers implement Beyond Limits AI to boost operational insights, improve operating conditions, enhance performance at every level, and ultimately increase profits as a result. 

Founded in 2014, Beyond Limits leverages a significant investment portfolio of advanced technology developed at Caltech’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA space missions. The company was recently honored by Frost & Sullivan as a Company of the Year for their 2021 Best Practices Award and by CB Insights on their 2020 List of Top 100 Most Innovative Artificial Intelligence Startups. 

For more information, please visit www.beyond.ai. 

About Mitsui & Co., Ltd. 

Mitsui & Co., Ltd (8031: JP) is a global trading and investment company with a diversified business portfolio that spans 64 countries in Asia, Europe, North, Central & South America, The Middle East, Africa and Oceania. 

Mitsui has over 5,600 employees and deploys talent around the globe to identify, develop, and grow businesses in collaboration with a global network of trusted partners. Mitsui has built a strong and diverse core business portfolio covering the Mineral and Metal Resources, Energy, Machinery and Infrastructure, and Chemicals industries. 

For more information on Mitsui & Co’s businesses visit, www.mitsui.com. 

Contact Information:
Ed Cruz
LEWIS for Beyond Limits
619-308-5245
beyondlimitspr@teamlewis.com 

Source: Beyond Limits Inc.

-- BERNAMA

SOFTBANK GROUP NAMES MARK KORNBLAU GLOBAL HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS

TOKYO, July 8 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- SoftBank Group Corp. (“SBG”) today announced that Mark Kornblau will join SBG as Global Head of Communications, effective August 16. Mr. Kornblau joins SBG from the NBCUniversal News Group, where he is currently Executive Vice President of Communications.

Mr. Kornblau will be based in SoftBank's New York office and will report to Masayoshi Son, Representative Director, Corporate Officer, Chairman & CEO of SBG, and Marcelo Claure, Corporate Officer, Executive Vice President & COO of SBG and Chief Executive Officer of SoftBank Group International. In this role, Mr. Kornblau will be responsible for leading SBG's corporate communications strategy, directing the Company's external and internal global communications functions. He will also work with SBG's nearly 300 portfolio companies to foster alignment and value creation across the SoftBank Group ecosystem.

“Mark is a highly regarded and talented communications leader who has been a trusted advisor to CEOs, presidential candidates, government leaders and journalists for more than two decades,” said Mr. Claure. “He will be a valuable partner to our leadership team and the entrepreneurs and companies we invest in.”

Mr. Kornblau said, “SoftBank is at the center of a transformative global moment. It is shaping the future by identifying truly innovative technologies and accelerating the growth of companies that are revolutionizing the way we live and work – for the better. I’m looking forward to supporting that mission.”

At the NBCUniversal News Group, Mr. Kornblau leads communications for the award-winning portfolio of television and digital news brands and positioned the business for success in a rapidly changing media landscape. In this role, Mr. Kornblau partners with business and editorial leaders at the flagship brands of NBC News, MSNBC, TODAY, Nightly News, Meet the Press and their streaming networks and digital platforms. He also led negotiations to secure the network’s 2020 presidential primary debates, which set viewership records.

Prior to his role at NBCUniversal News Group, Mr. Kornblau was Managing Director of Corporate Communications for JPMorgan Chase, where he worked with the executive leadership team on strategic and crisis communications and oversaw media relations in support of the firm's government relations and corporate responsibility efforts. 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=40480

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR RESEARCH PUBLISHES 2021 ASIA EXECUTIVE TEAM RANKINGS

 

All-Star status - 14 companies in Mainland China and 12 companies in the Rest of Asia achieve first place in at least four categories in their sectors.  Firms achieved top spot through excellent IR program, ESG, executive leadership and COVID response. HONG KONG, June 30 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Institutional Investor Research (II Research) announced the results of their 11th Annual Asia Executive Team survey, revealing Asia’s leading CEOs, CFOs, Investor Relations Officers, and Investor Relations programs that best uphold corporate governance standards and facilitate investment into their company. A total of 116 companies attained a published position in the categories listed above to become an Honoured company, and 46 of those companies were granted the coveted Most Honoured Company recognition. A total of 4,084 investors and portfolio managers and analysts from 1,285 voter firms participated in this survey, nominating a total of 1,438 companies and 2,690 individuals across 18 sectors. This included 3,503 buy-side professionals from 1,178 buy-side companies with an estimated $1,863 billion in Asia (ex-Japan) equities and 581 sell-side analysts from 107 companies. The companies were rated on several core areas, including Financial Disclosure, Services & Communication, COVID-19 responses and ESG. When presented with the added attributes of CEO and CFO, we can see that while there was an increase in votes for these positions, there was also more scrutiny. Results highlights 2021 marks the first year that Mainland China, the Rest of Asia (ex-Mainland China) and sector Small and Mid-Cap results have been reported separately to the overall Asia-Pacific results. Companies with a market cap of $10B or below are classified as Small and Mid-Cap. The following companies clinched All-Star status, achieving a first-place clean sweep in the combined rankings across four of the five categories for Best CEO, Best CFO, Best Investor Relations Professional, Best IR Program and Best ESG in their respective sectors in the 2021 Asia Executive Team survey. Overall Results China Merchants Bank Co. (China) (Banks); China Unicom (Hong Kong) (China) (Telecommunications); China Yongda Automobiles Services Holdings (China) (Autos & Auto Parts); Ever Sunshine Lifestyle Services (China) (Property); Infosys (India) (Technology/IT Services & Software); Kunlun Energy Co. (China) (Power); Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Co. (China) (Technology/Hardware); Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (Taiwan) (Technology/Semiconductors); Tencent Holdings (China) (Internet); Topsports International Holdings (China) (Consumer/Discretionary); WuXi Biologics (Cayman) (China) (Health Care & Pharmaceuticals); Xinyi Solar Holdings (China) (Industrials); ZTO Express (Cayman) (China) (Transportation). Of these companies, the following achieved first place in all five categories: Ever Sunshine Lifestyle Services (China); Kunlun Energy Co. (China); Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Co. (China); Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (Taiwan); WuXi Biologics (Cayman) (China); Xinyi Solar Holdings (China); ZTO Express (Cayman) (China). Mainland China China Merchants Bank Co. (Banks); China Unicom (Hong Kong) (Telecommunications); China Yongda Automobiles Services Holdings (Autos & Auto Parts); Ever Sunshine Lifestyle Services (Property); Hua Hong Semiconductor (Technology/Semiconductors); Huazhu Group (Gaming & Lodging); Kunlun Energy Co. (Power); Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Co. (Technology/Hardware); Tencent Holdings (Internet); Topsports International Holdings (Consumer/Discretionary); WuXi Biologics (Cayman) (Health Care & Pharmaceuticals); Xinyi Solar Holdings (Industrials); ZTO Express (Cayman) (Transportation). Of these companies, the following achieved first place in all five categories: Ever Sunshine Lifestyle Services, Huazhu Group, Kunlun Energy Co., Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Co., WuXi Biologics (Cayman), Xinyi Solar Holdings, ZTO Express (Cayman). Rest of Asia AIA Group (Hong Kong) (Insurance); Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (Thailand) (Health Care & Pharmaceuticals); Bharti Airtel (India) (Telecommunications); BOC Aviation (Singapore) (Transportation); DBS Group Holdings (Singapore) (Banks); Hero MotoCorp (India) (Autos & Auto Parts); Infosys (India) (Technology/IT Services & Software); JS Global Lifestyle Co. (Hong Kong) (Consumer/Staples); Link Real Estate Investment Trust (Hong Kong) (Property); NAVER Corp. (South Korea) (Internet); Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (Taiwan) (Technology/Semiconductors); Tata Power Co. (India) (Power). Of these companies, the following achieved first place in all five categories: AIA Group (Hong Kong), Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (Thailand), BOC Aviation (Singapore), Hero MotoCorp (India), JS Global Lifestyle Co. (Hong Kong), Link Real Estate Investment Trust (Hong Kong), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (Taiwan). http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=40420

With new vice presidents, CyCognito expands sales footprint including APAC, US Government

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 -- CyCognito, the leader in external attack surface management and attack surface protection has announced the hire of new sales executives Justin DuHaime and Michael Tan to help scale the sales team and expand its target focus to new markets both domestically and abroad.

DuHaime joins CyCognito as Vice President of Public Sector, bringing more than 28 years experience of building successful sales organisations and strategic partnerships in federal and commercial markets, and most recently led government sales at BitSight.

The need for attack surface protection in the government sector is evidenced by historical and recent attacks as well as the President’s recent Executive Order 14,028 on “Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity”.

Tan is the new Regional Vice President of Sales for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. With more than 28 years experience building sales and channels in the region, he comes to CyCognito after three years at IntSights where he was the first hire in APAC.

Demand for attack surface protection has been growing in the region, paralleling the global need to get ahead of attackers and prevent breaches using proactive measures.

“We are very excited to welcome Justin and Michael to the CyCognito team,” said CyCognito Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales, Mike Trites.

“Customer demand for cybersecurity solutions, in particular attack surface protection, is surging as attackers get more sophisticated and find new ways to access organisations’ data, applications and networks. Scaling our sales leadership allows us to focus on and reach customers in new markets that are yearning for solutions like ours.”

Founded by national intelligence agency veterans, Palo-Alto based CyCognito is funded by leading Silicon Valley venture capitalists, according to a statement.

-- BERNAMA

OMRON unveils global release of G9KA High-Power PCB Relay

KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 -- OMRON Corporation based in Kyoto, Japan, has announced the global release of the G9KA High-Power PCB Relay on July 1.

This product improves the power generation efficiency of PV generation systems by minimising energy loss caused by heat generated by power conditioners, power supply equipment, and related equipment used in solar power generation systems.

The industry-leading ultra-low contact resistance of 0.2milliohm suppresses heat generated by the relay and improves the power generation efficiency of solar power generation systems, thereby accelerating renewable energy deployment and contributing to realising a decarbonised society.

According to a statement, the G9KA can reduce the temperature rise of the relay about 30 per cent -- compared with conventional high-power relays -- by lowering the contact resistance to the industry-leading 0.2milliohm.

This product helps to reduce the size and weight of equipment by simplifying the heatsink and cooling fan installed as a countermeasure against heat generation.

In addition, suppressing the heat generated by the relay leads to a reduction in the temperature rise of the PC board, thereby contributing to the longevity of equipment.

OMRON will continue to contribute to the realisation of a decarbonised society through its customers' products and services by creating advanced devices and modules based on the technologies it has cultivated over many years and providing them globally.

-- BERNAMA