Category Archives: Business

Sendero Cross Capital Begins Construction of Longhorn Steakhouse, Mesquite, Texas

Dallas, TX, June 04, 2024 –Sendero Cross Capital, a Dallas-based commercial real estate company with more than 50 years of combined experience, will find, acquire, and provide build solutions for complex investment scenarios.

Geoff Henrion, founding partner of Sendero Cross Capital, stated, “We are very pleased to announce the start of construction of a new Longhorn Steakhouse at the former Twin Peaks location in Mesquite, Texas. Engaged by our long-time client, Darden Restaurants Inc., the new location is set to open its doors in February 2025 and will operate out of a 5,780 square foot building on a prime 1.34-acre pad site located at 18995 LBJ, Mesquite, TX.”

Don McKechnie, Sendero Cross Capital partner, added, “Our clients rely on us when establishing multiple stores in major and secondary markets, including one-of-a-kind urban adaptive opportunities. We have the expertise and commitment required to navigate the entire real estate process from start to finish, including construction management and move-in.”

WB+TDP Executives Andrew Kessler and Ryan Scully to Present AI Production

New York, NY, June 04, 2024 –WB+TDP, the top independent creative production agency, today announced the company will host an AI production discussion at Cannes Lions on Wednesday, June 19.

As the pioneers of the AI Synthomatic, WB+TDP, will be hosting “AI Production: Real Solutions” with Andrew Kessler, President and CEO, and Ryan Scully, VP Creative, providing an overview of the practical application of AI in the production process.

The discussion, for creatives and production executives, will include information on creating AI compositions, animations, and VO using current and widely available AI technology. Attendees will learn the possibilities, and limitations, of AI usage within the production process.

In 2023, WB+TDP introduced the groundbreaking AI Synthomatic. Unlike traditional AI processes, the Synthomatic combines AI technologies with a human touch and the skilled eye of the company’s artists. Over the last year, WB+TDP’s AI Synthomatics have been used within all 6 of the major agencies holding companies, who are now incorporating AI Synthomatics, which offer faster production, superior quality, and reduced costs, into their client work.

“The AI Synthomatic represents a transformative leap in production capabilities, blending AI with our artistic expertise to deliver unparalleled quality and efficiency. As we continue to work on the leading-edge of AI technology, we are looking forward to sharing our findings with the creative production community at Cannes Lions,” said Andrew Kessler, WB+TDP President and CEO.

A sampling of WB+TDP’s AI Synthomatic art can be found at wbtdp.com/ai-synthomatics

Gathr and Databricks partner to transform analytics & AI landscape

India,4th June 2024 Gathr Data Inc. proudly announces a strategic partnership with Databricks, a leading data intelligence platform to unify and democratize data, analytics, and AI. This partnership will enable Gathr’s customers to leverage Databricks unified data governance and high-power computing for their data engineering & AI needs.

“With this partnership, customers can modernize their disparate data assets and analytics by combining Databricks’ high-performance compute capabilities with Gathr’s AI-powered, scalable, and no-code approach,” said Bhavin Shah, Sr. Vice President, Sales & Customer Success at Gathr Data Inc. “We are eager to transform the data engineering and analytics landscape across various industries and empower businesses to unlock the true potential of their data assets & engineering teams, by enabling seamless collaboration, unparalleled productivity backed by a highly scalable data backbone.”

Key features include:

Building a strong data foundation for analytics, ML, and Gen AI by ingesting quality data into Databricks Delta Lake. Gathr’s ingestion and ETL applications facilitate the creation of a unified repository for storing and accessing diverse datasets to maintain data quality and consistency in Databricks.

Empowering users to design pipelines at scale using Databricks’ design-time engine. With connectivity to live Databricks clusters, enterprises can interactively design their pipelines enhancing efficiency in analytics workflows.

Integrating Databricks’ compute capabilities into workflows. Run ETL applications, and manage environments, and clusters from a single interface.

Integration with Databricks Unity Catalog, offering a user-friendly low-code/no-code interface for capturing and ingesting high-quality data. Enterprises can schedule pipelines to populate data in UC schemas, enhancing data accessibility and governance.

Combining PySpark’s flexibility with Gathr’s no-code ETL capabilities, users can even seamlessly integrate their existing Python codes. With Gen AI-assisted PySpark development, enterprises can implement custom business logic at scale, driving innovation in data analytics.

GathrIQ Copilot provides natural language assistance throughout the data engineering, analytics, and AI journey. From building pipelines to discovering data assets, transforming data, creating visualizations, and gaining insights, enterprises can harness the power of Gen AI to drive intelligent business outcomes.

With this partnership, Gathr and Databricks are poised to deliver unparalleled value to enterprises, helping them navigate the complex landscape of data and AI with greater ease and effectiveness.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India sells 4,92,047 units in May’24

Mumbai, 4th June 2024: Continuing the year with its massive double-digit growth, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) today announced its overall sales for the month of May 2024.

During the month, the company’s dispatches stood at 4,92,047 units, registering a strong 49% YoY growth. This includes domestic sales of 4,50,589 units and 41,458 units of exports. The domestic sales for the month registered a strong 45% YoY growth while the exports grew by a massive 127% over the same period of last year.

Key Highlights of May 2024:

Ø Corporate: Honda R&D (India) Private Limited (HRID), a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and functioning as Honda’s research and development arm for motorcycles & power products in India inaugurated a new R&D centre in Bengaluru (Karnataka) to accelerate electrification in India.

Ø Product: HMSI proudly celebrated the 1st anniversary of its entry-level commuter motorcycle Shine 100. With over 3 lakh units of Shine 100 sold till date, HMSI has witnessed an incredible growth in the 100-110cc segment in FY’24.

Ø Business Milestone: HMSI announced that its 125cc motorcycles, Shine 125 and SP125, have crossed over 30 lakh customers in Eastern India which includes the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and North-East India.

Ø Network Expansion: HMSI inaugurated its new Sales & Service Red Wing outlet in Siliguri (West Bengal). The company’s latest dealership is its 38th Authorized Main Dealership (AMD) and 277th Red Wing touchpoint in West Bengal.

Ø Road Safety & CSR: Expanding road safety awareness in India, HMSI conducted awareness campaigns in 11 cities across India – Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Gurugram (Haryana), Tirunelveli (Tamil Nadu), Guwahati (Assam), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Mangalore (Karnataka), Rourkela (Odisha), Warangal (Telangana), Sholapur (Maharashtra), Dhule (Maharashtra) and Vadodara (Gujarat). Additionally, Honda proudly announced the commencement of its “Stree सारथी…steering her own path” women empowerment initiative and commemorated first training batch for female cab drivers at its Institute of Driving Training and Research in Karnal (Haryana).

Christee Real Estate Technologies Unveils AskChristee.com

Annapolis, MD, June 04, 2024 — Christee Real Estate Technologies proudly announces the launch of AskChristee.com, an innovative platform featuring 16 advanced financial modules designed to provide comprehensive insight and analysis for the homebuying experience.

AskChristee is engineered to demystify the financial aspects of homebuying, offering invaluable support to homebuyers, real estate agents, and loan officers. The platform empowers homebuyers with critical information, enabling them to make informed and smart financial decisions when purchasing a home.

Key Features of AskChristee Include:
· Empowering Homebuyers: Delivering critical financial information to guide homebuyers in making smart homebuying decisions.
· Enhancing Realtor Value: Providing Realtors with a competitive edge, enhancing their value proposition to potential clients.
· Supporting Loan Officers: Offering a sophisticated tool for the prequalification of potential borrowers.

Organon India appoints Vivek Soares as its new Country Lead for India and South Asia

Hyderabad, 4th June 2024 – Organon India announces the appointment of Vivek Soares as its new Country Lead for India and South4th June 2024 Asia, commencing on June 1st, 2024.

Soares will take the reins from Anjan Sen, who will retire after 35 years in the biopharmaceutical sector, which includes 11 years with MSD and Organon. Anjan was pivotal in setting up Organon’s operations in India and the neighboring markets in South Asia while building the commercial organization and business plan for India to be a long-term growth driver in the region.

Soares brings over 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, having held numerous leadership roles at both country and regional levels. He has successfully led diverse teams across markets, and developed and executed successful strategies, to increase sales and profitability while building future capabilities.

Before joining Organon India, Vivek served as Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Lead for Organon Thailand. He has also held positions such as Director of fertility Business Unit in Asia Pacific, Head of Tender & Key Account in Vietnam, and Senior Marketing Manager for Women’s Health covering India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

“I am thrilled to have Vivek on board as the new Country Lead for India and South Asia, and as a member of the Organon Asia Pacific leadership Team. Organon’s markets across Asia Pacific is home to over one-quarter of the world’s female population, and Vivek’s extensive experience in supporting the health of women across this region provides a strong foundation to also drive growth and success in India,” said Andreas Daugaard Jorgensen, Managing Director Organon Asia Pacific.

Commenting on his appointment, Vivek said, “I’m excited to join Organon as the company embarks on its next exciting chapter and extend my gratitude to Anjan Sen who has been pivotal in setting up Organon’s operations in India and the neighboring markets in South Asia. I’m looking forward to working with our partners and health care professionals to deliver on Organon’s mission to create a healthier future for every woman every day.”

Paul Greeley Joins News Blues as Manager

Phoenix, AZ, June 04, 2024 — News Blues, the daily newsletter of the day’s top media news for local TV broadcasting since 1998, is under new management.

Paul Greeley has been named manager of News Blues starting immediately.

Greeley is a 40-year veteran of local TV news and marketing. Prior to his appointment to News Blues, Greeley was a writer for TVNewsCheck for more than 10 years. His daily column, Market Share, covered local TV news and its marketing.

Greeley’s career has been as a writer/producer creative services and marketing manager at local TV stations around the country, and as the VP of Marketing for Nexstar Broadcasting.

Veteran broadcast executives Gary Brown and Patrick McCreery took over as owners of News Blues in 2024. Brown and McCreery also own Talent Dynamics, a talent placement and coaching company for TV news journalists.

“As the new owners of News Blues, we were looking for someone who could take our website to the next level with more content focused on what TV stations and journalists are doing in the industry,” Brown says.

“Greeley is well-known and respected in the broadcast business,” McCreery says. “He has the background and experience that fits where we envision taking News Blues.”

“I’m a huge supporter of local TV,” Greeley says. “I’ve shared its successes in every role I’ve had at the local TV level, in the corporate office and in industry publications. Local TV broadcasting is a billion-dollar-a-year business with millions of viewers and thousands of employees. But very little is written about what goes on at local TV stations on the ground in the 200-plus markets around the country. I want to write about success, innovation and creativity in news, marketing, and sales that happens in local TV anywhere it happens across the county.”

Since April 13 several enhancements to News Blues have been made:
· Updated jobs page
· Blogs that feature commentaries on the business to explain why things happen the way they do in TV.
· A new Ask the GM feature, where readers can email questions to a local TV GM to get answered.
· The News Blues sourcebook is in the process of getting updated. Soon contact information for every station and ND in America will be there.
· Coming soon, is Primetime Performance from Talent Dynamics where our talent coaches offer tips and ideas to improve your performance.

Their goal is to make News Blues the place every broadcast journalist starts their day for news on the industry with insight and perspective.

News Blues is owned by Glass City Talent, LLC. Veteran broadcast executives Gary Brown and Patrick McCreery founded Glass City Talent, LLC in March 2022. Since its inception, the company has invested in niche companies in the broadcast media industry. Now having closed on three acquisitions with more to come. The origins of the name Glass City Talent go back to where Brown and McCreery grew up in Toledo, Ohio. Toledo earned the Glass City nickname when it was considered the glass manufacturing capital of the world. That’s also where Brown and McCreery first met and worked together in a newsroom early in their careers.

GD Goenka Group Appoints Mr. Varun Reddy Sevva as Chief Human Resources Officer

New Delhi, 4th June 2024: GD Goenka Group, a renowned name in the education sector, is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Varun Reddy Sevva as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO).

With a prominent career that spans over 14 years across industry verticals, Mr. Sevva brings with him a vast pool of knowledge and experience in Human Resources and Organisational Development.

As a distinguished industry veteran, Mr. Sevva possesses significant expertise in talent management, employee engagement, HR operations, and compliance. His exceptional approach to Human Resource development, talent acquisition, and creating high-performing teams has carved a distinctive niche for him.

He has played a crucial role in mentoring start-ups and also managed HR operations for Device Solutions at Samsung Electronics, where he earned multiple accolades. In addition, he introduced innovative HR initiatives to bolster employee satisfaction and organizational productivity during his stint with Apollo Tyres.

His unprecedented experience in working closely with top management has empowered him with the unique skills to attract, retain, and nurture talent from across the globe.

Sharing his delight at being part of the GD Goenka Group, Mr. Sevva said, ”I am honored to be part of this prominent organization that has redefined education in the country. I am confident that my experience and skills will contribute to the continued success of the group with the implementation of growth-oriented and employee-centric HR practices.”

Echoing his opinion, Mr. Gaurav Himkar, CEO of GD Goenka Group, said, ”Mr. Sevva’s appointment is a testament to the commitment of GD Goenka Group to foster a dynamic and inclusive work environment. We are confident that in his position as the CHRO, the group will continue to evolve and reach new heights of success with high-performing teams and enhanced talent management.’’

Mr. Sevva holds an MBA in Human Resources from IIM Lucknow, a B.Tech from NIT Kurukshetra, and a PGDM in HRM from XLRI Jamshedpur. Furthermore, he is also certified in Corporate Governance and Business and Human Rights, underlining his devotion to ethical leadership.

Wynona’s House Announces Appointment of Robert Crocker as New CEO

Newark, NJ, June 04, 2024 — The Board of Trustees of Wynona’s House, the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) of Essex County, is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Crocker, MPA, as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. With over 20 years of diverse experience in the non-profit sector and a decade-long history with Wynona’s House, Robert’s appointment comes with the full support of the selection committee and the Board of Trustees.

“Robert’s diligence, hard work, and leadership capabilities are commendable. He sets high standards for himself and his team,” stated Gale Britton, President & Chair of the Board of Trustees. “With his promotion, Robert brings a wealth of knowledge about our organization, team, and partners. This deep understanding ensures a seamless transition, with no interruption to the support our families rely on or our mission. We can all look forward to a continuation of the excellent service Wynona’s House provides.”

The CAC, located in Newark, promotes hope, healing, and justice for the child victims of abuse and neglect throughout Essex County by coordinating investigation, prosecution, treatment, prevention, and supportive services utilizing a “child-centered” multidisciplinary team approach.

Robert is a results-driven leader, helping organizations and individuals think differently about program development, capacity building, resource development, and crafting long-term organizational sustainability for community impact.

He brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having served as the Chief Operating Officer at Wynona’s House for the past ten years. During his tenure, he also served as interim CEO twice. Robert has led the organization through critical transitions to fortify a trauma-informed organization, including navigating the challenges of the pandemic, significantly expanding the grant portfolio, and overseeing several major capital projects.

“I am honored to take on the role of CEO at Wynona’s House,” stated Robert. “Since joining the organization in 2014, I have dedicated myself to supporting its mission of promoting hope, healing, and justice for child victims of abuse and neglect. I look forward to building upon a strong foundation and working with such an excellent team to achieve our vision of a community where children are safe, families are strong, and victims become children again.”

Before joining Wynona’s House, Robert spent ten years in the South Bronx with Catholic Charities Community Services, where he helped the community build an innovative materials exchange program and spearheaded successful social ventures that significantly benefited the community through $24 million worth of donated and repurposed goods. His background also includes work as a nonprofit consultant, helping dozens of organizations increase revenues, improve efficiencies, and maximize impact.

Robert’s commitment to community service includes his volunteer work, such as being a Community Cat Caretaker, past service on the Board of Trustees for the Brookdale Park Conservancy, and as a former Board of Directors member for Cardinal McCloskey’s Little Angels Head Start.

Wynona’s House invites the public to meet its new CEO and welcomes them to attend the Steel Magnolia Soiree on June 5, 2024, at the Women’s Club of Glen Ridge. Attendees and sponsors will serve as partners in Wynona’s House’s mission to build a brighter future for the children of Essex County.

CASHe to set up its New Technology Excellence Center in Hyderabad, create 150 jobs

Mumbai / Hyderabad, 4th June 2024: CASHe, India’s leading credit-led, AI-based financial platform, announced its plans to set up a new technology excellence center in Hyderabad as part of its expanding in-house digital engineering capabilities. The new facility will serve as a ‘center of excellence.’ It will drive and support the technology needs of the FinTech company, which currently hosts teams from its lending, insurance, and wealth management verticals. Concurrently, the company also announced its plan to ramp up hiring across various experience levels and domains such as Technology, Data Sciences, Machine Learning, DevOps, TechOps, Product development, credit, and collections.

The company is focused on strengthening its presence in India’s FinTech sector. It employs 550 people across its Hyderabad and Mumbai centers and intends to add up to 300 people by the end of this calendar year. 150 of these hires are slated for the new center, aligning with the firm’s planned talent acquisition strategy.

Confirming the plans, Yashoraj Tyagi, Chief Executive Officer, CASHe, said, “The FinTech industry is undergoing a significant transformation. We are swiftly expanding our teams and infrastructure to meet the increasing demand for our FinTech solutions in lending, insurance, and wealthtech space. The new facility, strategically located in one of India’s premier business hubs, will allow us to substantially increase our workforce to meet the needs of our business and our expanding customer base. The planned hiring will allow talented professionals from various domains to work at one of India’s fastest-growing fintech startups.”

With users spread across 18,000 pin codes in the country, its credit suite includes collateral-free personal loans, a pre-approved credit limit, BNPL, and recently launched electric two-wheeler and education loans. CASHe also recently launched its Super app with the tagline ‘Bharat Ka Money App,’ strategically positioning the brand’s commitment to becoming a premier credit-centric financial platform. The Super app meets the diverse financial needs of young working millennials in urban hubs and tier 2+ cities across Bharat by providing comprehensive financial solutions. It seamlessly integrates credit, investment, and insurance, all customized to conveniently address users’ diverse financial needs on one unified platform.