20, Oct 2026
Rafay Joins Lenovo AI Innovators to Help Cloud Operators and Enterprises Turn Lenovo AI Infrastructure into Revenue-Ready AI Services
With this new partnership, Rafay and Lenovo will initiate joint sales alignment to help companies orchestrate and monetize enterprise AI and cloud-native workloads across the Americas, EMEA and APAC
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rafay Systems, the infrastructure orchestration and monetization platform for enterprise AI and cloud-native workloads, today announced it has joined Lenovo AI Innovators, Lenovo’s ecosystem of AI software providers and industry solutions. Rafay and Lenovo will bring the Rafay Platform to customers deploying Lenovo AI infrastructure, and the two companies have initiated joint sales alignment across the Americas, EMEA and APAC.
AI infrastructure spend is shifting from acquiring GPU capacity to operating it as a service. With that, neoclouds, sovereign AI clouds, telcos and enterprises all face the same gap between installing GPUs and delivering a usable service to customers. Closing that gap takes multi-tenant isolation, quota enforcement, self-service portals, and usage metering, which most teams would otherwise have to build themselves. Rafay provides that orchestration and monetization layer for Lenovo infrastructure, the AI control plane Lenovo sees as critical to running hybrid AI across on-premises, hosted private AI and neocloud environments. It covers GPU and Kubernetes lifecycle management, SKU management, and AI Token Factory, which delivers models as token-metered inference APIs.
Rafay and Lenovo already share multiple customers globally, with Sharon AI – a publicly traded neocloud based in Australia that runs on Lenovo infrastructure and uses Rafay to orchestrate its AI infrastructure – being a preeminent example. The two companies are additionally prosecuting a healthy, joint pipeline of neoclouds and telecommunications companies.
“The hard part of AI infrastructure is operating GPUs as a service: shared safely across tenants, governed by policy, and metered so every GPU hour or token ties back to revenue,” said Rupen Shah, Global AI Ecosystem Partnerships at Rafay Systems. “That operating layer is what Rafay builds. Lenovo customers already rely on Lenovo for the infrastructure, and with Rafay they can run it as a hybrid AI platform, whether they are an enterprise building private AI or a neocloud selling GPU capacity and tokens.”
Lenovo reaches customers through channel partners in more than 180 markets. Learn more at lenovo.com/ai-innovators and rafay.co.
About Rafay Systems
Rafay Systems is a leading software provider powering the operators building the AI cloud, including neoclouds, telecommunications providers, enterprises, and sovereign AI operators. The Rafay Platform lets these organizations operationalize GPU and compute infrastructure with self-service automation, governance, and multi-tenancy, spanning bare metal provisioning, infrastructure lifecycle management, virtual machines, Kubernetes, GPU PaaS, AI development environments, and Token Factory for publishing AI models as token-metered inference services. By simplifying orchestration and operations across this stack, Rafay helps operators increase GPU utilization and turn raw infrastructure into monetizable, production-ready AI services, all while maintaining security, consistency, and control. Rafay is a validated partner in the NVIDIA AI Cloud Ready initiative. For more information, visit rafay.co.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a US$83 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #153 in the Fortune Global 500, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Guided by its vision of “Smarter Technology for All”, Lenovo is executing a Hybrid AI strategy that spans Personal AI – one personal AI, multiple devices; and Enterprise AI – helping customers turn data into insights and value. This strategy is delivered through the Group’s commitment to world-class innovation and a full-stack AI portfolio, including devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones, tablets, accessories), infrastructure solutions (server, storage, edge, high performance computing and software defined infrastructure), as well as software, solutions, and services. With a global footprint spanning more than 20 research and development locations and a global supply chain that includes more than 30 manufacturing sites across 11 markets, Lenovo is widely recognized for its operational excellence. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY).
Media Contact
Rafay Systems
Angela Shugarts
angela@rafay.co
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20, Oct 2026
LITILIT opens femtosecond laser factory in Vilnius with the world’s highest potential production capacity
Nikolajus Gavrilinas, CEO and co-founder of LITILIT at the factory opening event in Vilnius. (Source: LITILIT)
LITILIT’s new factory covers 4,000 sq m and will produce around 3000 lasers a year at full capacity. The €6 million project includes a modern CNC metal machining shop, robotized femtosecond laser assembly and testing shops, and an ISO 5 cleanroom of about 2,500 sq m, one of the largest in the Baltics.
Vilnius, October 20. On Friday, October 16, femtosecond laser manufacturer LITILIT opened a new laser factory in Vilnius that, according to the company, has the world’s highest potential femtosecond laser capacity. LITILIT plans to scale capacity gradually, targeting 1 000 femtosecond lasers a year in the first year after launch and reaching 3 000 at full capacity. The majority of the factory’s lasers will be exported to Europe, North America and Asia.
Nikolajus Gavrilinas, co-founder and CEO of LITILIT, says that the new factory marks an important milestone both for the company, which has been developing its laser technology since 2014, and for the whole laser industry.
“The growing use of femtosecond lasers in semiconductor manufacturing, data center equipment, electronics, medicine and other fields is driving demand across Europe, North America and Asia. Our factory comes at exactly the right time and will serve businesses on all three continents. The Vilnius plant is only the first stop; later, we plan to replicate this model in other countries together with our international partners,” says Gavrilinas.
Construction of the factory began this June. Located in Sirin Park Gariūnai, a modern logistics park developed by SIRIN Development on Plungės Street in Vilnius, the factory covers over 4,000 sq m and houses a CNC metal machining shop, robotized assembly and testing shops, and an ISO 5 cleanroom of about 2,500 sq m, one of the largest in the Baltics. The total value of the project is €6 million.
Gavrilinas notes that femtosecond laser production remains limited worldwide because the technology evolved from scientific systems and is notoriously difficult to produce at scale. Last year, global femtosecond laser production capacity was an estimated 9,600 units, according to Reports and Markets.
LITILIT can scale laser production quickly because of its patented architecture based on modular design, reduced component complexity, and a high level of automation. At full capacity, the factory will employ about 150 people, several times fewer than conventional production would require. Besides scalability, the architecture also gives LITILIT’s lasers a performance edge. According to Gavrilinas, they reach around 20% electrical-to-optical efficiency and are up to half the size of the industry average, which makes them easier to integrate into production lines.
The company developed its technology based on two international patents, one of which was made in collaboration with the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC) in Lithuania.
Ramūnas Skaudžius, director at FTMC, says the factory is a reminder that the value of scientific research is measured not only by publications or patents. It also confirms that in Lithuania it is possible to complete the entire journey from a scientific idea to a product serving global markets.
“The laser technology developed and patented at FTMC has now become the foundation of advanced industrial manufacturing. Yet the technology itself is not the most important part of the story. What matters most is that knowledge created in Lithuania has been transformed into a business capable of competing on the international stage. This is a long and demanding journey that requires not only scientific excellence, but also entrepreneurial courage, investors’ confidence, and perseverance,” Skaudžius says.
Femtosecond lasers use extremely short pulses that process materials with only minimal heat damage to surrounding structures. This quality, known as cold ablation, makes them indispensable in applications ranging from eye surgery and vascular stents to manufacturing computer chips and display screens.
20, Oct 2026
Foster Youth Story of Homelessness at Heart of No Address Streaming Free on Angel All November
The award-winning film follows Lauren, a foster youth cast out at 18 who becomes homeless, revealing the challenges young people can face when transitioning out of foster care.
(Sacramento, CA) — October 20th 2026 — Robert Craig Films’ award-winning movie No Address will stream free on Angel throughout November in recognition of National Homelessness Awareness Month. The nationwide campaign invites the foster care community to watch and share the film and help raise awareness about the circumstances that can lead people into homelessness.
Nearly 1 in 7 young people leaving foster care face homelessness within their first year on their own. That reality is reflected in No Address through Lauren, portrayed by Isabella Ferreira, a young woman in the foster care system who is forced to leave her foster home at age 18. With nowhere to go and no family safety net, Lauren becomes homeless and joins a group of people struggling to survive on the streets.
Through Lauren’s journey, No Address shines a light on the connection between foster care and homelessness and what can happen when a young person enters adulthood without a stable home or support system.
Directed by Hollywood veteran Julia Verdin, the film stars William Baldwin, Ashanti, Xander Berkeley, Lucas Jade Zumann, Isabella Ferreira, Beverly D’Angelo and Ty Pennington.
“Lauren’s story was incredibly important for us to tell because young people leaving foster care can suddenly find themselves trying to navigate adulthood without the support system so many of us take for granted,” said producer Robert Craig. “We hope foster families, foster care organizations, advocates and communities will watch No Address and use Lauren’s story to start conversations about how we can better support these young people.”
In an unusual departure from traditional Hollywood storytelling, No Address does not simply end when the story ends. Before the end credits roll, members of the cast break the fourth wall and speak directly to viewers, delivering a powerful one-minute call-to-action encouraging audiences to help people experiencing homelessness and connect with local organizations to find ways to get involved. This retains one of the central elements of the original release.
Foster care organizations, foster families, child welfare professionals, advocates, nonprofits, churches and community groups nationwide are invited to share the free November viewing with their audiences and use the film to encourage conversations about foster youth, housing stability and homelessness.
Angel is supporting the initiative by allowing the film to be watched free without having to be an Angel Guild Member. “The film is touching many lives. It’s resonating and doing well,” said Ben Anderson, Director of Streaming.
Social media creator and philanthropist Jimmy Darts will also help bring the campaign to a wider audience, encouraging his community to watch the film, share the free link and help grow awareness around homelessness.
To watch No Address free in November on the Angel streaming platform, visit www.NoAddress.com for the link or Stream directly on Angel Studios.
20, Oct 2026
Flexxon Partners with Tech4Biz Solutions to co-develop server infrastructure that is secure by default
As organisations increasingly look to build their own servers to run AI systems, the two companies are working to ensure purpose-built infrastructure and security go hand-in-hand
SINGAPORE and BENGALURU, India, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Flexxon, a pioneer in secure memory storage and hardware-based cybersecurity solutions, today announced its strategic investment in Tech4Biz Solutions. The partnership will see the companies co-develop solutions that enable efficient and reliable deployment of secure server and data centre operations – a heightened need as enterprises move Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads on-premises, onto infrastructure they own and must secure themselves.
The investment formalises the ongoing relationship between the two companies, and deepens joint development across the parties’ product lines: Flexxon’s X-PHY hardware security, and Tech4Biz’s Cloudtopiaa, its sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure platform.
X-PHY is Flexxon’s hardware-based cybersecurity brand. It puts AI-powered threat detection inside the drive’s own firmware and hardware, below the operating system. X-PHY’s hardware-based protection is designed to keep working even when the software above it has been compromised.
Cloudtopiaa designs, builds and operates public cloud, private cloud, HPC, GPU inference and AI data centre environments for organisations that want full control of their data, models and AI agents, in the jurisdiction they choose.
Ms Camellia Chan, Co-founder and CEO of Flexxon, said: “Having worked with Tech4Biz for several years, I am glad to take this next step and deepen the partnership as we continue building towards more secure, more reliable standards together. We are building hardware that is secure by default, carrying that protection from devices into the servers and data centres enterprises now run themselves – the part of the stack where traditional security leaves the widest gaps.”
Ms Yasha Khandelwal, Co-founder and CEO of Tech4Biz Solutions, said, “When a company owns its whole AI stack, there is no hyperscaler behind it to absorb a mistake, so the design and the security have to be right from day one. We have spent years building and running sovereign infrastructure in production for enterprises and institutions, and bringing X-PHY into that design means every server we deliver will ship with protection built into the hardware itself.”
Where AI capability outruns protection
AI has quickly moved from pilots into systems that run on a company’s own data every hour of the day, and the data, models and agent memory involved are now among the most sensitive assets a company holds. More organisations want that capability on infrastructure they own, in the jurisdiction they choose. Accordingly, Gartner forecasts worldwide sovereign cloud infrastructure-as-a-service spending will reach US$80 billion in 2026, a 35.6 per cent increase on 2025, with mature Asia-Pacific markets among the fastest growing and governments the largest buyers. That shift moves the responsibility for securing the infrastructure back to the organisations running it.
These AI systems now work across enterprise data with valid credentials, often without a user approving each action. Software defences remain necessary, but they run on the same layers an attacker is trying to take over – and when those safeguards fail, there must be an immutable layer that protects the data.
What X-PHY and Cloudtopiaa will deliver
The parties will collaborate specifically on integrating Flexxon’s X-PHY hardware security expertise with Tech4Biz’s existing infrastructure capability through Cloudtopiaa, its cloud platform and infrastructure offering.
On the immediate horizon is the integration of X-PHY’s hardware security solutions into Cloudtopiaa environments, so that server estates are secured by default and protection arrives with the machine rather than being bolted on after. For enterprises, that means the security work no longer grows with every server added.
This includes the design, build and deployment of secure infrastructure that organisations can own and run outright. Development is already under way, with commercial deployment expected in 2027.
Cloudtopiaa already runs production workloads for customers including L&T Technology Services, which runs two production engineering platforms on it – a quality management platform for GxP-regulated industries and a multi-agent enterprise AI platform – and Cognitive PRISM. It is also building a three-year private cloud lab ecosystem for Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering, Mysuru.
The partnership will focus first on governments, regulated enterprises, research institutions and data centre operators in Singapore, India and North America.
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20, Oct 2026
Better U and Evernow Partner to Transform Women’s Hormonal and Mental Health Care Through Menopause
New telehealth partnership pairs menopause specialists with integrative psychiatry to treat perimenopause and menopause symptoms, mind and body together
Holistic mental wellness provider Better U and menopause care company Evernow, available to women in all 50 states, have announced a strategic partnership to bring hormonal health and mental health care together for women across the United States.
The partnership combines Evernow’s specialized expertise in menopause and hormone therapy with Better U’sb integrative psychiatry, therapy and whole-body wellness services. Together, the two companies aim to close one of the biggest gaps in women’s healthcare by treating the physical and emotional sides of perimenopause and menopause as one connected experience.
The collaboration brings together Dr. Ellamarie Russo-DeMara, DO, MSCP, Medical Director at Evernow, and Dr. Janette Leal, MD, Executive Physician and Medical Director at Better U Clinical. Dr. Russo-DeMara is a board-certified OB/GYN with more than 30 years of clinical experience and has been a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner since 2009. Dr. Leal is a board-certified psychiatrist trained in internal medicine and psychiatry, with a geriatric psychiatry fellowship at Mayo Clinic.
Since its inception, Better U has focused on redefining mental healthcare across the United States through integrative and preventative telehealth care models. Both companies recognize that millions of women experience menopause symptoms for years with limited guidance, support, or access to specialized care, and share a goal of bringing modern, accessible women’s healthcare to a generation who’ve historically been overlooked.
Dr. Russo-DeMara’s approach centers on comprehensive, patient-focused treatment that combines evidence-based medicine with education, empathy, and holistic support. Her commitment is also deeply personal, having experienced early menopause following chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer.
Dr. Russo-DeMara, Medical Director at Evernow, said: “Going through menopause after chemotherapy showed me how disorienting these changes can be, even for someone who treats them for a living. I kept thinking about the women who don’t have that knowledge and are trying to make sense of it alone. That thought has shaped my work ever since.
“We’ve always believed menopause care should reach beyond hormones. Women in perimenopause and menopause are one of the most underserved populations in medicine, and too many are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or sent home with a prescription and no one ever looking at their hormones. Partnering with Better U lets us care for the whole woman, her hormones, her mood, her sleep and her sense of self, with a team that works together.”
Hormonal health is increasingly recognized as a major yet often overlooked factor in women’s mental health, contributing to perimenopause and menopause symptoms such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, irritability, and brain fog.
Dr. Leal, Executive Physician and Medical Director at Better U Clinical, added: “As a psychiatrist, I see this every week. A woman in her forties comes in with new anxiety, broken sleep and brain fog, convinced she’s losing herself. Very often the biology tells a different story. Estrogen helps regulate serotonin and dopamine, and a progesterone byproduct called allopregnanolone acts on the same calming GABA receptors that help us sleep. When those hormones start to swing in perimenopause, the brain feels it.
“Too many of these women were told it was stress or just getting older. Giving them the real explanation changes everything. Once a woman understands what’s happening in her body, the shame lifts and she can start working with her body instead of against it.
“This partnership pairs psychiatry with deep menopause expertise, so we can finally treat mind and body as the connected system they’ve always been.”
Founder of Better U, Derek Du Chesne, said: “Every woman deserves to be heard the first time she asks for help. I’m deeply grateful to partner with Evernow, Dr. Leal and Dr. Russo-DeMara to raise the standard of care by supporting mental and physical health together, and to bring that care to women wherever they live.”
Better U aims to redefine preventative women’s healthcare through innovations including advanced hormone monitoring, helping shift care from reactive treatment to proactive monitoring and prevention.
Through the partnership, women in perimenopause and menopause who are living with depression or anxiety that hasn’t improved with other treatments can also be evaluated for Better U’sat-home ketamine therapy. Each patient is screened by a licensed psychiatric clinician, and when clinically appropriate, ketamine is prescribed off-label and paired with integration coaching and ongoing support. Ketamine therapy does not treat menopause itself and is not right for everyone.
20, Oct 2026
Jungheinrich Launches Next-Generation EFG M Electric Forklifts Across Asia-Pacific
- New EFG MB and EFG MC electric counterbalance forklifts available to order
- Models cover load capacities from 1.6 to 3.0 tonnes, with lead-acid and lithium-ion battery options
- Configurable performance, safety and digital features support applications from warehousing and manufacturing to distribution and retail
- Integrated telematics and Jungheinrich’s regional service network help customers improve fleet availability and operating efficiency
SINGAPORE, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Jungheinrich today announced the Asia-Pacific launch of the next generation of its EFG MB and EFG MC electric counterbalance forklifts, giving businesses greater flexibility to match truck performance, energy systems and operator features to their specific applications. The new models are now available to order.
Designed for warehouses, manufacturing plants, distribution centres, retail operations, pharmaceutical facilities and general industry, the EFG M series addresses a broad range of material-handling requirements across the region. The three-wheel EFG MB covers load capacities from 1.6 to 2.0 tonnes and is designed for manoeuvrability in confined spaces. The four-wheel EFG MC covers load capacities from 2.0 to 3.0 tonnes and provides stability and precise control for indoor and outdoor transport and stacking. Both series offer lift heights of up to 6,500 mm.
Configured around the customer’s operation
Customers can select the combination of performance, battery technology, controls, comfort, safety and digital functions that best fits their workload and operating environment.
“Different operations have different requirements. With the EFG M series, customers can configure the truck around their application, workload and operators – whether they need greater manoeuvrability for confined warehouse spaces or a stable, powerful truck for demanding transport and stacking work,” said Lisa Jing Xue, Managing Director, Qingpu Plant, Jungheinrich.
“We carried out extensive customer research to understand what the market needs. Customers can invest in the performance required today and add further capabilities as their application demands,” she added.
Flexible performance and energy options
Two performance packages are available. efficiencyPLUS balances performance and energy use for everyday handling, while drive&liftPLUS delivers higher driving and lifting performance for high-throughput operations. The drive&liftPLUS package is standard on models with load capacities from 2.5 to 3.0 tonnes.
Customers can choose lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries from 346 to 690 Ah to suit utilisation levels and shift patterns. Energy recovery during braking of up to 30 per cent helps extend uptime and reduce energy costs per shift.
Safety, comfort and connected fleet management
Flexible seating and cabin options, onboard storage and responsive controls support operator comfort throughout the shift. Customers can select manual hydraulic levers or optional fingertip controls, together with a standard 2-inch display or optional 4-inch display.
A slim B-pillar, protected glass roof and compact mast profiles provide a clear view of the load and surrounding area. On the EFG MC, curveCONTROL is standard and automatically reduces speed when cornering. Optional assistance and lighting systems provide additional protection for operators, pedestrians and goods.
Integrated telematics is standard and connects with Jungheinrich Fleet Management. Fleet data is available from day one, supporting utilisation analysis, maintenance planning, pre-operational checks and informed replacement decisions.
Regional service support
“Every EFG M truck is backed by Jungheinrich’s global team of more than 6,100 trained customer service technicians, supported by genuine Jungheinrich parts and product-specific expertise. Because the series uses proven Jungheinrich components and integrated truck data, we can support faster parts supply and more effective maintenance planning,” said Madhukar Kaissary, Senior Director, Customer Service, Jungheinrich APAC.
The EFG M series forms the configurable core of Jungheinrich’s electric counterbalance portfolio in Asia-Pacific, alongside AntOn by Jungheinrich for straightforward value-focused applications and the FalcOn technology platform for future heavy-duty electric handling.
For more information customers can contact their local Jungheinrich team or authorised dealer.
About Jungheinrich
As one of the world’s leading providers of material handling solutions, Jungheinrich has been advancing the development of innovative and sustainable products and solutions for material flows for more than 70 years. In the 2025 financial year, Jungheinrich and its workforce of around 21,000 employees generated revenue of €5.5 billion. The global network comprises 12 production plants and service and sales companies in 42 countries. In the APAC region, the company has established eight direct sales units and over 14 partner countries, supported by a dedicated team of Key Account and After Sales professionals. Find your nearest Jungheinrich branch or authorised dealer at www.jungheinrich.com.sg/about-us/location-finder
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19, Oct 2026
Ford Foundation Appoints Fatima Goss Graves to Board of Trustees
NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Ford Foundation announced the election of Fatima Goss Graves to its board of trustees. Ms. Goss Graves is the president and chief executive officer of the National Women’s Law Center and president of the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund.
“We are thrilled to welcome Fatima Goss Graves’s perspective and expertise to the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees,” said Ursula Burns, Chair of the Ford Foundation Board of Trustees. “Fatima’s track record speaks for itself, her strategic vision, fearless advocacy, and proven ability to drive meaningful organizational and systemic change make her an invaluable addition to our Board of Trustees.”
Ms. Goss Graves is a nationally recognized expert on gender justice, law, policy, and culture change. As an attorney, she has spent her career fighting to advance opportunities for women and girls, including income security and COVID relief, equal pay, health and reproductive rights, education access, workplace justice and ending sexual harassment and violence – with a focus on women and girls of color.
“Fatima Goss Graves possesses a sharp legal intellect, exceptional sector insight, and a steadfast dedication to justice,” said Heather Gerken, president of the Ford Foundation. “I could not be more excited to welcome her to the Board of Trustees. Across Fatima’s career, her strategic vision and formidable advocacy have broadened pathways for communities everywhere, particularly women and girls of color. Her presence and insights will be invaluable as we enter the next chapter of the Ford Foundation.”
“I am deeply honored to join the Board of Trustees and work alongside the Ford Foundation’s extraordinary leadership,” said Fatima Goss Graves. “I have dedicated my career to ensuring that all people can live with safety, dignity, and full agency over their lives and that women and their families have what they need to flourish. I am eager to bring that same commitment to Ford’s vital mission in the years ahead.”
Ms. Goss Graves has testified on complex policy matters at the state and federal levels of government in the United States and has been legal and social commentator on CBS, MSNBC, BBC, CNN, PBS, and NPR, and numerous outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.
In addition to the Ford Foundation, Ms. Goss Graves serves on a number of boards in advisory and governance capacities. Based in Washington D.C., she is a graduate of UCLA and Yale Law School.
Ford Foundation trustees are elected by the board and serve six-year terms. Trustees set broad policies relating to grantmaking, geographic focus, investments, governance, and professional standards, and they oversee independent audits. The foundation’s trustees come from around the world and have extensive experience in higher education, business and finance, technology, law, government, civil society, and the nonprofit sector.
About the Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an independent organization working to address inequality and build a future grounded in justice. For 90 years, it has supported visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. Today, with an endowment of $18 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Learn more at www.fordfoundation.org.
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19, Oct 2026
SI Group Announces CEO Leadership Transition
Marcello Boldrini Named Chief Executive Officer; David Bradley Departs Following Successful Tenure
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SI Group, a leading global developer and manufacturer of performance additives, process solutions, and chemical intermediates, today announced the appointment of Marcello Boldrini as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 19, 2026. Boldrini succeeds David Bradley, who has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2019.
“We are pleased to welcome Marcello Boldrini as SI Group’s next CEO,” said Daryl Roberts, member of the SI Group Board of Directors. “Marcello brings significant experience in the global specialty chemicals industry and a strong track record of leading growth, transformation and operational improvement. His experience and perspective will serve SI Group well as we continue to strengthen our performance, serve our customers and execute our priorities.”
Marcello Boldrini brings more than three decades of leadership experience in the specialty chemicals and materials industry, with a career spanning Europe, Asia and the Americas. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Kraton Corporation, a Houston-based global specialty chemicals company. During his tenure at Kraton, Boldrini led growth and transformation initiatives, including the creation of a Transformation Office that generated more than $100 million in annual EBITDA improvements. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership positions at Houghton International, Momentive/Hexion and Ashland.
Boldrini resides in the Houston area and will be based at SI Group’s headquarters in The Woodlands, Texas.
“I am honored to join SI Group as CEO and look forward to working with our employees, customers and partners,” said Marcello Boldrini. “My initial focus will be on listening and learning, spending time with our teams and customers, and collaborating with the leadership team to build on SI Group’s strengths and set clear priorities for the business. Safe and reliable operations, disciplined execution and delivering value for our customers will remain at the center of our work.”
SI Group’s leadership team will work closely with Boldrini to maintain a strong focus on safety, operational performance and customer commitments. Customers, suppliers and other business partners should continue to work through their existing SI Group contacts.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank David Bradley for his leadership and many contributions to SI Group,” said Shawn Abrams, member of SI Group’s Board of Directors. “David led SI Group through significant change and some of the most challenging conditions our industry has faced. During his tenure, the company successfully completed its 2025 recapitalization, strengthening SI Group’s financial position and providing greater flexibility for the future. We are grateful for David’s commitment to SI Group and its people, and we wish him continued success.”
Customers, suppliers and other business partners should continue to work through their existing SI Group contacts.
About SI Group
SI Group is a global leader in performance additives, process solutions, and chemical intermediates. SI Group’s chemistries are essential solutions that enhance the quality and performance of industrial and consumer goods in the plastics, rubber and adhesives, fuels, lubricants, coatings, and oilfield industries. Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, SI Group operates 18 manufacturing facilities across three continents and serves customers in more than 80 countries, supported by approximately 1,500 employees worldwide. Driven by a passion for safety, chemistry, sustainability, and delivering extraordinary results, SI Group innovates to create long-term value for a better future. Learn more at www.siigroup.com.
Media Contact:
Joseph Grande
ph: + 1.413.684.2463
joe@jgrandecommunications.com
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19, Oct 2026
Hantec Trader becomes RZR Funded as firm enters new phase of growth
Proprietary trading firm establishes standalone brand ahead of product and market expansion, with an expanded leadership team. No change to conditions for existing traders.
EBENE, Mauritius, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The proprietary trading firm previously operating as Hantec Trader has today begun operating under the name RZR Funded, marking the start of a new phase of growth for the business.
The move to RZR Funded establishes a distinct identity for the proprietary trading business as it enters its next chapter, building on an established operating track record while creating greater scope for its future growth.
As part of this next phase, RZR Funded is expanding its leadership team, with additional senior appointments planned to support the company’s growth strategy. The existing management team will remain in place, led by Director Bashaar Gokal, providing continuity while bringing additional experience and resources into the business. The firm is also preparing to broaden its product range and available markets, with the first of several new launches due within weeks.
There is no change to the service existing traders receive. All in-progress challenges and funded accounts continue exactly as they were, with the same logins, balances and progress toward targets. Profit splits, drawdown limits, evaluation targets, trading conditions and payout schedules are unchanged. Traders will also gain access to new products, tools and features as they are introduced.
“This is the start of an exciting new chapter for the business,” said Bashaar Gokal, Director at RZR Funded. “We’ve built a strong track record and an experienced team, and RZR Funded gives us the platform to take the business to the next level. We have ambitious plans for where we want to go from here, and I’m looking forward to sharing more of those plans over the coming months.”
The firm will continue publishing its payout record, including amounts, dates and processing times, as it has done to date.
“Nothing changes for anyone trading with us today, and I want to be completely clear about that,” said Gokal. “Same conditions, same payout terms and the same team looking after you. RZR Funded represents where we want to take the business next, and traders should expect more from us over the coming years, not less.”
Further announcements covering RZR Funded’s expanded product range, leadership team and growth plans are expected shortly.
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19, Oct 2026
BGA and UNDP Partner on Two-Year Initiative to Strengthen Digital Safety and Development
DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), the global non-profit initiative founded by Bybit, dedicated to leveraging blockchain for societal impact, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have signed an agreement to launch a two-year programme to strengthen cybersecurity knowledge and capacity for the responsible use of digital technologies in development. The agreement was signed by Edward Vrkić, UNDP’s Resident Representative to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, and Helen Liu, Founder of BGA, at the Cybersecurity, Trust and Digital Safety Launch Summit in Singapore at the UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development.
The signing was followed by a panel discussion on securing digital trust, in which Edward Vrkić and Helen Liu were joined by Robert Pašičko, Lead of the UNDP Alternative Finance Lab (AltFinLab), and Mykolas Majauskas, Global Head of Policy at Bybit, moderated by Glenn Tan, Director of Global Affairs at BGA. The discussion also examined how cybersecurity has become a development concern, how Singapore’s regulatory approach compares with other regions, and how frontline operators and public institutions can share what they learn through public-private partnerships.
“The governments we support are facing growing and increasingly complex cybersecurity challenges, driven by ongoing conflicts, AI-enabled fraud, and more sophisticated cyberattacks,” said Robert Pašičko, UNDP AltFinLab Team Lead. “Strengthening cybersecurity capacities and building resilient, trusted digital systems are essential to addressing these risks. We welcome the opportunity to deepen our collaboration with the BGA, drawing on its expertise and experience.”
A Critical Time for Collaboration
As public institutions rely more on digital systems, including blockchain technology, to manage identity, payments, aid delivery and public records, cybersecurity is essential to keeping services running, protecting public funds and maintaining trust. The rapid advance of artificial intelligence (AI) is widening that gap on both sides: attacks are becoming faster and more sophisticated, while the systems being defended grow more complex. Securing these systems requires technical expertise, strong governance and the capacity to respond to incidents and risks. The partnership will help strengthen and build these capabilities to protect essential services, public funds and the people who depend on them.
“It is fitting that this begins in Singapore, with a small group, and with the people who will actually deliver it,” said Helen Liu, Founder of the BGA. “The industry BGA comes from has learned about cybersecurity and digital safety the hard way. This partnership puts what it learned to work for the public good.”
The programme will be implemented by UNDP’s AltFinLab, in collaboration with BGA. Over two years, it will draw on cybersecurity expertise from BGA’s ecosystem to support learning through the SDG Blockchain Accelerator, that helps develop solutions powered by emerging technologies to advance the SDGs, and the Government Blockchain Academy, a capacity building programme for public officials, alongside dedicated sessions for interested UNDP Country Offices and relevant government counterparts. Through learning and advisory support, the programme will address data protection, secure digital payments and the security of public digital services.
“Prevention, response and recovery are the three pillars of cybersecurity, and public institutions need all three,” said Glenn Tan, Director of Global Affairs at the BGA. “The private sector holds much of the expertise across these areas, yet public institutions and international organizations with pressing needs often lack direct channels to access it and collaborate. This partnership opens that door.”
The partnership builds on BGA’s role as Strategic Partner of the UNDP SDG Blockchain Accelerator, now entering its third cohort, and its membership at the Blockchain Advisory Group (BAG), an advisory forum convened by the UNDP, bringing together leaders from across the blockchain ecosystem to explore how blockchain technologies can contribute to sustainable development and strengthen digital public systems.
#BGA #UNDP
About Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA)
The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) is a global nonprofit initiative founded by Bybit, dedicated to advancing blockchain as a tool to address real-world problems. By convening leaders, innovators, and organisations from across the blockchain industry, BGA seeks to drive innovation, collaboration and action toward a more sustainable and equitable world.
For more information:
Email: hello@chainforgood.org
Website: www.chainforgood.org
Twitter: www.x.com/chainforgood
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blockchainforgoodalliance/
About the United Nations Development Programme
UNDP is the leading United Nations organisation fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP Alternative Finance Lab is a global initiative that connects finance, innovation, and emerging technologies to explore, test, and scale new approaches for sustainable development.
For more information:
Twitter: https://x.com/UNDP_AltFinLab
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/105843439
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