Rolls-Royce has opened its first U.S. Private Office, a bespoke design studio catering to ultra-wealthy clients seeking highly personalized cars. This new venture aligns with Rolls-Royce’s strategy of focusing on selling more customized, higher-priced vehicles rather than increasing production. The Private Office, located in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District, offers clients the opportunity to work with designers to create entirely personalized cars, from paint colors and fabrics to lighting schemes and materials. This level of customization, known as the “Bespoke” program, can significantly increase the price of a Rolls-Royce, with some cars reaching over $1 million. The Private Office is reserved for the most exclusive Bespoke projects and offers a luxurious environment that resembles a billionaire’s pied-à-terre rather than a car showroom. Clients can explore a range of customization options, including paint colors, threads, leathers, metals, and even the iconic “Spirit of Ecstasy” hood ornaments. The New York Private Office is the company’s third worldwide, following Dubai and Shanghai. Rolls-Royce plans to open a fourth Private Office in Seoul, Korea. The idea behind the Private Offices is to bring the expertise and design capabilities of the Goodwood, U.K., factory closer to clients around the world. This is especially important as client requests…
Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart, has opened its first all-digital store, showcasing a glimpse into the future of retail. The new store, located in Dallas, Texas, features a unique shopping experience that eliminates traditional checkout lanes and encourages customers to use their smartphones for purchases. Upon entering the store, members will use the Scan & Go app to scan items as they shop, adding them to their virtual cart. The area typically reserved for cash registers will instead showcase online-only items, such as a 12-foot Christmas tree and a five-carat lab-grown diamond. Members can scan QR codes to locate these items directly. Store workers will have significantly more space dedicated to preparing e-commerce orders for curbside pickup and home delivery. This focus on e-commerce reflects Sam’s Club’s commitment to digital innovation and its goal of becoming a 100% digital engagement business. “It’s kind of the physical manifestation of a journey we’re trying to go on as a company,” Sam’s Club CEO Chris Nicholas said, as he showed off the club before its grand opening. The Dallas-area store reopening comes nearly two years after it was damaged by a tornado. Sam’s Club is leveraging this opportunity to introduce innovative features…
With over 25 years of experience in the wireless industry, Tenorio will play a pivotal role in driving Verizon’s technological innovation. He will report directly to Joe Russo, Executive Vice President & President of Global Network and Technology. Tenorio joins Verizon from Vodafone, where he built high-performance teams and gained recognition for his contributions to Vodafone’s Open RAN, Cloud Networking, and Network APIs. He led network technology decisions and developed Vodafone’s technology roadmap for mobile and fixed networks. Previously, Tenorio served as CTO for Vodafone Ireland and Chief Network Officer in the UK, successfully leading Vodafone’s network coverage efforts for the 2012 London Olympics. Recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK, Tenorio’s career achievements highlight his technical contributions to the industry, earning him one of the highest honors in engineering. In his new role at Verizon, Tenorio will spearhead 5G use case advancements, collaborate with partners on new technological progress, and chart the course for Verizon’s next generation of technologies. The Strategy and Technology Enablement (STE) team will commence operations on October 28, 2024, coinciding with Tenorio’s official start at Verizon. “As we continue to advance our 5G and 5G-advanced network builds, this…
KPMG India, a leading professional services firm, and ISACA, a global association of IT governance and cybersecurity professionals, today announced a strategic partnership to enhance the global adoption of the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) framework. KPMG in India has been a steadfast ISACA Elite CMMI Transition Partner for over two decades, providing comprehensive CMMI consulting, training, and appraisal services. The new partnership elevates this collaboration to a strategic level, enabling both organizations to expand their reach and impact in the CMMI ecosystem. “We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with ISACA,” said Rahul Turki, Partner Corporate Business Excellence, at KPMG in India. “By combining our deep industry expertise, global reach, and CMMI leadership, we can empower organizations worldwide to achieve their operational excellence goals through the effective implementation of CMMI.” This strategic partnership offers several key advantages to KPMG in India clients: “This strategic partnership reflects our Global Strategy in practice, helping organizations around the world improve their performance, reduce costs, and innovate in a structured and secure manner,” said Chris Dimitriadis, Chief Global Strategy Officer at ISACA. “We are excited to establish a strategic partnership with KPMG in India and provide an opportunity for organizations to adopt the…
Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management today announced plans to construct a new, state-of-the-art building on its Evanston campus. This cutting-edge facility will serve as the centerpiece of the Full Circle Campaign, a comprehensive $600 million fundraising initiative aimed at reinventing business education and solidifying Kellogg’s position as a leading MBA school. The new building will create an enhanced learning experience that seamlessly integrates in-person and virtual education. It will serve as the signature location for Kellogg’s Executive MBA and non-degree Executive Education programs, meeting the growing demand for cutting-edge business education. The campaign will also expand scholarships and student experiences, including opportunities for cultural exchange and immersion in global markets. Kellogg will continue to integrate the latest advancements and pedagogical innovations into its curriculum, focusing on areas like healthcare, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. The new building is expected to be completed by fall 2027 and will align with Kellogg’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. The Full Circle Campaign has already raised $300 million towards its goal, thanks to generous support from alumni and friends. Northwestern Medicine and the Zell Family Foundation have also made significant leadership gifts. “Investing in the Full Circle Campaign is more than a critical…
A Danish Government-funded project to support employment and entrepreneurship in Ukraine has successfully concluded, leaving a positive impact on the country’s labor market. The six-year project, “Inclusive Labor Markets for Job Creation in Ukraine,” aimed to bolster entrepreneurship, improve social dialogue, and provide critical support to businesses and workers affected by the ongoing conflict. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion, the project achieved significant outcomes. The project restructured the State Employment Service (SES) and introduced new services to enhance employment support, including registrars, employment and specialized employment counsellors, and employers’ counsellors. SES staff were also trained in a new case management system to provide more effective support to job seekers and the unemployed. The project successfully implemented the ILO’s Local Employment Partnership (LEP) model in four Ukrainian regions. LEPs are coalitions of local labor market institutions, educational institutions, NGOs, and employers that work to create job opportunities aligned with local needs. The “Start and Improve Your Business” (SIYB) program trained over 4,800 individuals, surpassing its initial target. SIYB has now been officially adopted as the national entrepreneurship development program in Ukraine. The project digitized ten vocational curricula and upgraded four with the involvement of…
The Greater London Authority (GLA) has today approved the All England Club’s applications to transform the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course. Deborah Jevans, Chair of the All England Club, commented: “We are delighted that the Greater London Authority has resolved to approve our applications to transform the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course. “Our proposals will deliver 27 acres of newly accessible parkland for the community and enable us to bring the Qualifying Competition for The Championships onsite, with all of the substantial economic and employment opportunities this presents. “Every stage of this project will be delivered with a meticulous attention to detail and the utmost respect for both our neighbours and the environment. “We look forward to working with all parties to bring this vision to life, delivering one of London’s greatest sporting transformations since the 2012 Games, and securing Wimbledon’s future at the pinnacle of world sport.” Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration, and the Fire Service, praised the plans, stating, “These plans for the site of a former private golf course will bring significant benefits to the local area, the wider capital, and the UK economy. Providing increased access to open green space, sport, new parkland,…
The European Commission has announced €10 million in additional humanitarian aid to support the people of Lebanon affected by the escalating hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. The emergency funding will address urgent needs such as protection, food assistance, shelter, and healthcare. The EU stands ready to mobilize further resources through the Civil Protection Mechanism to provide additional support. In 2024, the EU has already allocated €74 million in humanitarian aid to Lebanon, including this latest allocation. The ongoing conflict has triggered significant population displacement, with over 90,000 people forced to flee their homes. The conflict has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, where many people, including refugees, were already facing high levels of poverty and food insecurity. The number of food-insecure individuals is expected to increase further due to the current situation. Since 2011, the EU has provided over €941 million in humanitarian aid to Lebanon, supporting both Lebanese and Syrian refugees. The EU has also organized the Brussels Syria Conferences to address the needs of Syrian refugees and host communities in Lebanon. Through its humanitarian funding, the EU supports vulnerable populations in Lebanon by providing essential services such as healthcare, education, protection, and legal services. The EU’s continued support…
BP has announced its intention to sell its existing US onshore wind energy business, BP Wind Energy. This divestment aligns with bp’s strategy to focus on growing its onshore renewable power development through Lightsource BP. BP Wind Energy currently operates ten onshore wind energy assets across seven US states, with a combined gross generating capacity of 1.7GW. The assets are grid-connected and supply power to various offtakers. -William Lin, BP EVP for gas & low carbon energy “Renewables are an important part of our strategy as BP transitions to an integrated energy company.” Following the acquisition of full ownership of Lightsource BP, BP plans to extend Lightsource bp’s capabilities as a developer of cost-competitive, utility-scale renewable power assets worldwide. This will help meet bp’s own demand for low-carbon power and support customers in decarbonizing their operations. William Lin, BP EVP for gas & low carbon energy, stated that renewables are a crucial component of BP’s strategy to transition to an integrated energy company. He explained that while bp Wind Energy’s assets are high-quality, they are not aligned with the company’s growth plans for Lightsource bp. Therefore, BP believes that another owner would be better suited to continue developing and operating…
Microsoft UK has announced the appointment of Amanda Sleight as its new General Manager for the UK Public Sector business, effective January 1, 2025. Sleight brings over 25 years of experience leading high-performing teams in technology companies, including SAP and AWS. Prior to joining Microsoft UK, she led the Commercial Services team at AWS. Returning to Microsoft, where she spent 17 years in various roles, Sleight will be responsible for leading Microsoft’s strategic partnership with the UK Government. The company aims to leverage technology and AI to transform citizen services and support the government’s goals of growth, efficiency, and innovation. Welcoming the appointment, Clare Barclay, CEO, Microsoft UK, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Amanda back to Microsoft UK. “We have an incredible opportunity as a strategic partner to the UK Government to help transform citizen services through technology and AI to help realise the ambitions of growth, efficiency, and innovation.” Microsoft research has demonstrated the potential of AI to significantly improve efficiency and productivity in the public sector. By automating routine tasks, employees can save valuable time and focus on higher-value activities. Local councils across the UK are already adopting AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure OpenAI to…
