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Tag: ceo

  • Where will Apple retail chief go after resigning?

    Where will Apple retail chief go after resigning?

    Within hours of the announcement that Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts was to leave the role in April, speculation was rife as to where she is headed. Ahrendts, who led the fine-tuning of Apple’s retail business for five years after turning around British fashion house Burberry, has a stellar career in the luxury business. Several fashion industry sources have speculated she may be headed to take the helm of Ralph Lauren.

    In a statement announcing the Apple retail chief’s departure, the company said she is leaving the company “for new personal and professional pursuits”. CEO Tim Cook described her departure as “bittersweet”.

    During her time with Apple, Ahrendts – who was once tipped to take over Cook’s role in the future – has subtly redefined the Apple stores from high-end tech shops into community hubs. She took the renowned Apple Store concept created by predecessor Ron Johnson, dropped the “store” from its title and expanded the network to 506 physical stores and another 35 online.

    “Her vision includes stores as gathering spaces and hubs for creativity,” observed Daphne Howard of Retail Dive.

    “While Johnson is credited with initiating the brick-and-mortar strategy that has been the backbone of Apple’s hardware sales, including minimalist spaces conducive to product demos and customer education, Ahrendts has taken that [a step further].”

    Apple’s retail business will now be overseen by Deirdre O’Brien, the company’s senior VP of people, who will add retail to an already long list of responsibilities including talent development, Apple University, recruiting, employee relations, business partnerships, benefits, compensation and inclusion, and diversity.

    Some might see that as a sign Apple is reducing its focus on its retail business, although O’Brien might be considered something of an Apple acolyte, having been with the company for 30 years.

  • Apple appoints new retail head to ramp up sales

    Apple appoints new retail head to ramp up sales

    In an effort to ramp up slow iPhone sales amid sluggish smartphone market, Apple on Wednesday appointed a new head of global retail and online stores. Deirdre O’Brien will take over as Senior Vice President of Retail and People, reporting to CEO Tim Cook, the company said in a statement. “For more than three decades, she has helped keep Apple focused on serving customers and enriching lives,” said Cook.

    “I am thrilled to work alongside Deirdre in her new role, and I know our 70,000 retail employees will be, too,” he added.

    After five years, current retail head Angela Ahrendts plans to depart Apple in April for “personal and professional pursuits”.

    O’Brien will continue to lead the People team, overseeing all People-related functions, including talent development and Apple University, recruiting, employee relations and experience, business partnership, benefits, compensation, and inclusion and diversity.

    “I am looking forward to this journey, and to continuing the important work of the People team in supporting all of Apple’s amazing employees,” said O’Brien.

    Despite slow iPhone sales, Apple posted $84.3 billion in revenue for the first quarter of its fiscal 2019 — a decline of 5 per cent from the year-ago quarter — while revenue from its other products and services grew 19 per cent.

    Apple operates 35 online stores and 506 retail stores in five continents.

    In the first quarter of its fiscal 2019, revenue from iPhone declined 15 per cent from the prior year.

    Cook said that there are several factors why iPhone sales are not picking up in the emerging markets.

    “The customers are holding on to their older iPhones a bit longer than in the past.

    “When you pair this with the macroeconomic factors, particularly in emerging markets, it resulted in iPhone revenue that was down 15 per cent from last year,” Cook told analysts.

    The Apple CEO said foreign exchange is another key factor behind the slow iPhone sales. “The relative strength of the US dollar has made our products more expensive in many parts of the world,” he added.

  • Avery Baker resigns from Tommy Hilfiger

    Avery Baker resigns from Tommy Hilfiger

    Tommy Hilfiger will jettison the chief brand officer role following the departure of incumbent Avery Baker in June, the fashion label has confirmed. Baker has announced plans to step down from the job in June. The marketer will then rejoin the company on a consulting basis, primarily as part of a new brand advisory board staffed by external advisors and chief executive officer Daniel Grieder.

    Baker’s C-suite brand responsibilities will be divided among other senior members of staff. She is currently responsible for global marketing, communications, brand strategy, creative direction for product design, global licensing and creative services.

    The marketer joined the PVH-owned company in 1998. She landed the chief marketing officer title in 2011 after a stint as executive vice-president of global communications and marketing.

    She was named chief brand officer in 2014.

  • Li & Fung appoints Joseph Phi as new group president

    Li & Fung appoints Joseph Phi as new group president

    Li & Fung has appointed Joseph Phi as the company’s Group President. As Group President, Joseph will lead the company’s Supply Chain Solutions operating groups, including Business Development. He will continue as President, LF Logistics and to serve on the Board of Directors of Li & Fung. He will report to Spencer Fung, Group CEO.

    Joseph has a strong track record at tLFhe company having organically grown its logistics business over the past decade. He has nearly 20 years’ experience with the company and is well positioned to assume this important leadership role.

    Joseph joined Li & Fung in 1999 and was previously executive director of Integrated Distribution Services Group Limited from 2004 until its acquisition by Li & Fung in 2011. He is Chairman of GS1 Hong Kong and a Director of its Management Board and is a Member of Supply Chain 50.

    He is an advisory committee member of Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Logistics Services and honorary advisor of the Asian Logistics and Maritime Conference. He also serves as an advisory committee member of Eye Fund, a charitable institution in HK.

    Joseph graduated magna cum laude from the University of The Philippines (UP) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and attained a Master of Business Administration degree with top honors also from the same university.

    He is a 2011 recipient of UP College of Business Administration Distinguished Alumnus Award and 2013 recipient of UP Industrial Engineering Alumni Award and UP Alumni Engineers Global Achievement Award for Logistics. Between 2014 and 2018, he was an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business and Management at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

    Joseph takes over from Marc Compagnon, who served as Group President and Executive Director of Li & Fung Limited from July 2014 and has moved to the Fung Group as Senior Advisor while remaining on the Board of Li & Fung Limited as a Non-Executive Director.

    Fung Group is the major shareholder of Li & Fung, whose core businesses operate across the entire global supply chain for consumer goods including sourcing, logistics, distribution and retail.

    Spencer Fung, CEO of Li & Fung said, “Our goal is to build the supply chain of the future to help our customers navigate the digital economy and to improve the lives of one billion people in the supply chain, and I am confident Joseph is the right person to build on the solid foundation that Marc has built and to take this to the next stage of development.”

  • J.Crew Chairman Mickey Drexler Steps Down

    J.Crew Chairman Mickey Drexler Steps Down

    J.Crew chairman and former-chief executive Millard “Mickey” Drexler has stepped down from his position to focus on other interests, including the development of investment business Dexler Ventures, LLC. Chad Leat has been elected as chairman effective immediately. Drexler is set to continue to serve as a strategic advisor to the company’s board and CEO.

    Drexler said it had been a privilege to spend 15 years with the business, and he was thankful to have been a part of its evolution throughout the years.

    “I look forward to working with the Office of the CEO and the board as a strategic advisor to help support J.Crew’s long term success,” Drexler said in an announcement to investors.

    Leat is a former vice-chairman of global banking at Citigroup and holds nearly three decades of markets and banking experience, having led numerous successful and profitable businesses at Citigroup.

    “I am honored to serve has the next chairman of J.Crew,” Leat said.

    “As chairman, my priorities will be to ensure that the J.Crew brand moves quickly to capitalise on recent momentum and to support Madewell’s growth towards becoming a one billion dollar brand, while also working with the board to identify strong, permanent leadership to guide the Company in its next chapter.”

    Drexler’s departure follows the exit of chief executive James Brett and chief marketing officer Vanessa Holden in November 2018. Brett had been in the position for 16 months, while Holden had been with J.Crew for one year.Adtech Ad

    Brett’s exit left the brand leaderless at a pivotal moment, according to GlobalRetail Data managing director Neil Saunders, who noted that the suddenness of the exit suggested a disagreement over how to develop the brand moving forward, and that the brand’s management had been an issue since before

    “If the departure of Jim Brett hails the return to these unrealistic attitudes, J.Crew is going to slip back and undo all of the progress made to date. Given the precariousness of its financial position, this is a mistake it cannot afford to make,” Saunders said.

  • 7-Eleven Malaysia appoints Tsai Tzung-Han as director

    7-Eleven Malaysia appoints Tsai Tzung-Han as director

    Convenience store chain operator 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd has appointed Tsai Tzung-Han (pix) as a non-independent and non-executive director, effective Jan 16, 2019. Tsai, 42, is currently the vice chairman of Cathay United Bank, a subsidiary of Cathay Financial Holdings which is listed in Taiwan. He also serves as a director on the board of Cathay Life Insurance, the largest life insurer in Taiwan and also a subsidiary of Cathay Financial Holdings.

    Tsai had previously served in various capacities at Cathay Life Insurance, including senior vice president in charge of alternative investments and executive vice president in charge of real estate acquisitions and development, human resources and strategic planning.

    He also ran the strategic planning department for Cathay Financial Holdings from 2010 until 2016 and oversaw the strategic investments into Bank Mayapada in Indonesia, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation in Philippines and Conning Asset Management in the US.

    He joined Cathay United Bank in 2015 and served as the head of strategic planning until he became the vice chairman in 2016, where he continues to oversee the strategic planning, wealth management, digital banking, data analytics and overseas banking departments.

    Prior to returning to Taiwan, Tsai worked briefly in private equity at Goldman Sachs in New York and in venture capital at Pacific Venture Partners in San Francisco.

    From 2001 until 2003, he was a practicing attorney in the real estate department at Hale and Dorr LLP, currently known as Wilmer Hale, in Boston. Tsai has over 10 years’ experience in investment and business development in finance industry.

  • Ananth Narayanan steps down as Myntra Jabong CEO

    Ananth Narayanan steps down as Myntra Jabong CEO

    Fashion e-tailer Myntra Monday said its CEO Ananth Narayanan has quit, a development that ends months of speculation about his exit following a recent re-jig at its parent group Flipkart. In a statement, Myntra said Narayanan has decided to step down as CEO of Myntra and Jabongto pursue external opportunities. Amar Nagaram has been named as Head, Myntra and Jabong, and will report to Flipkart Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy, it added.

    According to a report, there were speculations that Narayanan would quit after a new reporting structure was put in place when Binny Bansal — the then CEO at Flipkart Group (which owns Myntra and Jabong) — quit the company.

    As a part of the new structure, Myntra and Jabong were brought under Flipkart, with Narayanan reporting to Krishnamurthy.

    “Ananth has played an important role in making Myntra and Jabong into a formidable player in the fashion e-commerce market and steering the company towards sustainable growth,” Myntra said in its statement Monday.

    It added that over the last three and a half years, Narayanan and the management team have built a strong foundation for the company.

    “Myntra and Jabong are an important part of the Flipkart group serving our valuable customers. The company will continue to execute the growth strategy and leverage synergies with Flipkart as appropriate,” it said.

    The strong bench strength and new leadership at Myntra and Jabong will allow the business to continue on its strong and sustainable growth trajectory, the statement added. Nagaram, who recently moved to Myntra from Flipkart, has been working with the group for around seven years.

    “…(Nagaram) has played a pivotal role in making shopping accessible, delightful and affordable on every connected device. Most notably, he led the efforts on revisiting the boundaries of mobile web, making the experience on it as good as native,” the statement said.

  • Nike appoints new Converse CEO

    Nike appoints new Converse CEO

    In the week leading up to Christmas 2018, Nike Inc. said it has recruited a new leader for its Converse brand, naming G. Scott Uzzell as its president and chief executive officer, to helm the heritage sneaker company in the New Year. Uzzell replaces Davide Grasso who has decided to retire at the end of this calendar year. He will report directly to Michael Spillane, President, Categories and Product, Nike Inc.

    Effective January 22, 2019, Uzzell’s new appointment comes at a time when the brand is setting “the stage to move into new spaces by reconnecting to its heritage in sport,” according to a press release in December from Nike Inc.

    “Scott’s unique blend of experience driving both strategic business growth and strong brand development is well-suited to help unlock the full potential of the Converse Brand and lead its next phase of growth globally,” said Michael Spillane, President, Categories and Product, Nike Inc.

    Uzzell comes to Converse from The Coca-Cola Company, where he most recently served as President, Venturing & Emerging Brands Group (VEB).

    As head of Coca-Cola’s VEB Group, the consumer goods executive led a portfolio of high-growth brands for The Coca-Cola Company, including Honest Tea, ZICO Coconut Water, Fairlife Milk and Suja Juice.

    Uzzell began his career within sales and marketing for companies such as Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola and Nabisco, before returning to Coca-Cola in 2000 in the Strategy & Planning division. Since then, he has held a number of leadership positions across its business including McDonald’s U.S. Division, Global New Business Development, Global Marketing, ZICO and VEB.

    In addition, he is a member on the boards of State Bank and Trust Company; Fairlife and Suja Juice Company, as well as being a member of the Florida A&M University Foundation Board and is part of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC).

    Founded in 1908, Boston-based Converse is today owned by Nike. Converse shoes are sold globally in over 160 countries.

  • Miroglio and Workplace keep collaboration in fashion

    Miroglio and Workplace keep collaboration in fashion

    Miroglio Fashion is the women’s clothing arm of Miroglio Group – a 71-year-old Italian conglomerate operating in 22 countries. The group joined Workplace in 2016. Since then, says CEO Hans Hoegstedt, it has “revolutionized our way of working.” “Over the last few years, the role of the CEO has changed. It is crucial for a CEO today to create culture, to remove filters and blockers so there can be a transparent and constructive dialogue between everyone. I was confident that Workplace was a platform that would help us achieve this,” he explains.

    “We chose Workplace because everyone in the company knows how to use Facebook. And they just instinctively ‘got it’. Right from the first day, people began to spontaneously interact with each other in a genuine way with no training required. We launched Workplace at our annual convention two years ago. Over 1,100 stores in our various brands swung into action along with the head office. We set up all the Workplace groups that we use for various parts of the business, like visual merchandising, product, innovation, communication and so on”.

    The result was instant. Within a short space of time, barriers and distances disappeared. People who had found it difficult to make themselves heard by head office suddenly had a direct, filter-free channel. It has given the company a more innovative and efficient way of working.

    “A clear example is the visual merchandising team. Before Workplace, the team would create a model window and send it out to all the stores by email. With Workplace, the VM team now posts the image of the model window into a group. All the shops reply with their versions, comments, and suggestions. The VM team then provides instant feedback for the stores.

    This allows to have hundreds of examples of how to dress the window instead of just one, and people can take ideas and inspiration from the others. There is a better dialogue and smarter collaboration that results in better window displays.

    Hoegstedt continues “There are functions we did not use at the outset that have now become core features for us. Auto Translate was crucial when we extended the platform to our colleagues in Russia. Everyone posts in their own language and Workplace auto translates. Simple and effective. It’s a powerful way to create a vast international network, and we’ll be relying on the translations as we deploy Workplace in Romania, Spain, and France. We also now use Live Video whenever we present a new collection”.

    “For me, as a CEO, it is also a way of ‘taking the pulse’ of the company. Of getting a quick sense of how people are feeling. It’s a kind of mass collective intelligence.”

    From frontline to back office to HQ, Workplace connects entire retail organisations so they can share, collaborate and transform the customer experience with next-generation technology.

  • Fonterra India appoints Ishmeet Singh CEO

    Fonterra India appoints Ishmeet Singh CEO

    Fonterra Future Dairy Pvt Ltd, a new joint venture between global dairy nutrition company Fonterra Co-operative Group and new age FMCG company Future Consumer Limited, announced the appointment of Ishmeet Singh as its CEO, effective from January 7, 2019.

    Singh, a seasoned leader with a proven track record of profitable growth and business expansion, joins the business to deliver its ambition to bring high value and innovative dairy products to Indian consumers.

    Singh was a member, Western Region Committee (WRC) of the American Chamber of Commerce. He is a physics graduate, and has a Master’s in Management Studies from Mumbai’s Sydenham Institute.

    Singh says, “Over the next seven years dairy consumption is set to increase by 82 billion litres – seven times the forecasted growth for China. I feel extremely privileged to be able to lead this new opportunity as we look to bring an enhanced dairy experience to Indian consumers. I firmly believe through Fonterra Future Dairy we have a huge opportunity to challenge and change the market, combining Fonterra’s global dairy innovation, manufacturing and nutrition expertise with Future Group’s leadership in retail and distribution expertise and infrastructure.”

    Leading the growth and expansion of some of the world’s largest, trusted flagship brands in the Indian market, is familiar territory to Singh, having worked over the last 25 years at top multinational and FMCG companies such as Mattel, Vodafone, Hindustan Unilever, and Coca-Cola.

    Most recently, he led the business at Mattel, largest toy manufacturer in the world, as its Country Manager for India and the SAARC region. Previously, he held the role of Business Head at Vodafone India for over 5 years, leading remarkable revenue growth and retail expansion in many circles including Mumbai and Maharashtra.

    Managing Director Future Consumer Limited and Board Member of Fonterra Future Dairy, Ashni Biyani says, “We’re delighted to have someone of Ishmeet’s calibre to lead the business. As a sales and marketing professional at heart, we see him being instrumental in helping us build a brand that Indians love.”

    Fonterra’s Managing Director of Sri Lanka and the Indian Subcontinent, Chairman of Fonterra Future Dairy, Sunil Sethi said, “As our exciting growth phase picks up steam, it is critical that people with the right experience, values and drive are in place to steer the business forward. We are in the process of putting together a first-class team to build a fantastic legacy for the business. Through the ambition we have set, we believe the learning experience and possibilities here at Fonterra Future Dairy are limitless. Ishmeet is a proven and highly accomplished professional with a passion for leading teams to transformative success and growth. With his vision and deep personal commitment to society, we are confident that he will bring immense value in delivering on our ambition.”

  • MSIG Hong Kong names Philip Kent as new CEO

    MSIG Hong Kong names Philip Kent as new CEO

    General insurer, MSIG, has announced the appointment of Philip Kent to the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He succeeds former CEO, Kenneth J. Reid, who has retired after 26 years with MSIG Hong Kong. Philip Kent most recently served as Executive Vice President of Planning for the Singapore-based regional holding company, MSIG Holdings Asia, over the last two years leading business development across the region and spearheading the regional digital strategy in Asia. With more than 28 years in the insurance industry, he has broad insurance market experience encompassing leadership and technical roles across Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong.

    “We are pleased to have Philip lead MSIG Hong Kong as CEO. His accomplishments and track record of building strong partner relationships and inspiring colleagues make him an ideal leader. He is also very familiar with the market having worked in Hong Kong for 11 years,” said Alan J. Wilson, regional CEO, MSIG Holdings Asia.
    “The industry is dynamic with many insurers going digital and leveraging on new technologies. With Philip’s experience, he will be able to continue the digital transformation that Ken has started for MSIG, ensuring that we are well placed to continue serving the needs of our customers in Hong Kong,” he added.

    Outgoing CEO Kenneth J. Reid has retired after leading MSIG Hong Kong as CEO for 13 years and after a successful career of nearly 35 years with the Group. During his tenure, Mr Reid led MSIG Hong Kong to more than double its gross written premiums and played an instrumental role in forming a partnership with DUAL Asia in 2009, significantly expanding MSIG’s business portfolio. He also contributed to Hong Kong’s general insurance industry as Chairman of the Motor Insurer’s Bureau of Hong Kong from 2015 to 2017.

    “Ken’s vision, accomplishments and impressive track record of building strong client relationships, have materially strengthened MSIG Hong Kong. He leaves a firm foundation and a resilient company. I would like to sincerely thank him on behalf of the Board and the Group for his substantial contribution to MSIG,” Mr Wilson said.

     

  • Voon Seng Chuan is new AmBank Malaysia chairman

    Voon Seng Chuan is new AmBank Malaysia chairman

    AMMB Holdings Bhd has appointed Voon Seng Chuan (pic) as the new chairman of AmBank (M) Bhd with effect from Jan 1, 2019. “Voon, a Malaysian, aged 60, has been a member of the board of directors of AmBank since June 18, 2015. He is also a member of the board of directors of AMMB,” AMMB said in a stock exchange filing on its directorship/chairmanship transition plan.

    Voon replaces Tan Sri Azman Hashim, 79, who will be retiring from six entities in the AmBank group in stages over a two-year period announced last year.

  • China Canada Goose flagship opening delayed after Meng arrest

    China Canada Goose flagship opening delayed after Meng arrest

    The arrest of Huawei CFO Sabrina Meng Wanzhou in Canada has prompted down jacket retailer Canada Goose to delay launching its Chinese flagship store. Diplomatic tensions between the two countries have already contributed to a 20.6 per cent drop in the brand’s share price this month amidst calls for a boycott in China and the Meng arrest only worsened the situation.

    The brand had been poised to open the 600sqm flagship in fashionable Taikoo Li Sanlitun this Saturday, following a pop-up event last month and a promotional campaign on Alibaba’s Taobao online mall. It opened a branch in Hong Kong last month, and is planning a regional office in Shanghai.

    “Our Beijing store has been delayed slightly due to ongoing construction. We look forward to opening our newest store in the near future.”

    A statement published : “Our Beijing store has been delayed slightly due to ongoing construction. We look forward to opening our newest store in the near future.”

    The Meng arrest took place at the request of the US on fraud charges related to alleged breaches of Iran sanctions.

  • Vietjet CEO becomes first Vietnamese Bloomberg game changer

    Vietjet CEO becomes first Vietnamese Bloomberg game changer

    Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao is in Bloomberg’s list of 50 people who’ve been business game changers in 2018. Thao is the first Vietnamese citizen to be named in the Bloomberg list, which highlights key players in all fields, from finance to fashion, media to manufacturing, banking to biotech, politics to philanthropy, entertainment to energy. The founder and CEO of budget carrier Vietjet Air wants to take on regional giants like Indonesia’s Lion Air and Malaysia’s AirAsia Group Bhd.

    The carrier has forecast that the number of passengers it serves this year will rise 40 percent to 24 million, as it begins to tap into Vietnam’s growing middle class by expanding overseas routes.

    The expansion further changes the face of Vietnam’s aviation market that has been long dominated by state-owned Vietnam Airlines JSC, as VietJet offers millions of Vietnamese customers who have never flown the chance to buy a cheap ticket, Bloomberg says.

    Thao, 48, has extensive experience in doing business in Vietnam and abroad in many fields, including finance, banking, aviation, realestate, and retail.

    She launched Vietjet in 2011. The airline now leads the domestic market with a 45 percent share. It operates 385 flights daily within Vietnam and to Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, mainland China, Thailand, Myanmar, and Malaysia.

    The carrier made an IPO on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange on February last year, becoming the first airline in Vietnam to list publicly.

    Thao also has interests in banking and real estate, which includes owning three beach resorts.

    Bloomberg says it comes up with the list by utilizing its worldwide resources, including the work of 2,400 journalists and unique, proprietary data and analytics.

    Also on the list this year are Jerome Powell, the U.S. Federal Reserve chairman, Amy Hood, chief financial officer at Microsoft Corp, and Ryan Coogler, director of Maverl’s movie Black Panther.

    Just last week, Thao was named the 44th most powerful woman in the world byForbes, up 11 places from last year.

    Forbes estimated the richest woman in Vietnam to have a net worth of around $2.6 billion.

  • Lazada Group appointed new CEO

    Lazada Group appointed new CEO

    Lazada Group has announced its second new CEO this year, with group executive president Pierre Poignant taking the role immediately. Incumbent Lucy Peng, who took over the role nine months ago after moving from major investor Alibaba, will remain with the business, assuming the title executive chairwoman.

    In a media statement, Lazada described the change as “succession planning”.

    Poignant, who was appointed president in August, will lead the company’s strategic development into new growth pillars, while continuing to manage Lazada’s operations in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, working closely with country CEOs and regional functional team leaders.

    “Pierre is a well-respected Lazada co-founder, who has contributed tirelessly to the company for the past six years,” said Peng. “He and the team of other co-founders had the vision to build our logistics network from the ground up back in the days when no one in Southeast Asia believed in e-commerce – this valuable asset has now set us apart from the competition. Over the years, Pierre has consistently delivered beyond his call of duty and excelled in every role he has taken up.”

    Poignant said Lazada has benefitted from the Alibaba ecosystem, from the technological prowess to the logistics network.

    “This year is a turning point for Lazada. We have improved and evolved and now come out stronger, more efficient, and more agile than the start of the year. Our transformation has just begun and I am confident next year will be another watershed year,” said Poignant.