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Choco Up partners with Shoplazza to transform the financing landscape for DTC e-commerce merchants

The partnership will provide funding to e-commerce merchants and help turn local businesses into global players

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 May 2022 – Choco Up, a global technology and financial services platform offering revenue-based financing and growth solutions for digital merchants and startups, today announced its strategic partnership with Shoplazza, a global leading e-commerce Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. Together, their collaboration will provide quick and accessible business growth funding for Shoplazza’s direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, helping businesses to overcome financing challenges commonly encountered by e-commerce merchants.

The first-ever growth funding partner of Shoplazza, Choco Up’s embedded revenue-based financing solution with a proprietary AI-driven underwriting model will offer funding through the Shoplazza platform in just a few clicks. This will enable more than 360,000 merchants to grow in gross merchandise value (GMV) through inventory purchases, marketing expenditures, and new market expansions across the globe.

E-commerce merchants often face operational and geographical challenges as they expand

A significant pain point faced by many e-commerce merchants is their heavy reliance on third-party marketplaces such as Amazon and Lazada. These platforms pocket commission fees as high as 45% per transaction, putting pressure on sellers’ razor-thin margins. As a result, many e-commerce merchants have adopted the DTC business model, which offers higher margins, more flexibility and a greater Return-On-Investment (ROI). However, this also requires business owners to invest in their website and online store, which can incur substantial costs.

Shoplazza empowers merchants by providing all the tools they need to create their online store, freeing them from third-party marketplace platforms and allowing them to grow their DTC brands globally and independently. Its integrated platform helps businesses manage their online stores, including web infrastructure, product sourcing, enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer operations, etc. On top of software-as-a-service, Shoplazza also provides merchants branding, marketing, and other e-commerce-adjacent support.

Another key challenge facing e-commerce businesses is the substantial funding gap among merchants seeking to pivot to the DTC business model to expand and scale globally. E-commerce merchants are frequently unable to secure loans from banks due to a lack of assets with profiles perceived as higher risk. They cannot turn to private equity or venture capital, which tend to prefer investing in disruptive tech sectors – leaving many digital merchants in the cold. The success rate of securing private equity funding can be as low as 0.7%.

Choco Up provides quick and easy growth funding to e-commerce merchants without requiring collateral, equity, or fixed terms. For Shoplazza’s DTC e-commerce merchants, there is no need to fill out lengthy applications or go through extensive credit checks to access growth capital. With its proprietary AI and machine learning technology, Choco Up can quickly and reliably conduct the risk assessment for merchants and is able to offer funding in as soon as 48 hours.

As opposed to traditional financing methods, Choco Up’s revenue-sharing model – the first of its kind in Asia – allows merchants to easily get growth funding and repay flexibly by sharing a small proportion of their monthly revenue during repayment. Merchants no longer need to worry about overdue payments due to unstable cash flows and are provided with the flexibility and protection against business growth and expansion risks. By extending credit to e-commerce businesses and supporting merchants in their pursuit of global ambitions, Choco Up bridges the gap between e-commerce businesses and growth capital.

“A synergistic convergence of two of Asia’s leading tech companies, this embedded financing product partnership between Choco Up and Shoplazza will revolutionize e-commerce funding at scale. Together, the two platforms will provide merchants access to quick and easy business funding to monetize growth opportunities in the dynamic e-commerce landscape and a comprehensive suite of digital-commerce-related support,” said Brian Tsang, Choco Up’s co-founder and COO. “Teaming up with Shoplazza also enables us to help yet more local businesses expand beyond borders whilst furthering our mission to increase financial inclusion for companies of all sizes and types.”

“Through this strategic partnership, Shoplazza will be able to broaden its range of e-commerce-adjacent support for merchants currently using its software and services. In addition, the funding provided by Choco Up can help many DTC merchants realize their global growth potential,” said Jesse Huang, the VP of Shoplazza.

About Choco Up

Choco Up is a global technology and financial services platform, offering revenue-based financing and business growth solutions for digital merchants and startups. With data analytics and machine learning at its core, Choco Up employs vast integrations to automate fund deployment, providing fast-growing companies with zero-equity funding in a quick and seamless manner. We currently have offices in Singapore and Hong Kong and serve businesses worldwide, providing smart-growth analytics and global payment solutions to fuel their growth.

For more information, visit:

About Shoplazza
Shoplazza is an award-winning shopping cart commerce technology company that provides differentiated value by offering technology that is easy to start, market and manage online stores of any size. The single integrated back-end platform powered by advanced data analytical capability is engineered for reliability, security and adaptivity, ensuring our merchants never miss a turn.

Shoplazza champions merchants to not only build an online store but own their brand. The North America-based Direct-to-customer (“DTC”) branding incubation team provides services covering the entire journey of buyers that helps merchants develop a direct relationship with the buyers and make their brand memorable and distinctive.

For more information, visit:

#ChocoUp #Shoplazza

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

AXA launched “WiseProtect Pro Medical Insurance Plan”

Annual benefit limit up to MOP40million and no lifetime benefit limit

Fully cover1 prescribed medical treatments with no waiting period

“Noble” benefit level provides worldwide2 medical coverage

MACAU SAR – Media OutReach – 23 May 2022 – AXA Hong Kong and Macau (AXA) today announced the launch of WiseProtect Pro Medical Insurance Plan” (“WiseProtect Pro”), which offers customers a comprehensive and quality protection with medical coverage including up to MOP40 million annual benefit limit, no lifetime benefit limit, full coverage1 for qualified medical treatments and no waiting period. In addition, the top-notch “Noble” benefit level provides worldwide medical coverage (excluding the USA)2 to address the needs of those customers who are studying abroad or on business trips.

Three notable features of the WiseProtect Pro are as follows:

1) No lifetime benefit limit; up to MOP40 million annual benefit limit

In view of the continuously rising medical costs, customers at all benefit levels of “WiseProtect Pro” will enjoy the coverages without lifetime benefit limit. The annual benefit limits of the “Regular”, “Enhance” and “Premier” benefit levels are MOP5 million, MOP25 million and MOP30 million respectively. Customers of the “Noble” benefit level will enjoy an annual benefit limit of up to MOP40 million. The coverage allows our customers to focus on addressing their health issues without worrying about exhausting the benefit limit.

2) “Noble” benefit level provides global2 medical coverage

Embracing the concept of global citizenship, the top-notch “Noble” benefit level provides worldwide2 non-emergency treatment coverage, so customers can receive quality medical protection even when they are abroad. Policyholders can also receive private nursing service provided by a qualified nurse for a maximum of 30 days per policy year during their hospitalisation. Insured persons under the age of 18 who are hospitalised for at least 5 consecutive days can receive extra financial support of up to MOP5,0003. Within 180 days of discharging from a hospital and with the recommendation from doctor, the insured customer can also receive additional rehabilitation support of up to MOP80,000 for a maximum of 90 days per policy year, covering the expenses for related treatments according to medical advice, in an accredited hospital or a licensed rehabilitation facility.

In addition, all “WiseProtect Pro” customers can enjoy worldwide emergency treatment coverage. Comprehensive protection will be available to an insured person who is unfortunately involved in an accident when travelling and in need of emergency treatment to prevent death, permanent damage or other severe consequences.

3) Up to 180 days of follow-up outpatient visits after discharged from hospitalisation for major or complex surgical procedures with no claim limit; full coverage1 for prescribed non-surgical cancer treatments

“WiseProtect Pro” provides immediate and all-inclusive protection after the policy is effective with no waiting period. It also offers full coverage1 for prescribed non-surgical cancer treatments and an unlimited number of designated follow-up outpatient claims within 180 days after discharge from hospitalisation for major or complex surgical procedures. With the new benefit covering specified reconstructive surgeries, including oral and maxillofacial procedures after an accident and breast reconstruction surgery, “WiseProtect Pro” can help its customers go through different health challenges.

Furthermore, policyholders of the “Enhance” benefit level can enjoy a daily cash benefit4 of MOP1,000 during their hospitalisation in a lower ward class in Hong Kong and Macau, while those of the “Premier” and “Noble” benefit levels can receive MOP2,000.

A series of additional supporting services to address insured persons’ medical needs at all times

In addition, a cashless service within the AXA Signature Network will be available for the policyholders of “WiseProtect Pro”, in order to save customers’ time when handling medical claims. Moreover, “WiseProtect Pro” offers a free medical consultation service for policyholders to receive a second medical opinion from doctors through face-to-face meetings. Under “WiseProtect Pro”, qualified nurses can be arranged to provide the insured with advices and timely supports throughout the entire recovery journey.

Kevin Chor, Chief Life and Health Insurance Officer, AXA Hong Kong and Macau, said, “According to statistics, the total health expenditure rose at an average annual rate of 5.6%5 in the past 30 years. In view of this, we are pleased to launch ‘WiseProtect Pro’ which enables our customers to enjoy a comprehensive protection with a higher maximum annual benefit with no lifetime benefit limit. The ‘Noble’ benefit level allows the insured to receive medical treatment globally in most countries and regions to fully address their needs anytime and anywhere. ‘WiseProtect Pro’ underscores our commitment in facing future challenges together with our customers and being their lifetime companion.”

The upgraded “WiseProtect Pro” provides multiple levels of protection. For more information about this product, please visit: https://www.axa.com.mo/en/promotions/

The above information is for reference only. For details on product features, content, terms and exclusions, please refer to the product brochure, policy provision and promotional leaflet.


1 Full coverage shall mean the actual amount of eligible expenses and other expenses charged after deducting the remaining deductible (if any), and is subject to the annual benefit limit and other conditions as stated in the product brochure and policy contract.

2 Worldwide excluding USA shall mean worldwide excluding USA. USA shall mean the United States of America and US Minor Outlying Islands.

3 One claim per policy year.

4 Maximum 10 days per confinement

5 Information from Hong Kong’s Domestic Healthcare Accounts released by the Food and Health Bureau.

About AXA Hong Kong and Macau

AXA Hong Kong and Macau is a member of the AXA Group, a leading global insurer with presence in 50 markets and serving 95 million customers worldwide. Our purpose is to act for human progress by protecting what matters.

As one of the most diversified insurers offering integrated solutions across Life, Health and General Insurance, our goal is to be the insurance and holistic wellness partner to the individuals, businesses and community we serve.

At the core of our service commitment is continuous product innovation and customer experience enrichment, which is achieved through actively listening to our customers and leveraging technology and digital transformation.

We embrace our responsibility to be a force for good to create shared value for our community. We are proud to be the first insurer in Hong Kong and Macau to address the importance of mental health through different products and services such as offering free mindfulness practice resources through Mind Charger which is fully accessible to our customers and the public via our holistic wellness platform AXA BetterMe.

AXA also takes part in a wide range of ESG initiatives and programmes both globally and locally. AXA Group established AXA Climate School and Net-Zero Insurance Alliance in 2021 and set out various global green targets such as reaching €26 billion in green investments by 2023 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2025. In Hong Kong, AXA pledges to reduce paper usage via digitisation and is the first insurer to join the ‘Green Monday ESG Coalition’. As of Feb 2022, AXA Hong Kong’s green investments have exceeded HKD4 billion. We strive to contribute to a sustainable future as an investor, insurer and an exemplary company.

THIS PRESS RELEASE IS AVAILABLE ON AXA’S WEBSITE:

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION AND CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements including, but not limited to, statements that are predictions of or indicate future events, trends, plans or objectives. Undue reliance should not be placed on such statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause AXA’s actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Please refer to Part 4 – “Risk factors and risk management” of AXA’s Universal Registration Document for the year ended December 31, 2019, for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect AXA’s business, and/or results of operations. AXA undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise, except as part of applicable regulatory or legal obligations.

#AXA

Thai AirAsia X Successfully Files for Bankruptcy

Thai AirAsia X Files for Bankruptcy

Thai AirAsia X (TAAX), a low-cost long-haul flight provider that is part of the AirAsia group, has successfully filed for bankruptcy in a Thai court.

As it strengthens its regional focus, VP Bank announces key appointments in Asia with Johnny Heng as Head of Singapore Branch and Kenneth Chan as Head of In-termediaries Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 23 May 2022 – VP Bank Ltd today announces several appointments within its Asia organisation. These appointments further affirm the Bank’s dedication to Strategy 2026, enhancing its competitive edge to seize opportunities in the Asia region.

VP Bank Ltd Singapore Branch
New appointments

1. Johnny Heng joins as the Head of Singapore Branch, effective 1 June 2022 (subject to regulatory approval), reporting to CEO Asia, Pamela Hsu Phua. Having worked more than 25 years in the financial services industry, he has extensive international investment and management experience spanning London, New York and Singapore. In line with Strategy 2026, Johnny will be responsible for developing and scaling the Bank’s operations and activities in Singapore. Prior to joining VP Bank, Johnny worked for Equities First Holdings, Nomura Singapore, Coutts & Co. and Credit Suisse Private Bank. Johnny also held senior investment roles in a sovereign wealth fund and a single family office, helming the investment teams through numerous market cycles like the “dot.com” bubble and the last global financial crisis. In recognition for his active community work and contributions to the non-profit sector, he was awarded the Public Service Medal by the President of Singapore in 2019. An economist by training, he also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Singapore University of Social Sciences.

2. Veronica Ong joins as Regional Lead, Marketing and Communications Asia, effective 17 May 2022, reporting to Chief of Staff Asia, Heline Lam. A marcom professional with more than 20 years of experience, Veronica is responsible for driving the Bank’s marketing and communication activities in Asia to support business growth in this region. She was previously Head of Marketing, Southeast Asia for Credit Suisse AG, and worked for organisations such as Coutts & Co Bank Ltd and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. She graduated from National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Business Administration.

VP Wealth Management (Hong Kong) Ltd
New appointments

3. Kenneth Chan joins as the Head of Intermediaries Hong Kong, effective 1 June 2022. With over 30 years of financial services experience, he will report to Reto Marx, Head of Hong Kong, and help in the development and implementation of VP Bank’s growth strategy in the Greater China region. Prior to joining our Hong Kong office, Kenneth worked for EFG Bank AG, UBS AG, Pictet & Cie (Europe), Standard Charted Private Bank and DBS Hong Kong. He graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Arts in Commerce & Economics and is a Financial Risk Manager (FRM).

4. Alice Chan joins as a Relationship Manager, effective 1 June 2022. With extensive experience in relationship management, she will report to Kenneth Chan. Joining from EFG Bank AG, she has previously worked for UBS AG Hong Kong, Standard Chartered Ltd, DBS Bank and ICBC.

5. Karen Ho joins as a Relationship Manager, effective 27 June 2022. With close to 20 years of banking experience, she joins from EFG Bank AG and will report to Kenneth Chan. Prior to joining EFG Bank AG, Karen held various banking positions at UBS AG, HSBC, Citibank, and AIA.

“With the Asia region as one of the main growth engines for VP Bank, we continue to emphasise on expanding and improving our investment platform and infrastructure for our clients,” highlighted Pamela Hsu Phua, CEO Asia of VP Bank.

About VP Bank Group

VP Bank Ltd was established in 1956 and, with around 1,000 employees, is one of the largest banks in Liechtenstein. VP Bank has an international presence, with offices in Vaduz, Zurich, Luxembourg, Singapore, Hong Kong and Road Town (British Virgin Islands). Its core competencies include the development of customised financial solutions for intermediaries and private persons, as well as access to private market investments via a curated ecosystem. In addition, the Group has an international fund competence centre. As of 31 December 2021, client assets under management of VP Bank Group amounted to CHF 51.3 billion. VP Bank is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and has an “A” rating from Standard & Poor’s.

About VP Bank Ltd Singapore Branch

VP Bank Ltd Singapore Branch is a boutique private bank with a client-centric business philosophy. With a presence in Singapore since 2008, it is the Asian branch of the Liechtenstein-based VP Bank Group.

VP Bank Ltd Singapore Branch provides specialised wealth management solutions and family office services for high-net-worth clients and professional asset managers and is dedicated to the protection and growth of clients’ wealth. The bank offers a holistic suite of services in wealth management. Apart from private wealth management, VP Bank Ltd Singapore Branch provides comprehensive services for asset managers and other financial intermediaries. The service offering comprises a trading platform, banking services – including e-banking and mobile banking – and operational support. Partnership arrangements with professionals include tailor-made investment advisory, discretionary management solutions, and custodian services.

VP Bank was awarded Best External Asset Manager Service Provider and Best Private Banking Regional Partnership at Greater China WealthBriefingAsia Awards for Excellence 2020 and Best Asia EAM Service Desk at Citywire Asia EAM Desk Awards 2020. In 2021, VP Bank was named Best Private Bank – Intermediary Services by Asian Private Banker.

#VPBank

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Whizz Woods Integrates With Latest CAD Solution For Better Designs

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 May 2022 – Whizz Woods, a trusted computer-aided design (CAD) software reseller in Singapore, has announced its integration with ZWCAD 2022 SP2, a CAD software developed by a reliable provider of all-in-one CAx solutions, ZWSOFT. As the latest edition of its flagship 2D CAD solution, ZWCAD 2022 SP2 seeks to elevate the friendliness and speed to the next level – ultimately enhancing users’ planning and design workflows.

ZWCAD 2022 SP2 is designed to be efficient but without compromising stability. With the SP2 version, users can move the cursor smoothly across entities, so they do not experience any unexpected pauses when designing. As it is fast, it is more stable, especially when it comes to simple functions such as copying all entities, switching between layouts, and zooming in. In addition to assisting users in plotting drawings in batches, Smart Plot has been enhanced with two new functions: allowing users to efficiently set up all file names before plotting, rather than manually adjusting them one by one afterwards, as well as plotting various sizes of paper at once by enabling automatic paper size recognition for physical and virtual printers. Other functionalities include four new data types for Tables and the ArcGIS Module that enables maps to be displayed more accurately.

By integrating with ZWCAD 2022 SP2, Whizz Woods is bringing an innovative solution to the various industries utilising CAD software for CAD drawing, drafting or CAD product design while simultaneously boosting their productivity. While ZWCAD focuses on developing its core competencies, Whizz Woods provides a solution to users seeking a perpetual CAD software license in Singapore with new and improved features. Together, the two solutions streamline users’ planning and design processes with enhanced administrative functions and flexible access to upgrades – resulting in increased productivity and more informed decisions for optimum designs.

Whizz Woods is among Singapore’s leading CAD software resellers offering alternatives to AutoCAD with a non-expiring license. Individuals interested in the latest version of the ZWCAD can download it as a CAD software free trial on Whizz Woods’ website. Besides the new ZWCAD 2022 SP2, Whizz Woods supplies a vast range of other CAD software products and services, such as PINEAL 3D Robotic Vision and Robotic Vision Design Consultancy Service.

For more information on the ZWCAD price in Singapore or Whizz Woods’ excellent range of CAD solutions, do visit https://cadvisionsoft.com/.

#WhizzWoods

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

ROAD TO UFC Opening Round Bouts Announced

Tournament For Asia’s Top MMA Prospects Kicks Off During Fight Week For UFC 275 In Singapore This June

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 May 2022 – UFC®, the world’s premier Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organization, has announced the bouts for ROAD TO UFC, the most significant opportunity for Asia’s top MMA prospects to make it to the world stage. The opening round will take place across two days, June 9 and June 10, at the Singapore Indoor Stadium ahead of UFC® 275: TEIXEIRA vs PROCHAZKA on June 12, UFC’s first Pay-Per-View event in Southeast Asia.

ROAD TO UFC episodes and bouts:

Episode 1
Featherweight, Yi Zha (CN) vs Keisuke Sasu (JP)
Lightweight, Balajin (CN) vs WonBin Ki (KR)
Bantamweight, Maimaiti Tuohati (CN) vs Toshiomi Kazama (JP)
Flyweight, SeungGuk Choi (KR) vs Rama Supandhi (ID)
Non-tournament Light Heavyweight, Zhang Mingyang (CN) vs Tuco Tokkos (UK)

Episode 2
Bantamweight, MinWoo Kim vs Xiao Long (CN)
Featherweight, JunYoung Hong (KR) vs Koyomi Matsushima (JP)
Flyweight, Qiu Lun (CN) vs Wallen Del Rosario (PH)
Lightweight, Ailiya Muratbek (CN) vs Pawan Maan Singh (IN)
Non-tournament Flyweight, Shaun Etchell (AU) vs Takeru Uchida (JP)

Episode 3
Featherweight, JeongYeong Lee (KR) vs Xie Bin (CN)
Flyweight, Yuma Horiuchi (JP) vs Top Kiwram (TH)
Lightweight, Anshul Jubli (IN) vs Sho Patrick Usami (JP)
Bantamweight, Rinya Nakamura (JP) vs Gugun Gusman (ID)
Non-tournament Women’s Strawweight, YeDam Seo (KR) vs Josefine Knuttson (SE)

Episode 4
Bantamweight, Shohei Nose (JP) vs Wulijiburen (CN)
Lightweight, Asikerbai Jinensibieke (CN) vs Kyung Pyo Kim (KR)
Featherweight, Lu Kai (CN) vs Angga Hans (ID)
Flyweight, HyunSung Park (KR) vs Jeremia Siregar (ID)
Non-tournament Welterweight, John Adajar (PH) vs HanSeul Kim (KR)

All bouts live and subject to change.

The opening round of ROAD TO UFC on June 9 and June 10 will be from 2:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. SGT on both days. Admission is free and tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis by registering at https://ufc.com/rtu. Additionally, the purchase of any VIP package for UFC® 275: TEIXEIRA vs PROCHAZKA will include a reserved seat for both days of the event (subject to availability).

ROAD TO UFC episodes will air in Asia primetime GMT +8, so audiences across Asia can get to know the athletes via in-event features and competitions on UFC broadcast partners (check local listings).

UFC® 275: TEIXEIRA vs PROCHAZKA is hosted in Singapore with support from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). It is Southeast Asia’s first championship double-header, as UFC world light heavyweight Glover Teixeira takes on #2 Jiri Prochazka, and UFC world women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko faces #5 Taila Santos.

UFC® 275: TEIXEIRA vs PROCHAZKA will take place Sunday, June 12, at Singapore Indoor Stadium. The prelims will begin at 6 a.m. SGT, followed by the main card at 10 a.m. Tickets are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.sg.

Follow us on Facebook (UFC Asia), Twitter and Instagram (@ufc), and use the official hashtags: #UFC275 #UFCSINGAPORE.

Workato Expands Leadership for the Next Phase of Growth in People and Culture

The enterprise automation company welcomes Carle Quinn as Chief People Officer; Kerry Moore as Vice President, Talent & Diversity; and Keith Tyndall as Vice President of Corporate and Brand Marketing amid accelerated growth

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 23 May 2022 – Workato, a leading enterprise automation platform, today announced the appointments of Carle Quinn as Chief People Officer; Kerry Moore as its first Vice President of Talent & Diversity; and Keith Tyndall as Vice President of Corporate and Brand Marketing. Quinn, Moore and Tyndall join Workato during a phase of hyper-growth for the company as the platform continues to experience rapid adoption across key industry verticals, requiring support from a diverse portfolio of talent within leadership. After a year of record momentum, which included raising over $420 million in total funding to date with a $5.7 billion valuation, and recently being named to the 2022 CNBC Disruptor 50 List, Workato’s expansion of hiring signals newfound growth in 2022.

“We are fortunate to have experienced an over 200% increase in employee headcount in 2021 and pride ourselves, from the executive level down, on being an eclectic group of individuals,” said Workato Founder and CEO, Vijay Tella. “We’re thrilled to welcome new talent across departments to support Workato’s continued growth. Carle, Kerry, and Keith each bring unique expertise to our team as we continue to cement ourselves as the leading enterprise automation platform.”

Carle Quinn joins Workato as Chief People Officer where she’ll be responsible for all aspects of the human resources strategy, including talent management, leadership development, and compensation and benefits, as well as leading all human resources functions globally. She brings 20+ years of experience in human capital management where she has served in a number of increasingly senior business and executive HR leadership roles. Over the course of her career, Quinn has gained global leadership experience in Human Resources and in Sales and Consulting at companies like SAP, GE, IBM, and most recently as Vice President of GTM Strategy & Customer Value at Citrix. With a particular passion for leveraging exceptional talent as a competitive strength to drive business performance and value, Quinn’s new role will be instrumental in leading and executing strategy centered around the heart of the company: Workato’s people.

“Workato’s rapid growth creates a unique opportunity to lead teams through the next phase of development, evolution and employee-led innovations,” said Quinn. “People are the heartbeat of everything we do. Paired with a groundbreaking automation offering that helps shape the future of work and is rehumanising it, Workato is uniquely positioned to change the way we connect on a global scale, which all starts with an internal, people-first approach. I am so excited to get the opportunity to work alongside the executive team and Vijay on scaling the dynamic Workato culture as global growth continues to be a priority. Like many of the Workato team members, my multi-faceted background serves as a reminder that we all bring a unique and storied perspective to the table.”

Kerry Moore joins Workato having previously held numerous senior leadership positions at exemplary and disruptive technology companies, including UKG (merger between Ultimate Software and Kronos), Entegris, Teledyne FLIR and ZoomInfo where she was integral in building a robust talent acquisition pipeline that celebrated diversity and inclusion. Moore has rich experience anchoring campus and emerging talent programs to attract employees from all backgrounds to meet current and future business objectives, and is credited for her key role in launching the first programs of this kind at UKG and Entegris.

“In the two decades I’ve been in the business of people, the most gratifying experiences I’ve had is building world-class talent acquisition programs that invite the most brilliant people in technology,” said Moore. “I have been impressed with Workato’s growth and dedication to creating an inclusive work environment and look forward to constructing a strong program on top of a strategically built foundation.”

Keith Tyndall joins Workato as VP of Corporate and Brand Marketing, previously having led the marketing team at Kareo, the cloud-based leader in EHR and patient engagement software. He managed the brand merger of Kareo with PatientPop in 2021 to later become Tebra. He has previously held marketing leadership roles at ServiceTitan, BlackLine, and Cornerstone OnDemand. Tyndall will drive Workato’s global brand marketing and corporate communications strategy across key areas, utilising his extensive expertise in high-growth SaaS technology companies across strategic communications, investor relations, product marketing, and brand strategy.

“I’ve dedicated my career to marketing leadership roles in global enterprise organisations, and am excited to leverage my knowledge and experience at a company as disruptive as Workato,” said Tyndall. “Building a differentiated brand strategy that highlights the value and impact Workato delivers to its customers is an important focus as the company grows. I’m thrilled to lead the team at such an important stage.”

Workato has also made additional key leadership hires in the last year including former VP Analyst at Gartner, Massimo Pezzini as Head of Research, Future of the Enterprise and Gaby Moran as Director of Customer Experience.

To learn more about enterprise automation and Workato, visit workato.com.

About Workato

The leader in enterprise automation, Workato helps organisations work faster and smarter without compromising security and governance. Built for Business and IT users, Workato is trusted by over 11,000 of the world’s top brands like Broadcom, Intuit, Box, Autodesk, and HubSpot. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., Workato is backed by Altimeter Capital, Battery Ventures, Insight Venture Partners, Tiger Global, and Redpoint Ventures. For more information, visit or connect with us on social media:
● Blog:
● Business Systems Community:
● Twitter:
● LinkedIn:

#Workato

Digital Wallet Group Brings Smiles to Singapore with Launch of Mobile Remittance App for Foreign Workers

SINGAPORE / TOKYO, JAPAN – Media OutReach – 23 May 2022 – Global IT and fintech company Digital Wallet Group (DWG) today announced the launch of its Smiles Remittance application (Smiles) in Singapore. DWG’s subsidiary, Digital Wallet Singapore Pte Ltd, will manage the rollout and operations with local partner bank CIMB Bank Singapore. The initial outbound remittance corridors from Singapore are the Philippines and Indonesia, with Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India, among others, expected to be added by 2023.

Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, H.E. Joseph del Mar Yap (far right), graced the opening of Smiles Studio @Orchard at Lucky Plaza with

Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, H.E. Joseph del Mar Yap (far right), graced the opening of Smiles Studio @Orchard at Lucky Plaza with “Pride of OFW” award recipients in recognition of their long-term support of families back home, remitting consistently over an average of 20 years.

Created by DWG’s subsidiary, Digital Wallet Corporation (DWC), Smiles is Japan’s first and most popular mobile remittance service providing a convenient and user-friendly mobile experience, low remittance fees and 24/7 accessibility. The mobile app offers a simple, fast and transparent, six-step in-app remittance process. It also provides a range of payout options, including bank credits and cash pickup in thousands of locations globally, tailoring to local preferences and allowing greater flexibility without incurring extra cost. Besides English, Smiles offers language options in Tagalog and Bahasa Indonesia, with Vietnamese and Spanish in the pipeline.

Mr Eiji Miyakawa, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Digital Wallet Group, said, “The challenging circumstances from the global pandemic and geo-political tensions have impacted foreign workers worldwide struggling to take care of families back home. Our purpose is to support foreign workers and ensure the lifeline to their families is timely and convenient by providing a secure, round-the-clock mobile remittance channel. With the prevalent use of digital technology, Smiles offers another way for our customers to stay connected and have peace of mind. We are confident that the extension of our Smiles network to Singapore will benefit the foreign worker community and further support our continued expansion across the Asia Pacific.”

Smiles is a pioneer in redesigning international money transfer services with the latest technology, product design and business model. The app was the first in Japan to introduce online identity verification (eKYC) using artificial intelligence to simplify and secure procedures. The same technology which processes transactions of 70 million users worldwide is also accessible as a digital customer management technology solution. White labelled for clients in retail, mall operations, and consumer healthcare sectors, it uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to manage customer authentication, data analytics, and marketing automation.

Smiles has been on a global expansion journey since its launch in Japan in 2016, where it has built a loyal customer base among Filipinos working in the country and became the top mobile remittance service. Before arriving in Singapore, the Smiles app was released in Canada in February 2022. Smiles has also set up representative offices in Vietnam and the Philippines. In 2021, Smiles was awarded the Good Design Award in Japan and is the first and only remittance app to date to receive this esteemed accolade.

The introduction of the Smiles app in Singapore follows and complements DWG’s acquisition of RediMoney Express Pte Ltd (REPL) in August 2021, commencing the conversion process of its retail and app assets to Smiles. On 16 April 2022, the Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, H.E. Joseph del Mar Yap, graced the opening of the Smiles Studio @Orchard at Lucky Plaza. He also met with selected foreign workers in Singapore who were recognised for their long-term support of families back home by remitting consistently over an average of 20 years. The personal stories behind these long-time overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) exemplify the spirit of Smiles’ “Pride of OFW” campaign, a platform for personal stories of challenges and triumphs shared by OFWs.

The global pandemic has impacted the cross-border movement of foreign workers with lockdowns, border closures, travel restrictions and curbs, which have severely affected in-bound labour mobility and movement restrictions on the foreign workers’ off days when they usually visit over-the-counter remittance services. However, mobile remittance applications like Smiles enable foreign workers to overcome such challenges and have full access to financial services to support families at home.

Data by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that cash remittances, which only include money transmitted through banks, grew 5.1 per cent from the previous year’s to US$31.418 billion – a new high in 2021 due to an improving global economy amid the global pandemic. After the USA, Singapore was recognised as the second-largest source of remittance in 2021. It is also one of the lowest-cost corridors to the Philippines, averaging 3 per cent. Conversely, corridors for remittances to areas in East Asia and the Pacific can go up to 13 per cent.

Mr Roland Pagdanganan, Managing Director, Digital Wallet Singapore, said, “I was drawn to Digital Wallet with its values of serving, caring, and giving back, which align with the values I instil in my own family. With the launch of Smiles in Singapore, I would like foreign workers to experience our innovative mobile remittance service, where the customer experience, service delivery and community support are in our DNA. Additionally, a portion of our Singapore revenue will go towards Smiles donation campaigns to help organisations for disaster and humanitarian relief.”

About Digital Wallet Group & Digital Wallet Corporation

Digital Wallet Group (DWG) is the holding entity of Japan-based fintech company Digital Wallet Corporation (DWC), the developer of digital remittance platform Smiles Mobile Remittance (Smiles). Using artificial intelligence, big data and mobile technology, DWC offers global money transfer and payment services, digital wallet, and mobile marketing. DWG operates in the Philippines through the acquisition of Speed Money Transfer Philippines, Inc. In 2021, it launched in Singapore with the addition of RediMoney Express Pte Ltd. The Group’s network of banks spans Singapore, Canada, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Nepal. Visit us at and follow us on .

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About Smiles Mobile Remittance

Smiles Mobile Remittance (Smiles) was launched by Digital Wallet Corporation (DWC) in 2016 and is Japan’s first and most popular mobile overseas money transfer service, with over 2 million mobile application downloads. Secured by advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and facial recognition, users can enjoy greater convenience, better value and efficient services. Smiles is the only financial platform offering mobile remittances with an integrated loyalty and referral programme in Japan. Visit us at .

App name: Smiles Mobile Remittance
Available Device/OS: Android/iOS
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