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ERA Singapore Appoints Marcus Chu as New Chief Executive Officer

Jack Chua will remain as Executive Chairman of APAC Realty

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 29 June 2021 – ERA Realty Network (ERA Singapore) today announced that it will be promoting Mr Marcus Chu to chief executive officer (CEO) with effect from 1 July 2021.

(From left to right): Mr Marcus Chu and Mr Jack Chua

Marcus is currently chief operating officer (COO) of the leading real estate agency and has been with the agency for over 20 years. Current CEO Mr Jack Chua will continue to provide strategic leadership and have overall executive responsibility for the company’s business as Executive Chairman.

The separation of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer roles will enhance APAC Realty’s corporate governance, allowing for effective oversight by the Board of Directors of the business in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders.

Bringing over 25 years of real estate experience to lead trusted advisers into a new ERA

Prior to his current role as COO, Marcus had amassed extensive experience in real estate sales and team building. He first joined ERA Singapore in 1996 and achieved stellar results by clinching Top Achiever positions locally and internationally. With over two decades of real estate experience under his belt, he has been steadfast in driving operational efficiency across the organisation, rejuvenating the sales teams, innovating products, and enhancing service levels to ensure that the business delivers on the ERA brand promise of service excellence and results. For his new role as CEO, he will be taking over the helm of the Singapore headquarters and overseeing the business operations as well as day-to-day management of ERA Singapore.

“I am grateful to serve at ERA,” says Marcus. “As CEO, I will continue to further the great work of my predecessor, Mr Jack Chua. Standing on the shoulders of giants, I will set forth to realise my vision for ERA Singapore — to be Asia’s leading Real Estate Agency by providing evolutionary solutions and services to our clients. I will also seek to build a culture that attracts top-tier talents and one where every ERA trusted adviser can excel.”

Jack will remain as the Executive Chairman of APAC Realty. His responsibilities as Executive Chairman include driving expansion and opportunities in the region. To ensure a smooth transition, he will provide guidance to Marcus, passing his institutional knowledge and expertise on to the latter.

“ERA Singapore is a strong believer in succession planning,” says Jack. “The time is now ripe for me to step down as CEO; and today’s leadership transition is testament to the success of our strategic succession planning programme which seeks to develop and elevate the next generation of leaders from our internal talent pool. A visionary in his own right, Marcus is full of ideas on how to grow and strengthen the ERA brand, especially in a post-pandemic climate. Courageous yet humble, resilient yet flexible, Marcus will certainly lead ERA Singapore to greater heights.”

Management Team of ERA Singapore

Among the senior management team in ERA Singapore is Ms Doris Ong, who is COO of project marketing. Projects have always been an integral part of ERA’s core businesses. Under the leadership of Doris, the team has planned and executed transformative marketing launches for over 300 international and local residential projects.

Despite being the only female in ERA’s senior management team, Doris has led strategic partnerships and boasted strong relationship with developers while solidifying new opportunities to expand ERA’s market share. Graduating with a BSc in Estate Management from NUS, Doris is also a licensed appraiser and a member of the Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers.

Among the many market-first initiatives spearheaded by Doris include Singapore’s largest virtual property gallery Project 360 and the hosting of Singapore’s largest virtual real estate consumer show both in 2020 and this year, 2020 ERA Property Weekend and ERA Property Mega Show 2021.

The COO designate of agency business is Mr Thomas Tan. On 1 July 2021, Thomas will officially join the management team to oversee the alignment of operations and to elevate the professional competence of fellow professionals through impactful training and development programmes, as well as digital initiatives.

An accomplished leader in the real estate industry, Thomas boasts 18 years of industry experience, going from being a salesperson to Key Executive Officer of his own agency. He is very passionate about training and has been providing training for the real estate salesperson and continuous professional development courses from 2011, sharing his knowledge to over 11,000 learners.

Thomas was also the President of the Singapore Estate Agents Association, where he worked closely with the regulators, industry leaders and property agents to raise the bar of professionalism in estate agency work in Singapore.

“I am honored to join an exceptional management team at ERA Singapore, an organisation that believes in the importance of lifelong training and career development,” says Thomas. “I aim to empower our trusted advisers through rigorous and continuous training. By raising the overall competency of the agents, I hope to also bring significant change to the real estate industry, one where every agent is knowledgeable, honest and sincere.”

“We believe that professional customer service is a cornerstone of any successful business,” says Marcus. “Training and development have always been the key to grooming our agents to become professional trusted advisers. With his vast experience and network, I am confident Thomas will propel ERA’s training arm to a higher level.”

“We are delighted to bolster our management team with the addition of Thomas. We look forward to working closely with him to improve our market position and elevate the calibre of our advisers, so that they can achieve even greater success,” adds Doris.

Press kit link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ukutdelyi1h30dh/AAC8DmNU0-zDrJw89JwAcbcBa?dl=0

About ERA Singapore

ERA Singapore is the largest international agency in Singapore and has been setting and redefining industry standards through the pioneering of real estate concepts, technologies, initiatives and services since its inception in 1982.

As a wholly-owned subsidiary of SGX Mainboard Listed APAC Realty Limited, ERA Asia Pacific has a vast network of offices with over 18,000 trusted professionals across 10 countries: Singapore, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

In Singapore, we have over 8,100 associates providing a diverse range of professional services and solutions for: Private and HDB residential resale, residential leasing, project marketing, commercial and industrial, property management, auction, valuation and research.

Through Ultimate Agent Training Programme, a series of specially-curated training courses developed for ERA teammates, they are able to revolutionise their skills, equip themselves with the latest trends and insights of the property market, and stay ahead of the competition. With close to four decades of experience, extensive network and innovative technological tools, the company has secured innumerable dream homes for its customers in Singapore and around the world.

Recent accolades are testaments to the company’s diligence – ERA Singapore was the first and only agency awarded the 5-Star Best Real Estate Agency (Single Office) in Singapore by Asia Pacific Property Awards; Singapore’s Most Trusted Brands by Asia Reader’s Digest; Top Property Agency by Influential Brands; Most Innovative Real Estate Agency by SBR Listed Companies Awards; Favourite Real Estate Agent (Gold) Award by Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards; Marketing Agency Excellence Award at EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards; and Best Luxury Real Estate Brokerage in Singapore by Luxury Lifestyle Awards. For more information, visit https://www.era.com.sg

ERA Realty Network Pte Ltd

Estate Agent License No. L3002382K

450 Lor 6 Toa Payoh

#03-01 ERA APAC Centre Singapore 319394

#ERASingapore

Antal International chooses X0PA AI platform for its Recruitment Process Outsourcing

Antal deploys X0PA’s RPO solution, placing faith in X0PA AI’s procurements in the long term.

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 29 June 2021 – X0PA AI is proud to announce that Antal International will be adopting X0PA’s Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) solution.

Antal International is one of the leading global recruitment companies and search specialists. Formed in 1993, Antal has rapidly grown across the globe through penetrating and having a major presence in all key talent markets, including strategically important developing countries. Antal spans over 130 offices in 30 countries.

Antal has embraced X0PA AI’s solution to improve their current recruitment processes – X0PA AI’s recruitment platform for RPO models.

X0PA’s RPO has several features that enhance Antal’s existing recruitment processes:

1. Patented AI to swiftly pre-screen candidates accurately and at scale

2. Automated interview scheduling, VOIP integration and other productivity tools

3. Series of AI, predictive and cognitive intelligence for better selections

4. Reducing rote functionalities and manual functions

5. Enhanced lead generation with X0PA’s Chrome Extension

6. Reduced shortlist time by more than 50%

7. End-to-end RPO management, from lead generation to invoicing

We had to move away from our previous CRM (Customer Relationship Management) as it was bulky, slow loading, low on intelligence gathering and quite manual. X0PA overcame all these and we now have a solution that is working for us behind the scenes while the team is busy on their desks. X0PA’s intelligent integrations, browser extensions and dashboards have made life a breeze for my team. We look forward to a long term, commercially successful partnership.” – Joseph Devasia, Managing Director, Antal International Network, India

Deploying X0PA’s RPO brought about tangible benefits for Antal’s recruitment team, such as a 35% decrease in time to hire, 40% decrease in time to acquire new leads and a 50% decrease in time to shortlist candidates. X0PA’s 360-degree view – through AI-powered dashboards and reports – catalyses Antal’s decision-making processes, greatly improving Antal recruiters’ and RPO consultants’ user experiences.

About Antal

Antal International is one of the leading global recruitment companies and search specialists. Having formed in 1993, Antal has rapidly grown across the globe through penetrating and having a major presence in all key talent markets, including strategically important developing markets, enabling them to become a leading global recruitment and search specialist in each of their specialised areas of expertise.

Antal has a network of over 800 people operating under the Antal brand across 35 countries, making successful talent placements in more than 75 countries across the globe.

About X0PA

Singapore headquartered, X0PA AI is a SaaS company that helps in talent acquisition, hiring, assessment and related areas that use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. X0PA AI combines this technology with automation for accurate, objective, and efficient hiring at scale. X0PA AI has other offices across India, UAE and the UK. X0PA AI is recognized by IDC as one of four innovative companies in Asia-Pacific that provides Artificial Intelligence-powered automation solutions and is a partner of Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, Intel and Nvidia.

X0PA AI is a strategic partner of Microsoft and the company has developed cloud-based tools and products to enhance the hiring process and selection processes for government, academia, and enterprises.

#X0PA

Teledyne e2v Announces Versatile Development Kit for Signal Chains Using Quad-Channel ADC Devices

GRENOBLE, FRANCE – Media OutReach – 29 June 2021 – Teledyne e2v has expanded the scope of engineering support accompanying its popular EV12AQ60x analog-to-digital converter (ADC) series. The new EV12AQ600-FMC-EVM development kit will be an invaluable tool for those implementing mixed-signal subsystems. Intended for prototyping work relating to avionics, military, space, telecommunications, industrial and high energy physics applications, this kit may be used for evaluating the operation of the company’s EV12AQ600 and EV12AQ605 12-bit quad-channel ADCs. It means that engineers can quickly construct functioning prototypes and check that the expected operational parameters can be achieved.

Each EV12AQ600-FMC-EVM board features either an EV12AQ600 or an EV12AQ605 device, along with four single-ended signal inputs and a FMC connector for interfacing with an appropriate programmable logic device. In addition, a high-speed internal clock (supporting 6.4GHz operation), a 12V-rated power supply unit and an ESIstream serial interface have also been incorporated, plus provision for the connection of an external clock and a temperature monitor.

The new development kit adds a further dimension to the existing portfolio of hardware based on the EV12AQ60x series. This also includes the previously introduced demo kit and the multi ADC synchronisation kit, both of which have built-in FPGAs. By the EV12AQ600-FMC-EVM allowing engineers to add their own relevant FPGA, consistent with what will be specified in their actual system, it is possible for them to begin creating the necessary code at the prototyping stage. This means that they don’t have to start again from scratch after the prototyping work has been completed. The kit is compatible with a wide variety of FPGA plug-in boards from different vendors. In particular with the alpha data evaluation board for XQRKU060 along with an example code for ESIstream implementation dedicated to this board. By utilizing the ESIstream interface, there is the possibility for multiple kits to be synchronized together to assist with the development of more complex arrangements, such as phased-array antennas and suchlike.

The cross-point switch integrated into the EV12AQ60x series is a unique element. Through this, the cores of each EV12AQ600 and EV12AQ605 ADC can be used to sample independently of one another or interleaved together. This results in a 1.6GSps sampling rate when in 4-channel mode, a 3.2GSps rate in 2-channel mode, or a 6.4GSps rate across a single channel. The bit rate and the input analog bandwidth can also be adjusted as required.

The boards are now available for order. More info information on the new EV12AQ600-FMC-EVM development kit can be accessed here: https://semiconductors.teledyneimaging.com/en/products/data-converters/ev12aq600/

About Teledyne e2v

Teledyne e2v’s innovations lead developments in healthcare, life sciences, space, transportation, defence and security and industrial markets. Teledyne e2v’s unique approach involves listening to the market and application challenges of customers and partnering with them to provide innovative standard, semi-custom or fully-custom solutions, bringing increased value to their systems.

Website: www.teledyne-e2v.com/products/semiconductors

#Teledynee2v

Vpon’s Strategic Partnership with Miaozhen: Advancing Effective Data-Driven Targeting to Tap into Booming Asia Market

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 29 June 2021 – Vpon Big Data Group (“Vpon”) has officially announced its strategic partnership with Miaozhen Systems, China’s leading third-party data service provider. This partnership aims to advance data-driven marketing strategies to accelerate healthy data development and seize new business opportunities in Asia-Pacific.

The strategic partnership strives to enhance third party tracking business in key Asia markets including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Thailand. Besides, Vpon as a leading big data company in Asia can also enhance data dimensions and user profile to deliver more precise and effective digital strategy.

Vpon’s Chief Operating Officer Arthur Chan is excited about the partnership, “Asia has always been a key area for our data research and business development. Miaozhen Systems being a China leading third-party technology provider, our partnership not only optimizes market targeting strategies, but also provides customers in Southeast Asia with highly efficient marketing solutions, growing more confidence to tap into the booming Asia market.”

Miaozhen Systems’ Vice President, Mr. Xuan Haojie, claimed that “Data determine companies’ future marketing strategies and direction. This partnership gathers two Asia leading data experts to facilitates a more sophisticated data development, and opens up regional market opportunities to attract potential customers, fostering overseas business for both Vpon and Miaozhen Systems.”

Looking ahead, Vpon and Miaozhen Systems will continue to deepen and strengthen their partnership to provide customers with highly effective data solutions upon diverse market needs. To create and lead a vibrant data ecosystem, the partners will also organize joint data seminars and events to help professions achieve successful data-driven marketing strategies.

About Vpon

Vpon Big Data Group (“Vpon”) is a leading big data company in Asia focused on big data analytics capability built with cutting-edge technology with the broadest set of mobile data across Asia in delivering effective mobile data-driven marketing solutions. Supported by the accumulation of massive data from 900 million mobile devices, and strategic partnerships with premium media resources across APAC, Vpon provides clients with customized data-centric marketing solutions, including data analytics, branding and cross-border marketing solutions. Headquartered in Taiwan, Vpon was established in 2008 and is currently operating in seven locations in Asia Pacific, including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and Osaka. If you wish to know more about Vpon, please do not hesitate to check www.vpon.com.

About Miaozhen System

Established in 2006, Miaozhen Systems is a third-party technology company with the mission to promote the healthy and prosperous development of marketing ecosystem by providing enterprises with marketing growth solutions based on big data and AI technology. Through its product portfolio including omni-marketing planning, omni-marketing measurement, ContentPower and insight analysis, Miaozhen Systems provides enterprises with Omni-Marketing Intelligence (OMI) services that covers online & offline, public & private traffic. With these marketing growth solutions, Miaozhen Systems enables enterprises to optimize their marketing ROI and achieve business growth.

So far, Miaozhen Systems provides marketing growth solutions for more than 1,000 world-renowned brands and local leading brands in China.

#Vpon #MiaozhenSystem

George Ferizis Group to Join Focus Partner Connectus Wealth Advisors, Further Accelerating Connectus’ International Growth and Expansion in Australia

NEW YORK, NY – ACCESSWIRE – 29 June 2021 – Focus Financial Partners Inc. (NASDAQ:FOCS) (“Focus”), a leading partnership of fiduciary wealth management firms, announced today that Connectus Wealth Advisers (“Connectus”) has entered into a definitive agreement under which the George Ferizis Group (“Ferizis”) will join Connectus. This transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.

Ferizis is a comprehensive wealth management and accounting firm located in Bankstown, New South Wales. Since 1979, Ferizis has specialized in being a trusted advisor to small businesses and their owners, delivering integrated advice through a team-based approach. Ferizis provides its clients a broad range of wealth management services, including financial planning, investment management and lending solutions, as well as accounting and tax compliance services, business structuring and advice.

“Connectus is an ideal strategic partner that will enable us to maintain our boutique, high-touch approach with clients while locking in long-term continuity and succession planning for the business,” said George Ferizis, Founder and Director of Ferizis. “Joining such a highly collaborative consortium is an exciting new phase for our firm. We look forward to leveraging Connectus’ value-added resources to drive growth and achieve enhanced outcomes for our clients.”

“We are very happy to welcome Ferizis to the Connectus family,” said Rajini Kodialam, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Focus. “As the fifth firm to join Connectus since it entered the Australian market late last year, and Connectus’ eighth firm globally, Ferizis is highly respected for its specialized expertise and has a strong track record of growth and exceptional client service. It will offer Connectus meaningful depth in its tax and accounting capabilities, while expanding its presence in the Sydney metropolitan area.”

Colin Simkin of ATL Network acted as corporate advisor to Ferizis.


About Focus Financial Partners Inc.

Focus Financial Partners Inc. is a leading partnership of fiduciary wealth management firms. Focus provides access to best practices, resources and continuity planning for its partner firms who serve individuals, families, employers and institutions with comprehensive wealth management services. Focus partner firms maintain their operational autonomy, while they benefit from the synergies, scale, economics and best practices offered by Focus to achieve their business objectives. For more information about Focus, please visit www.focusfinancialpartners.com.

#FocusFinancialPartners

About Connectus

Connectus is a Focus partner firm with an innovative model for client-centric financial advisers who deliver comprehensive wealth management advice. Connectus is designed for founders and teams who want to continue managing their client relationships and maintaining their boutique cultures while gaining the operational efficiencies of shared services. As a consortium, Connectus offers integrated technology, investment support and centralized services, including compliance, accounting and talent management. Connectus also provides marketing capabilities to support business expansion through robust lead generation and organic growth programs. Connectus exemplifies the spirit of partnership and collaboration yet celebrates the entrepreneurial mind-set of its advisers.

Through Focus, Connectus advisers gain a strategic growth partner with specialized capabilities. They benefit from Focus’ global scale and extensive network of partner firms, continuity planning expertise and client solutions. Focus is also a source of permanent capital to accelerate growth. For more information, please visit www.connectuswealth.com.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect Focus’ current views with respect to certain current and future events. These forward-looking statements are and will be, subject to many risks, uncertainties and factors relating to Focus’ operations and business environment, including, without limitation, uncertainty surrounding the current COVID-19 pandemic, which may cause future events to be materially different from these forward-looking statements or anything implied therein. Any forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Focus on the date of this release. Focus does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any statements expressed or implied therein will not be realized. Additional information on risk factors that could affect Focus may be found in Focus’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

United States Provides USD 500,000 to COPE to Improve Well-being of Persons with Disabilities

United States provides grant to COPE
(Front row from left) World Education Country Director, Sarah Bruinooge and COPE Program Manager, Metta Thippawong signed a grant agreement, witnessed by U.S. Ambassador to Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond and USAID Country Representative to Lao PDR Michael Ronning.

The United States has provided a grant to support the Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) and the Center of Medical Rehabilitation (CMR) in providing prosthetic and orthotic devices.

Lumpy Skin Disease Infects Over 2,000 Cattle in Vientiane

Lumpy Skin Disease Kills over 100 cattle in Laos
Lumpy Skin Disease (Photo: Vientiane Mai)

Some 2,330 cows and buffalo have been infected with lumpy skin disease across 128 villages in Vientiane Capital.

Alvotech Bondholders Convert More Than $100m at Pre-Money Valuation of $2.7bn

Funds provide additional resources and runway for advancing the company’s biosimilar pipeline

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 28 June 2021 – Alvotech Holdings SA today announced that it has entered into an amendment and restatement agreement with bondholders of its $300m covertible bond issued on December 14, 2018. Bondholders have exercised their conversion rights on approximately one quarter of the value of the bond, converting $106m of principal and accrued interest into equity at an exercise price that gives the company a pre-money valuation of $2.7bn.

The company and bondholders also agreed to improve terms on the remaining bond and extend its maturity to 2025, thereby decreasing the company’s cost of capital and freeing resources to apply to the execution of its business strategy. Further terms were amended to add additional capital to the company.

Robert Wessman, Chairman of Alvotech commented: “With this transaction our stakeholders have reiterated their longstanding confidence in and commitment to our mission: to increase access to the highest quality biologics medicines for patients around the world.”

In November of 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency accepted Alvotech’s regulatory submissions for AVT02, a candidate interchangeable biosimilar to AbbVie’s Humira®,. A decision from the FDA regarding the company’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for AVT02 is expected in September of 2021 and an EMA decision for the AVT02 European Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) is anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2021.

In May 2021, Alvotech USA Inc. filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Virginia seeking to invalidate four of AbbVie’s key patents. The lawsuit also argues that AbbVie’s patent strategy, which has been under recent Congressional scrutiny, renders its Humira® patents unenforceable. Further, the lawsuit points out that AbbVie has failed to sue Alvotech’s US affiliate (the actual BLA applicant) at all. At stake are billions of dollars of cost to the US healthcare system, negatively impacting consumers and taxpayers.

In June of 2021, Alvotech’s switching study for AVT02 reached primary completion. Alvotech is the only known company that has both developed a biosimilar candidate for the high-concentration Humira® and is executing a switching study to support approval as an interchangeable product. Top-line results from the switching study are expected later this year.

About Alvotech:

Alvotech is a multinational biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and manufacture of high quality biosimilars for global markets. We are specialists in biotechnology, seeking to be a global leader in the biosimilar space by delivering high quality, cost-competitive products and services to our partners and to patients worldwide. Our fully integrated approach, with high-quality in-house competencies throughout the value chain, enables the accelerated development of biosimilar products. Alvotech’s shareholder base includes, among others, Aztiq Pharma, led by founder and Chairman Mr. Robert Wessman, Fuji Pharma from Japan, YAS Holdings form Abu Dhabi, Shinhan from Korea, Baxter Healthcare SA from the US, ATHOS (Strüngmann Family Office) from Germany and CVC Capital Partners and Temasek from Singapore through their participation in Alvogen.

Alvotech’s initial pipeline contains several monoclonal-antibody and fusion-protein biosimilar candidates aimed at treating autoimmunity, oncology and inflammatory conditions to improve quality of life for patients around the world. For more information, please visit our website, www.alvotech.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Forward Looking Statement

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but rather on our expectations regarding future growth, results of operations, performance, future capital and other expenditures, competitive advantages, business prospects and opportunities. Statements in this press release about our future plans and intentions, results, level of activities, performance, goals or achievements or other future events constitute forward looking statements. There are a number of factors which could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Any of the assumptions underlying forward-looking statements could prove inaccurate or incorrect and therefore any results contemplated in forward-looking statements may not actually be achieved. Nothing contained in this press release of them should be construed as a profit forecast or profit estimate. Wherever possible, words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “may”, “could”, “will”, “potential”, “intend”, “estimate”, “should”, “plan”, “predict”, or the negative or other variations of statements reflect management’s current beliefs and assumptions and are based on the information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

#Alvotech