Former Global CTO of Banco Santander, former Group CIO of Currys, former CEO of IBPAP, and former Microsoft CVP and CTO of AI join the advisory community

Advisors will provide guidance on AAVA platform innovation, AI strategy, C-suite alignment, and enterprise adoption across Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and the UK

The growing community of advisors will bring practitioner perspective closer to Ascendion as enterprises move AI from experimentation to governed, production-scale outcomes

BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ascendion, an AI-native software engineering company, today announced the appointment of four global business and technology leaders to its AI Advisory Community: Andy Gamble, Jack Madrid, Julieta Ross, Ph.D., and Joseph Sirosh, Ph.D.

The advisors bring perspectives rarely found in one group: executives who answered to Boards, regulators, and C-suites for what technology actually delivered; a builder of AI and data platforms at global scale; and a leader who shaped one of the world's largest technology-services and talent ecosystems. Their experience spans banking, high-tech, media, and retail. Each will work directly with Ascendion's regional and engineering leaders, so their counsel reaches the decisions it is meant to shape.

"We are changing how software gets built. Enterprise leaders have moved past experiments. They want AI that delivers outcomes boards can measure and risk they can manage. Andy, Jack, Julieta, and Joseph have the experience and know where transformation succeeds. They will challenge our thinking, raise our ambition, and help us navigate a period of intense â and exciting â change," said Karthik Krishnamurthy, CEO, Ascendion.

Each advisor will map to a different part of the business, strengthening Ascendion's alignment with leadership communities across the globe.

- Julieta Ross, Ph.D., former Global CTO of Banco Santander, brings two decades of leading technology inside global banks, along with public-company board experience. She will work with Ascendion's leadership on executive relationships, go-to-market strategy, and growth, and will help the company meet the governance, regulatory, and risk expectations that banking and financial services leaders place on AI. 

- Andy Gamble, former Group CIO of Currys plc, has spent nearly three decades as a technology buyer and transformation leader across consumer electronics, industrial, and retail businesses. He will advise Ascendion's work across Europe and the UK, with a focus on consumer goods, manufacturing, and retail, and will share what executive teams and Boards expect from a technology partner. 

- Joseph Sirosh, Ph.D., former Microsoft CVP and CTO of AI, has spent his career building and scaling machine learning platforms in the high-tech industry. He will advise Ascendion's engineering leadership on the evolution of AAVA and its broader platform strategy as AAVA becomes an orchestration and harness layer for enterprise AI. 

- Jack Madrid, former President and CEO of IBPAP, spent five years leading the industry association behind one of the world's largest technology and business-services ecosystems, centered in the Philippines. He brings robust experience working across industries, including banking, high-tech, and media, and will advise Ascendion on Asia-Pacific markets and on how AI is reshaping global delivery, skills, and workforce models.

Together, the advisors give Ascendion an outside perspective on the full spectrum of enterprise AI, from agentic platform strategy and product engineering to industry alignment and delivery. They will add capacity to Ascendion's ongoing work on AI governance, helping ensure trusted impact from AI-native software engineering, and their practice-based insight will inform how Ascendion applies its Engineering to the Power of AI⢠approach to commercial models, platform design, service execution, and workforce development.

About Ascendion

Ascendion is a global AI-native software engineering company delivering trusted business outcomes â capital unlock, innovation velocity, lower risk â to 250+ enterprise clients. The company delivers business outcomes at scale by combining expert engineers, AI agents, and AAVA, Ascendion's agentic AI platform. Together, they design, engineer, and operate production-ready software that improves everyday work and life. Learn more at www.ascendion.com.

Engineering to the Power of AIâ¢, Engineering to Elevate Lifeâ¢, and AAVA⢠are trademarks or service marks of Ascendion. AAVA⢠is pending registration. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.

SOURCE Ascendion

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Two employees arrested, accused of stealing $18,000 worth of property

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office arrested two employees accused of stealing over $18,000 worth of property, the sheriff’s office announced Monday.

According to the sheriff’s office, they received a report on Monday, Oct. 12 from a contractor about an employee potentially stealing tools at High Noon Solar in the Town of Leeds.

A deputy spoke with the suspected employee, who admitted to taking items from the company. The suspect turned over several high value saw blades that were in his vehicle, the sheriff’s office explained.

The employee also admitted to taking tools and other items on several other occasions and admitted to keeping them at his home in Beaver Dam, the sheriff’s office said.

With the assistance of the Beaver Dam Police Department, a large amount of stolen items were found at the suspect’s home following a search.

Zachery Turck, 34, was arrested by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and taken to the Columbia County Jail.

The Beaver Dam man was charged with theft of moveable property $2,500-$5,000 and conspiracy to commit.

During the investigation, it was discovered that a second employee helped in the theft.

With the assistance of the Madison Police Department, Kenneth Williams, 53, was arrested and taken to the Columbia County Jail.

The Madison man was charged with theft of moveable property $2,500-$5,000 and conspiracy to commit.

The Beaver Dam and Madison Police Departments assisted the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

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Copyright 2026 WMTV. All rights reserved.

Week 8 begins with the Green Bay Packers hosting the Carolina Panthers for some Thursday Night Football. Keep reading for betting odds, picks, and player props for this exciting showdown. Also, make sure you head over to our Week 8 NFL Betting Hub for a look at all of our NFL betting content.

MORE: Head to the Pro Picks page for best bets from all of our VSiN hosts and analysts!

How To Watch Panthers vs. Packers

When: Thursday, October 29 at 8:20 pm ET

Where: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Channel: Prime Video

Panthers vs. Packers Odds

Odds from DraftKings Sportsbook accurate as of Tuesday, October 27. Look around for the best prices!

Moneyline: Packers -185, Panthers +154

Spread: Packers -3.5 (-112), Panthers +3.5 (-108)

Total: Over 47.5 (-112), Under 47.5 (-108)

Panthers vs. Packers Analysis

If not for a bad day at the office for kicker Trey Smack, Green Bay would likely be entering this week on a four-game winning streak. Instead, Detroit was able to snap the team’s three-game winning streak, earning a 20-17 win as a 3.5-point home home favorite. The Packers will now look to rebound with a home game against the Panthers, and it’s pretty clear that there’s a strong expectation they will. Green Bay is a very popular bet to take care of business, according to our DraftKings betting splits, and it’s pretty easy to see why.

Over the last four weeks, the Packers have looked like one of the best teams in football. In that span, they’re No. 2 in EPA/Play Allowed (-0.118), and it’s their passing defense (-0.099 Dropback EPA/Play Allowed) setting the tone. Only four teams have been better against the pass than Green Bay over the last four weeks, and making opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable is huge given the pass-first nature of today’s NFL.

The Packers are also playing well offensively, with their Dropback EPA/Play (0.217) being No. 7 in the league in this recent four-game stretch. Jordan Love has his inconsistencies, but he has done a good job spearheading this Los Angeles attack.

There’s just a lot that Green Bay is doing well right now, and the public always takes notice when this iconic franchise is running good. However, when looking up all of these numbers for the Packers, do you know what stood out the most? The Panthers have a better statistical profile over the course of the entire season. Carolina also matches up well with Green Bay in several ways.

One thing that should help the Panthers is that the Packers are only 26th in the NFL in Pass Rush Win Rate (26). Well, Carolina is 31st in the NFL in Pass Block Win Rate (70%), meaning the team can struggle to keep Bryce Young upright. Well, perhaps that won’t be a massive concern if the Packers defensive ends can’t consistently get in the backfield.

I’m also not sure Green Bay will be able to keep Chuba Hubbard from picking up big yards on early downs. He has been tough after contact this season, and there’s a good chance he’ll find some success in this game. We just saw Jahmyr Gibbs run 29 times against the Packers, wearing down their defensive line. Hubbard should now be able to pick on what’s left.

On the other side of the ball, Carolina struggles against the run. But will that be a problem against a Green Bay team that hasn’t gotten the ground game going? Also, how will a recently reshuffled Green Bay offensive line look against a Carolina defense which is eighth in the NFL in Pass Rush Win Rate (54%)?

I just don’t think this game will feature one-way traffic, and I like the way the Panthers have responded to home losses under Dave Canales. They’re 8-2 against the spread when coming off a loss in Carolina under Canales, and they’re also 4-0 both straight-up and ATS when coming off a loss as a favorite in that span.

Panthers vs. Packers Player Props

LEAN: Hubbard Anytime Touchdown (-120)

I’m already playing quite a bit in this game, so I won’t personally be adding anything on the player prop market. However, if you’re looking for action there, I’d go with Hubbard to find the end zone. Only the Saints have given up more touchdowns to opposing running backs than the nine that the Packers have allowed. Hubbard had also scored three touchdowns in the previous two weeks before being held scoreless last week. Our OptaAI player prop projections also happen to have Hubbard rushing for 81.36 yards in this game. So, going Over 68.5 rushing yards is definitely a route you can go. However, if Hubbard does rush for at least 80 yards here, you can probably count on him to add a touchdown to that.

Panthers vs. Packers Pick

Fading the Packers at Lambeau Field is always a bit risky, but most of the important numbers that are made available to the public suggest that there isn’t a big gap between these teams. That makes it hard to pass on the points, and that’s especially true with +4 available at one prominent book — and I wouldn’t hesitate to grab the +3.5 either. I’m also going to sprinkle the moneyline, as Young has been a top-tier quarterback this year (fifth in PFF grade at 82.4). I’ll take my chances with him late in a close game.

Bet: Panthers +4 (-110 – 1.5 units) & Panthers ML (+170 – 0.5 units)

Awarded Gold for Business Contribution category and Silver for People Development category

TOKYO, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- transcosmos today announced that on September 24, 2026, it once again received recognition at the Best Contact Center Indonesia (TBCCI) 2026, organized by the Indonesia Contact Center Association (ICCA), winning Gold in the Business Contribution category and Silver in the People Development category. TBCCI is an awards program that recognizes companies and individuals demonstrating excellence in the contact center industry through innovation, operational quality, business contribution, and human resource development. transcosmos also received Platinum in Contact Center Operations category and Silver in Employee Engagement category in 2024.

The two awards recognize transcosmos's contribution to creating value for clients, while building human resource capabilities that support sustainable business growth in Indonesia.

In the Business Contribution category, transcosmos presented its transformation journey with one of Indonesia's largest automotive manufacturers, demonstrating how the contact center has evolved into a strategic business partner. Through the use of technology and process optimization, transcosmos helped its client improve operational efficiency and increase revenue. Through this case study, transcosmos demonstrated how contact center transformation can create business value by connecting customer experience, operational efficiency, and business needs within an integrated service ecosystem.

In the People Development category, transcosmos highlighted its human resource development approach, designed to address evolving business and operational needs. The development program goes beyond training by establishing a more comprehensive process, from preparing employees and strengthening competencies to developing managerial capabilities and creating career pathways toward leadership positions. Through this approach, the proportion of internal promotions more than doubled, from 20% in 2024 to 49% in 2025.

Chairman of ICCA, Andi Anugrah, said, "transcosmos demonstrates that the contribution of the contact center to a company can extend beyond its service function. In the Business Contribution category, they were able to demonstrate how operational capabilities can create a broader impact on business needs. Meanwhile, in People Development, their approach highlights the importance of developing talent from within the organization to enable sustainable growth."

Vice President Director of transcosmos Indonesia, Ardi Sudarto, said, "This achievement demonstrates how the role of the contact center continues to evolve. A contact center is no longer viewed solely as an operational function, but can become part of a business strategy that delivers tangible contributions. At the same time, such transformation can only be sustained when supported by people with the right competencies, adaptability, and opportunities to grow."

transcosmos began operations in Indonesia in 2013 and provides digital business services, customer experience (CX), and business process outsourcing (BPO). With more than 4,000 employees across Jakarta, Semarang, Yogyakarta, and Bali, transcosmos serves clients across diverse industries, including e-commerce, retail, telecommunications, banking, and insurance, providing clients with a comprehensive portfolio of services, including contact center operations, digital marketing, e-commerce support, data entry, IT support, and other business process solutions, through integrated services that include CX technology.

*transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.

*Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.

transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have united superior "people" with cutting-edge "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes, focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 189 bases across 36 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of the e-commerce market on a global scale, transcosmos provides comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services to consumers in 46 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos is committed to treating the challenges of its clients and society as its ownâdiscussing and addressing their issues from planning to executionâand Make It Real, Together. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/

SOURCE transcosmos inc.

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oToBrite Showcases 3D Stereo Vision Camera and Teams Up with YUAN for GMSL2⢠to HSB Demo at ROBOTWORLD 2026

HSINCHU, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- oToBrite Electronics, a leading Vision AI company, will showcase its advanced robotic vision technologies at ROBOTWORLD 2026 in South Korea, highlighting its compact IP69K-rated 3D stereo vision camera module co-developed with the team at indie. Featuring sub-microsecond (1 µs) hardware-level 3MP global shutter synchronization and built-in image quality tuning, the module delivers precise depth perception with oToBrite oToVision SDK. oToBrite will also team up with YUAN to demonstrate GMSL2⢠to HSB (NVIDIA Holoscan Sensor Bridge) integration, enabling high-speed image transmission and connectivity with the NVIDIA Jetson Thor platform to meet the diverse application needs of humanoid robots, quadruped robots, and unmanned vehicles.

Co-developed with indie, the 3D stereo vision camera module incorporates indie's iND880 image signal processor (ISP), enabling highly synchronized exposures between the left and right cameras and consistent image quality for reliable depth perception in dynamic outdoor environments. Available in 60 mm and 120 mm baseline configurations, the 60 mm version is designed for humanoid robots and robotic arms, while the 120 mm version provides precise depth perception at distances of up to 20 meters for outdoor autonomous robots and unmanned vehicles.

oToBrite will also showcase its 1MP to 8MP automotive-grade GMSL2⢠camera modules, NVIDIA Jetson development kits, and GMSL2⢠Repeater. The development kits enable GMSL2⢠camera connectivity and image capture, accelerating robotics development. The GMSL2⢠Repeater extends high-speed image transmission distances beyond 30 meters while offering low latency and IP69K-rated protection for demanding outdoor environments.

In a joint demonstration, oToBrite and YUAN will showcase GMSL2⢠to HSB interface conversion, connecting oToBrite's GMSL2⢠camera module to YUAN's AI computing platform powered by NVIDIA Jetson Thor. By combining the high-speed, low-latency transmission capabilities of GMSL2⢠with HSB's ultra-low-latency data streaming, the solution helps simplify sensor fusion and data transmission while supporting high-resolution imaging and real-time visual perception.

As autonomous robotics applications continue to expand, oToBrite is collaborating with industry partners to advance visual perception technologies and deliver comprehensive vision solutions for robotics and unmanned vehicles. oToBrite's latest products and Vision AI technologies will be on display at ROBOTWORLD 2026, November 4â7, at KINTEX, Hall 5, Booth I30, in South Korea.

SOURCE oToBrite Electronics, Inc.

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Headlining speakers and honorees included Tory Burch, Nate Burleson, Ciara, Lear de Bessonet, Sarah Jones, Gayle King, Aerin Lauder, Cynthia McFadden, Shauna Nep, Andrew Shue, Russell Wilson, and more.

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Town & Country, which is celebrating its 180th anniversary this year, held its 13th annual Philanthropy Summit at Hearst Tower in New York City today. Philanthropy has been a focus of Town & Country for over a century. Established in 2014, the Philanthropy Summit showcases extraordinary acts of generosity and explores philanthropy's impact and future. Each year Town & Country brings its annual Philanthropy issue to life, welcoming influential voices and changemakers to its stage for thoughtful conversations dedicated to the pillars of philanthropy.

This year's Summit, "Thinking BIG: How to Make Your Philanthropy Truly Transformational," was hosted by Town & Country Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes and featured a star-studded roster of speakers, including power couple Ciara and Russell Wilson; fashion design legend Tory Burch; and actor and activist Andrew Shue; all of whom are featured in this year's November 2026 Philanthropy issue.

For the first time, Town & Country also presented the "Philanthropists of the Year Awards," honoring individuals and institutions working to build a brighter future and serve the greater good. The "Philanthropists of the Year" honorees were:

Tory Burch

Ciara and Russell Wilson

Aerin Lauder and The Met Visionaries (the Lauder Family, Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang, and Jen Rubio and Stewart Butterfield)

Andrew Shue

Additional "Town & Country Philanthropy Awards" were presented to:

CityMeals on Wheels, accepted by CEO Beth Shapiro

FreeFrom, accepted by Founder and CEO Sonya Passi

The Dollywood Foundation, accepted by Vice Chair & President Jeff Conyers

Additional speakers and panelists included Dianne Chipps Bailey, Lear de Bessonet, Dr. Samantha Boardman, Nate Burleson, Jeff Conyers, Whitney W. Donhauser, Sarah Jones, Sheila Kelly, Gayle King, Aerin Lauder, Cynthia McFadden, Sharon Miller, Shauna Nep, Sonya Passi, Beth Shapiro, and Carrie St. James.

Courtesy of Getty Images for Town & Country

The 2026 Town & Country Philanthropy Summit coincides with the magazine's 2026 November Philanthropy issue, available everywhere by November 3 and on townandcountrymag.com now. The issue features four different covers spotlighting this year's distinguished group of entertainers, thought leaders, business visionaries, and activists helping shape the philanthropic landscape.

PHILANTHROPY ISSUE COVER ASSETS HERE

These images must be credited to the photographers below and may only be used in the context of these Town & Country cover stories:

Ciara and Russell Wilson Images: Dana Scruggs (Story Link)

Tory Burch Images: Stefan Ruiz (Story Link)

Andrew Shue Images: Stefan Ruiz (Story Link)

Oscar Tang and Agnes Hsu-Tang Images: Melanie Dunea (Story Link)

This year's Summit brought together a dynamic group of trailblazing journalists, activists, authors, entertainers and business minds for high-level discourse around philanthropy.

PROGRAM

WELCOME REMARKS

Stellene Volandesâ¬â, Editor-in-Chief, Town & Countryâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

Philanthropist of the Year Award presented to Andrew Shueâ¬â, Actor and Founder of The Forumâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

Presented by Stellene Volandesâ¬â, Editor-in-Chief, Town & Countryâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

âRESTORING FAITH IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACYâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

Andrew Shueâ¬â, Actor and Founder of The Forumâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

Sarah Jones, Tony-Award winning writer and performer of America, Who Hurt You? and Founder of Foment Productions

Philanthropists of the Year Award presented to Aerin Lauder, Founder and Creative Director, AERIN, and Director of Style, Luxury and Legacy, Estee Lauder, and The Met Visionaries⬠(the Lauder Family, Agnes Hsu-Tang and Oscar Tang, and Jen Rubio and Stewart Butterfield)

Presented by Whitney W. Donhauser, Deputy Director and Chief Advancement Officer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

TRANSFORMATIONAL GIVING: MATCHING VISION WITH EXECUTION

Moderator:â¬â Cynthia McFaddenâ¬â, Investigative Journalistâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

Dianne Chipps Baileyâ¬â, National Philanthropic Strategy Executive,â¬â Bank of America Private Bankâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

Lear de Bessonet, Kewsong Lee Artistic Director, Lincoln Center Theater

Sheila Kelly, Senior VP, Chief Development Officer, NewYork-Presbyterian

Shauna Nep, Head of The Brighter Days Ahead Foundation

Philanthropist of the Year Award presented to Tory Burch, Founder of the Tory Burch Foundation and Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Tory Burch LLC

Presented by Sharon Miller, President, Business Banking, Bank of America

INVESTING IN THE BUSINESS OF OPPORTUNITY

Tory Burch, Founder of the Tory Burch Foundation and Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Tory Burch LLC

Gayle King, Co-Host of CBS Mornings and Editor-at-Large of Oprah Daily

Philanthropists of the Year Award presented to Ciara and Russell Wilson

Presented by Stellene Volandes, Editor-in-Chief, Town & Country

WHY NOT YOU?: INSPIRING A NEXT GENERATION OF CITIZENS

âModerator:â¬â Nate Burleson, Co-Host of CBS Mornings and Studio Analyst for The NFL Todayâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

âCiara, Grammy-winning Multi-Platinum Global Icon, Philanthropist and Entrepreneurâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

âRussell Wilson, Super Bowl Champion Quarterback, Studio Analyst for The NFL Today, Entrepreneur, Sports Owner and Philanthropistâ¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬â¬

Philanthropist of the Year Award presented to CityMeals on Wheels

Accepted by Beth Shapiro, CEO, CityMeals on Wheels

Presented by Dr. Samantha Boardman, Board Member, CityMeals on Wheels

Philanthropist of the Year Award presented to FreeFrom

Accepted by Sonya Passi, Founder and CEO, FreeFrom

Presented by Stellene Volandes, Editor-in-Chief, Town & Country, reading remarks from Olivia Rodrigo

Philanthropist of the Year Award presented to The Dollywood Foundation

Accepted by Jeff Conyers, Vice Chair and President, The Dollywood Foundation

Presented by Carrie St. James, Actress

Town & Country's 2026 Philanthropy Summit was presented by Bank of America Private Bank with support from NewYork-Presbyterian and 1 Hotels.

About Town & Country

Town & Country has chronicled American life since 1846, always putting an emphasis on people of style and accomplishment who give something back to the world, whether in service, philanthropy or creative endeavor. Combining the highest level of reporting with the very best photography, Town & Country is an acute observer of the broader social landscape, documenting notable weddings and parties, chronicling the pastimes and passions of leading figures and families everywhere, and casting an anthropological eye on the lives of the rich and powerful. For more than 180 years Town & Country has been a trusted source of privileged information, taste and unpretentious funâin short, an irreplaceable guide to the very best that the world has to offer. Follow Town & Country on Instagram at @townandcountrymag and on X at @tandcmag.

About Bank of America Private Bank

Bank of America Private Bank's award-winning Philanthropic Solutions team provides individuals, families, and foundations with expertise and tools to pursue their philanthropic missions with confidence. Our team combines Bank of America's global insights, national resources, and local knowledge to deliver investment management and customized advisory solutions tailored to every philanthropic vision.

Visit: Bank of America

About NewYork-Presbyterian

NewYork-Presbyterian's mission has always been to provide the highest-quality, most compassionate care to patients and their families while serving as a leader in clinical excellence, education, research, and community commitment. For Every Future: The Campaign for NewYork-Presbyterian has ushered in a new era of healthcare, boldly positioning us to meet this moment. Philanthropy powers everything we do, from driving the science that brings new treatments straight to patients, to ensuring that everyone we serve can access the best care in the world, regardless of their means. Join NewYork-Presbyterian in this campaignâfor every person, for every physician, for every community, for every future.

Visit: https://www.nyp.org/giving

About 1 Hotels

As a mission-driven luxury lifestyle hotel brand inspired by nature, 1 Hotels cultivates the best of sustainable design and architecture, together with extraordinary comfort and an unrivaled level of service. 1 Hotelsâwith exclusive properties in Miami's South Beach, Central Park in NYC, West Hollywood, Austin, Hanalei Bay in Kauai, London's Mayfair, Seattle, Tokyo, Copenhagen, and Melbourneâis inspired by a simple idea: Those who travel the world should also care about it.

Visit: https://www.1hotels.com/

SOURCE Town & Country

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Meta's Nicola Mendelsohn Elevated to Vice Chair

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ad Council, America's leader in leveraging the power of communications to inspire action and accelerate change around the nation's most pressing issues elected 23 new members to its Board of Directors at its biannual Board meeting yesterday. Along with welcoming a new group of leading marketing, media and business executives, the nonprofit organization elevated Nicola Mendelsohn, Head of Global Business Group, Meta, to the role of Vice Chair. Mendelsohn joined the Ad Council Board of Directors in 2023, and the Executive Committee in 2024.

Chaired by Kirk McDonald, CEO of Sundial Media & Technology Group, the Ad Council's Board of Directors offers critical strategic and financial support fueling the organization's mission to address the leading issues facing people in the U.S., including firearm injury prevention, mental health and more.

"We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional leaders to the Ad Council's Board of Directors. Each brings an incredible depth of experience, fresh perspective, and a genuine commitment to our mission. I'm excited for the ideas and energy they'll bring as we work together to tackle some of our nation's most pressing challenges and create meaningful, lasting impact," said Ad Council President and CEO Lisa Sherman.

"The Ad Council is proof of what our industry can do at its best: when creativity, media and technology come together in service of something bigger," said Nicola Mendelsohn, incoming Vice Chair of the Ad Council Board of Directors. "I'm honored to step into this role and to work alongside such talented leaders across the industry to accelerate that impact in the years ahead."

New members of the Ad Council Board of Directors include:

- Mindy Barry, CMO, Mars Pet Nutrition North America, Mars

- Linda Boff, President, Forbes CMO Network, Forbes

- Devika Bulchandani, Chief Operating Officer, WPP

- James Cadwallader, Co-Founder & CEO, Profound

- Robin Callif, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, Omnicom Public Relations

- Lindsay Franke, Group President & Deputy CEO - North America, Ipsos

- Liza Heller, Sector Director, CPG, U.S., TikTok

- Alexander Jutkowitz, Partner, Head of Advisory, United Talent Agency

- Ashan Khan, Head of Global Agency Partnerships, Uber Advertising, Uber

- John Kozack, President, U.S. Advertising Sales and Marketing, TelevisaUnivision

- Casey DePalma McCartney, Senior Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Unilever North America

- Adrian Mulryan, VP, Global Agency & Strategic Accounts, Snap Inc.

- Peter Naylor, Chief Client Officer, Nielsen

- Kristen O'Hara, VP, Global Agency Platforms & Client Solutions, Google

- Tim Perzyk, VP, Marketing & Marketing Science, Microsoft Advertising

- Megan Ramm, Global Chief Revenue Officer, PubMatic

- Howard Reid, SVP, Corporate Brand & Purpose, Johnson & Johnson

- Maggie Reznikoff, Chief Client Officer, Open Influence

- Hayley Romer, Managing Director, US Advertising Sales, Bloomberg Media

- Alex Underwood, Managing Director, North America, Teads

- Ashley Walters, Chief Marketing Officer, Partner, Curiosity

- Jennifer Warren, VP, Global Brand Marketing and Experience, Indeed

- Lin-Hua Wu, EVP, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, General Motors

A complete list of the Ad Council Board of Directors is available on the organization's website, AdCouncil.org.

About the Ad Council

The Ad Council convenes creative storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change. For more than 80 years, the nonprofit organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and tech have been behind some of the country's most iconic social impact campaigns â Smokey Bear, Friends Don't Let Friends

Drive Drunk, Tear the Paper Ceiling and many more. 

To learn more or get involved, visit AdCouncil.org, join the Ad Council's communities on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and view campaign creative on YouTube.

SOURCE The Ad Council

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Brands turning strength into action pull ahead in Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2026

- Interbrand's Best Global Brands 2026 ranking surpasses $3.866 trillion in total brand value, up from $3.575 trillion in 2025 (+8.1%).

- Nvidia enters the global Top 10, increasing brand value by more than 71% - this year's fastest growing brand.

- Entertainment overtakes Automotive as the second most valuable sector.

- Automotive records sharpest sector decline.

- New entrants Zurich (#58), Hitachi (#90), GE Healthcare (#95) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (#99) reflect shifting market dynamics and the emergence of new sources of value creation.

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Interbrand, the world's leading brand consultancy, today unveiled their annual Best Global Brands report, revealing a widening gap between brands turning brand strength into growth, and those relying on reputation alone.

The total value of this year's ranking stands at $3.87 trillion, up from $3.58 trillion in 2025 â (+8.1%). Beneath that figure lies a more interesting story. Across multiple sectors, some of the world's strongest brands lost ground, while others accelerated, turning relevance, trust and distinctiveness into tangible commercial momentum.

Brand strength alone is no longer enough

Strong brands are no longer automatically rewarded with stronger growth.

Brands benefiting from AI investment, product demand and expanding markets delivered some of the largest gains, while others with long-established brand equity struggled against changing consumer expectations and challenging market conditions.

Gonzalo Brujó, Global CEO of Interbrand, said: "For years, strong brands could assume their reputation would carry them through difficult periods. But that's no longer enough. The brands pulling ahead today are those using 'brand' as a business tool, not simply an asset. They're creating new sources of demand, building stronger relationships with customers and finding new ways to grow."

Nvidia's rise reflects AI's growing influence

Technology remains the biggest driver of value creation in this year's ranking, with AI continuing to reshape markets and create new leaders.

Nvidia (#6) was among the standout performers, increasing brand value by more than 71% and entering the global Top 10. Google (#3) climbed to #3, while YouTube (#10), Netflix (#23) and Spotify (#39) all posted significant gains.

Yet the data also suggests technology companies are creating revenue faster than they build emotional connection and long-term brand preference, emphasising sustained brand investment even during periods of explosive growth.

Automotive experiences its toughest year

Average brand value across the category declined - manufacturers are finding it increasingly difficult to translate innovation into meaningful differentiation.

Toyota (#9) remained the highest-ranked automotive brand but saw its brand value fall by almost 20%. Tesla (#50) experienced one of the biggest valuation declines across the ranking, dropping 25 places and losing almost 38% of its brand value.

Meanwhile, brands such as Hyundai (#29), Kia (#87), BYD (#89) and Ferrari (#51) continued to outperform much of the sector by offering clearer propositions and stronger reasons for consumers to choose them.

Luxury enters a period of polarisation 

Luxury remains one of the strongest sectors, but 2026 highlights an increasing divide between those rising in value vs those declining.

Hermès (#15) strengthened its position as one of the world's most valuable luxury brands, while Chanel (#24), Cartier (#69) and Tiffany & Co. (#91) also recorded growth.

Heritage remains valuable, but only when paired with cultural relevance, desirability and a customer experience that continues to justify premium pricing.

New entrants reveal where value is emerging

This year's ranking welcomes several new entrants, including Zurich (#58), Hitachi (#90), GE Healthcare (#95) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (#99), highlighting shifting market priorities and showing how focused propositions, strong commercial performance and category leadership create opportunities for brands to enter Interbrand's Top 100.

What the winners are getting right

The strongest-performing brands in Best Global Brands 2026 are not necessarily the biggest or the best known.

Whether through AI leadership, premium positioning, ecosystem expansion, innovation or customer experience, the biggest winners are turning brand strength into commercial advantage.

Greg Silverman, Global Director of Brand Economics, Interbrand, said: "The brands that are growing the most have made Iconic Moves to operate in arenas outside of their core businesses. These bold acts of leadership are the hallmark of a Best Global Brand"

The full BGB 2026 report can be downloaded HERE.

SOURCE Interbrand

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Based on data from over 38,000 cross-border hires, Multiplier's Talent Trends reveals the ways companies are fundamentally changing how, where, and why they recruit globally.

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Multiplier, the Global Exchange for Work, released its Talent Trends data, uncovering major shifts in how organizations build and manage international teams. Based on an analysis of more than 38,000 hires across 2,700+ companies, the data demonstrates that global hiring strategies are increasingly driven by commercial expansion, nearshore market growth, and geographical splits between leadership and operational delivery roles.

The continued volatility of H-1B visas has remained a driving force for global engineering and data hiring. Those positions mark the largest single function at 25% of all hires through Multiplier. Sales and customer support roles, however, saw the fastest acceleration over the past year. Sales hiring grew 108%, and customer support grew 59%, significantly outpacing overall hiring through Multiplier (53%) and engineering and data roles, which grew 34%.

"As work goes global, decisions can no longer rely on blind instinct or outdated surveys," said Sagar Khatri, Co-Founder and CEO of Multiplier. "Talent Trends leverages real contracts and real wages from Multiplier's Global Exchange for Work to show what work is worth, where talent runs deep, and where it's heading. The data is cleaned rigorously, broken down by country, role, seniority and industry, and refreshed every quarter. It shows the market as it is today, not as it was a year ago, which provides HR leaders, finance teams, and global talent the real intelligence needed to make confident, evidence-based moves."

Key Insights from the Talent Trends data:

- International Leadership Roles are Rising: Director-level or above hires grew 84% in the 12 months to June 2026, faster than hiring overall through Multiplier (53%). Leadership roles make up 29% of hires in the UK and 26% in Singapore.

- Commercial Roles Outpacing Technical Hiring: Sales is now the top hiring function in mature international markets, including Germany (26%), Australia (28%), and the UK (22%).

- The Leadership vs. Delivery Divide: Director-level and executive roles are heavily concentrated in regional hubs: they account for 29% of hires in the UK, 26% in Singapore, and nearly 23% in the US and Canada.

- Surge in Nearshore and Secondary Growth Markets: Nearshore corridors experienced exponential growth, led by Canada (+302%) and Colombia (+210%) in the 12 months to June 2026, driven largely by US companies. US-to-Canada hiring also expanded 170% year-over-year in Q2 2026, becoming the single largest cross-border hiring corridor through Multiplier.

- Prevalence of USD Pay for Contractors: Contractors are paid differently from Employer of Record (EOR) employees. In Brazil, 75% of contractors and freelancers receive pay in USD, while 100% of EOR employees are paid in other currencies.

- Backfill vs. Net New Growth: Replacement hiring varies more than tenfold across borders. Nearly a quarter of hires in India and 20% in the Philippines replace departing employees, compared to just 7% in the US and 2% in Canada.

- Localized Hiring Calendars: Peak hiring seasons vary significantly by geography. Onboarding peaks in April in Australia (16% of starts), whereas January is the busiest month for China (18%), Spain (15%), and Germany (13%).

Talent Trends draws on more than 38,000 hires through Multiplier's Global Exchange for Work, covering 24 months ending in June 2026. It covers Employer of Record (EOR) employees, contractors and freelancers. Every figure rests on at least 50 hires, and figures where a single customer makes up more than 35% of the data were omitted, with a few exceptions marked as indicative.

To explore the Talent Trends tool and explore detailed profiles for 20 key global hiring markets, visit https://www.usemultiplier.com/talent-trends.

About Multiplier

Multiplier is the Global Exchange for Work, precision-built for companies to hire, manage, and pay global teams across more than 160 countries. By combining Employer of Record, COR, and Global Payroll, with a vast network of owned entities and human-first support, Multiplier empowers companies of all sizes to expand globally with confidence. Since 2020, the global-first infrastructure has processed over $1.81 billion in cross-border wages, reshaping the global economy and the future of work.

SOURCE Multiplier

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The Digimon Card Game Heads to the Digital World in DIGIMON ALYSION! Pre-Register Today!!

Pre-registration for the mobile version of the popular card game begins today in 49 countries and regions!

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- After years of building a thriving and competitive community of Digimon Tamers, BANDAI CO., LTD. is thrilled to share that the Digimon Card Game is making the jump to mobile platforms with DIGIMON ALYSION! Pre-registration for this mobile title is now available to all curious Digi-Destined in 49 countries and regions across the globe!

Pre-Register for DIGIMON ALYSION: HERE

Taking place in the world of the DIGIMON LIBERATOR webcomic and light novel, which are both available to read for free on the Digimon Card Game official website, DIGIMON ALYSION is set to expand the card game through the inclusion of exclusive new cards, as well as the lore of the extended Digimon universe with a new Story Mode!

In DIGIMON ALYSION's Story Mode, players follow along as card game newcomer Kanata Hondo learns the rules and systems of the Digimon Card Game with support from her best friend Futre, and plays card battles by following the in-game guide. Beyond helping new players learn how to play the Digimon Card Game, the Story Mode will also feature performances from famed voice actors who are bringing these characters to life. This cast of characters and performers will include:

- Kanata Hondo voiced by Shu Uchida

- An energetic, upbeat casual gamer who has played games of all kinds but is new to card games.

- Futre voiced by Hikari Kubota

- A girl who games with Kanata. They have never met in real life, but they are so close that each considers the other a best friend.

- Valner Dragnogh voiced by Fairouz Ai

- A girl who is the guild master of [Di:WO], the guild Futre once belonged to.

- Renamon voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro

- Valner's partner Digimon. Renamon rarely shows emotion, but is always looking out for Valner.

- Aliol voiced by Ayumu Murase

- The guide for DIGIMON LIBERATOR, a near-future full-dive game.

With deep gameplay that supports a wide variety of viable decks, plus battle and strategy design built for competitive play such as ranked matches and tournaments, the game delivers a full-fledged TCG experience that card game fans and Digimon fans alike are sure to love!

Game Info:

Title: DIGIMON ALYSION

Genre: Online card game

Developer/Operator: BANDAI CO., LTD.

Platforms: App Store / Google Play (iOS / Android)

System Languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean

Card Languages: Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, Korean

Price: Free-to-play (in-app purchases)

Pre-registration start: Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Official release: Planned for 2026

Related Links:

Official website: https://www.digimon-alysion.com

Official X: https://x.com/DIGIMON_ALYSION

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Digimon-Alysion/61573960307458/

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digimon_alysion

Digimon Card Game Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@digimontcgen

Read Digimon Liberator: https://digimoncard.com/digimon_liberator/en/

App Store / Google Play: https://app.adjust.com/25feumqt

Company and Copyright Info: 

Company Profile: BANDAI CO., LTD.

Website: https://www.bandai.com/ 

Please include the following copyright information for all images, videos, and all other assets sourced from DIGIMON ALYSION:

©Akiyoshi Hongo, Toei Animation ©BANDAI

Additional Assets: HERE

SOURCE BANDAI CO., LTD.

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