VANCOUVER, BC, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- US Metal News News Commentary - The global gold ore market is projected to grow from approximately $16.01 billion in 2026 to about $23.3 billion by 2030, a compound annual growth rate of roughly 9.8%, according to a report from ResearchAndMarkets.com, which cites high-recovery extraction and advances in mining and refining technology among the drivers. With gold holding above $4,300 an ounce in September, below its January record but still near historic levels, the ounces a miner leaves in the tailings have become one of the most expensive line items in the business. Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. (TSXV: LVG) (OTCQB: LVGLF) (FSE: E1K), AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE: AU), TRX Gold Corporation (NYSE American: TRX), Gold Fields Limited (NYSE: GFI), Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (NYSE: HMY).

Fortune Business Insights measures the sector more broadly, estimating the global gold mining market at approximately $327.8 billion in 2026 and projecting growth to about $765.85 billion by 2034, a CAGR of roughly 11.19%. The figures are built on different scopes, but both point to an industry where the value of each recovered ounce has risen sharply.

That shifts attention to metallurgy. A few percentage points of recovery can decide whether a small open pit earns its capital back, and near-surface oxide and weathered ores, often the first material a new mine processes, can behave very differently from the fresh rock beneath them. Clay-rich weathered material in particular can slow leaching, trap gold in fine particles and complicate slurry handling if it is not treated correctly at the front of the plant.

Tanzania's Lake Victoria Goldfield is a case in point. The region hosts large operating mines run by major producers alongside a growing group of smaller developers and producers advancing open-pit projects, several of which have spent the past two years publicly reporting plant upgrades and metallurgical testwork aimed at lifting recoveries.

Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. (TSXV: LVG) (OTCQB: LVGLF) (FSE: E1K) Identifies Preferred Processing Route for Imwelo Near-Surface Mineralization

Attrition scrubbing followed by desliming identified as the preferred pretreatment route for clay-rich Area C material.

Mechanically agitated 24-hour gold extraction increased from 49.99% on as-received material to 84.54% on the pretreated fraction.

Bottle-roll testing returned recoveries of up to 88.15% at 48 hours on the pretreated fraction, versus 70.76% as received.

Approximately 26% of the gold reported to the +300 µm size fraction; average gravity recovery rose from 12.78% to 21.25%.

Settling time fell from 220 seconds to 130 seconds, with bed compaction rising from 50.56% to 65.09%.

Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. (TSXV: LVG) (OTCQB: LVGLF) (FSE: E1K) has reported results from metallurgical testwork on the shallow, highly weathered mineralization at Area C of its fully permitted Imwelo Gold Project in Tanzania's Lake Victoria Goldfield. The program, completed by Nesch Mintech Tanzania Limited, an independent laboratory in Mwanza, identified attrition scrubbing followed by desliming as the preferred pretreatment option for further optimization of the clay-rich material the Company expects to form an important component of initial Area C feed.

A total of 38 HQ whole-core samples weighing 120.34 kg were tested, with an average composite head grade of 3.80 g/t Au. The material was evaluated as received, deslimed, and attrition scrubbed followed by desliming. Under the preferred route, 24-hour agitated leach extraction rose to 84.54% and carbon-in-leach extraction to 85.02%. The Company notes that recoveries for the pretreated samples relate to the pretreated fractions and do not yet represent overall whole-ore plant recovery; the next phase of work will establish the mass and gold balance across the desliming circuit.

Grind testing showed improved extraction at finer grinds, but with more fines generated, and Nesch Mintech recommended optimizing the grind within the P80 75 to 106 µm range. The weathered-ore results complement LVG's March 18, 2026 program on transitional and fresh mineralization, which the Company reported demonstrated recoveries of up to approximately 96% to 97% using conventional gravity concentration and cyanide leaching.

"We designed this program to answer a practical engineering question: how should we treat the clay-rich material expected early in the Area C mining sequence? The results give us a clear preferred processing direction, with scrubbing and desliming materially improving gold extraction and slurry handling," said Marc Cernovitch, President & CEO of Lake Victoria Gold. "Combined with the strong recovery profile already established for the deeper transitional and fresh material, we now have a much stronger metallurgical basis for advancing Imwelo's process design. This is another important step in moving the Project from engineering into execution."

The metallurgical program follows LVG's August 27, 2026 announcement of near-surface drill results from Area C, including 28.71 g/t Au over 2.75 metres from 21.00 metres in IMWDR029 and 12.20 g/t Au over 4.50 metres from 32.00 metres in IMWDR028. That drilling was designed to intersect the weathered zone, which previous geotechnical work identified as extending locally to approximately 40 to 60 metres depth, and to supply whole core for testing ahead of detailed mine planning and process design.

Lake Victoria Gold Ltd. (TSXV: LVG) (OTCQB: LVGLF) (FSE: E1K) is a gold exploration and development company focused on growth and consolidation in Tanzania's Lake Victoria Goldfield. The Company holds a 100% interest in the Imwelo Project, a fully permitted gold project west of AngloGold Ashanti's Geita Gold Mine, and a 100% interest in the Tembo project, located adjacent to Barrick's Bulyanhulu Mine. Taifa Mining, Tanzania's largest mining contractor, is to conduct the contract mining and civil works for Imwelo.

There are several risks associated with the Company's plans. The reported recoveries are laboratory results on pretreated fractions and do not yet represent overall whole-ore plant recovery; gold reporting to the slimes fraction or other process losses could result in lower overall recovery. Imwelo has been the subject of JORC-compliant studies that are not current under NI 43-101, and no feasibility study establishing mineral reserves has been completed, so any production decision carries increased uncertainty and a higher risk of economic and technical failure. Development also depends on financing, contractors and regulatory approvals. Readers should review the Company's disclosure at www.sedarplus.ca and the forward-looking statements in its releases.

Read this and more news from around the sector at: U.S. Metal News

In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:

AngloGold Ashanti plc (NYSE: AU) operates the Geita Gold Mine in the Lake Victoria goldfields of northwestern Tanzania, one of the flagship assets in a portfolio of roughly ten operations across eight countries. The company released its second quarter 2026 earnings on July 31, 2026, and declared an interim dividend of US$0.72 per share, paid September 4, 2026.

On its second quarter call, management said the company generated 36% year-over-year growth in free cash flow per share and said it remains focused on its operational catalysts, cost management and its share buyback program. AngloGold Ashanti has also been increasing capital spending at Geita to support expansion and operational projects.

TRX Gold Corporation (NYSE American: TRX), which operates the Buckreef Gold project in Tanzania, recently announced record preliminary fourth quarter fiscal 2026 gold production of 8,173 ounces, up 28% year over year, and record annual production of 29,650 ounces, an increase of 57%, at the top end of its 25,000 to 30,000 ounce guidance range.

TRX Gold's recent results show what plant work can do in the same goldfield. In its third quarter results, the company reported record plant throughput and said plant upgrades lifted recovery to 84.9%, while metallurgical testwork supports a new 3,500 tonne-per-day SAG and ball mill intended to run alongside its upgraded 2,000 tonne-per-day plant.

Gold Fields Limited (NYSE: GFI) recently reported profit attributable to owners of the parent of US$1,855 million, or US$2.07 per share, for the six months ended June 30, 2026, compared with US$1,027 million, or US$1.15 per share, a year earlier. Attributable production rose 12% to 1.267 million ounces, and adjusted free cash flow more than doubled to US$2.225 billion.

The company raised its interim dividend and expanded its top-up shareholder return program to US$1.25 billion. Management pointed to the ramp-up of Salares Norte in Chile, which produced 337,000 ounces in the half, while all-in sustaining costs rose 13% to US$1,893 per ounce on higher royalties, stronger local currencies and inflation, including in Ghana.

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (NYSE: HMY) recently reported results for the year ended June 30, 2026, with group gold production of 1,429,551 ounces, in line with guidance, and all-in sustaining costs of US$2,195 per ounce, also within guidance. The company said it met gold production guidance for the eleventh consecutive financial year.

Harmony is also known as a leader in gold tailings retreatment, one of the clearest examples of how improved processing can extract value from material once treated as waste. Following its acquisition of the CSA mine, the company reported 18,207 tonnes of copper production as it builds out a diversified gold and copper business.

Track the Signals Before the Crowd

The best positioning happens before the crowd catches on.

Demonstrating AR glasses powered by Snapdragon XR platforms

TOKYO, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellid Inc., a developer of displays and spatial recognition engines for next-generation AR glasses, today announced that Cellid will showcase its AR glasses "Crux" at Snapdragon Summit, hosted by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. ("Qualcomm Technologies").

Snapdragon Summit is an annual event hosted by Qualcomm Technologies that showcases the latest technologies and products centered around Snapdragon® platforms. The event highlights technological advancements across areas including AI, mobile, PC, and XR. In 2026, Snapdragon Summit will be held from September 22 to 24 in Hawaii, USA.

"Crux," which will be showcased at the event, is a binocular, full-color AR glasses reference design for high-end applications, powered by a Snapdragon platform. By combining Cellid's proprietary waveguide and display module with a Snapdragon platform, Crux achieves both high-quality visuals and a natural, glasses-like wearing experience.

Through this program, Cellid is further strengthening its collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies and accelerating the development of AR glasses reference designs utilizing Snapdragon platforms.

Going forward Cellid will continue developing AR glasses that combine its proprietary optical technologies with Snapdragon platforms, contributing to the miniaturization, enhanced performance, and improved wearability of AR glasses.

About Cellid

Cellid focuses on developing displays and spatial recognition engines for next-generation AR glasses. For AR glasses displays, we manufacture cutting-edge optical see-through displays using the waveguide (DOE method). Leveraging Cellid's proprietary optical simulation and production technology, we offer display module products that achieve the world's largest viewing angle in waveguide technology, while maintaining the thinness, lightness, and sharp image quality equivalent to standard eyeglass lenses. Additionally, Cellid develops and provides industry-specific solutions utilizing spatial recognition software technologies like Cellid SLAM. By integrating AR display hardware technology with real-world spatial recognition software technology, Cellid promotes the fusion of the physical and digital worlds ("Blending the Physical and Digital Worlds") and leads to the realization of information tools that are more human-centric and dramatically more convenient.

Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.

SOURCE Cellid Inc.

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New features to help businesses improve product and location visibility, benchmark competitors, and turn customer feedback into action

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Trustpilot, the world's largest open feedback platform, today launched new and expanded features to help businesses show up in AI search, including new dedicated Product Review Pages that give individual products their own public presence on Trustpilot. The launch also includes expanded Location Reviews, AI Search Market Insights, and a beta for Trustpilot AI, helping businesses improve visibility across products, locations, and brands, and gain insights to act on customer feedback.

"People use AI for more than brand discovery and trust, they also rely on it to compare brands, evaluate which products to buy, and which locations to visit," said Ciaran Dynes, Chief Product Officer at Trustpilot. "AI systems prioritize information that mirrors the natural logic of a purchasing decision: consumers want to know who sells a product, where to find it, and whether the service is reliable. Trustpilot's structured format gives AI systems the layered evidence required to make accurate recommendations. This compound relevance directly drives higher citation rates, giving businesses a distinct advantage every time a consumer asks AI to compare their options."

Research by Seer Interactive found that Trustpilot was the most frequently cited review website across ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Mode, and Gemini. The firm's latest analysis also found that brand citation visibility among businesses with dedicated Product Review Pages was 12 percentage points higher than among those relying on a company profile alone. Brand-level reputation is now only part of the equation: detailed product feedback can help individual items surface when shoppers ask AI what to buy, moving brands from general awareness into active consideration.

"With AI Search Market Insights, businesses can see how often they appear in AI answers, how that compares with competitors, and how their visibility changes over time," Dynes added. "That makes it easier to spot gaps early and decide where to focus their review collection and customer-experience efforts."

Together, Trustpilot's new and expanded tools help businesses collect and act on feedback at the product, location, and market level while tracking how they appear in AI search:

- Product Reviews: Dedicated Product Review Pages make feedback about fit, quality, and performance available at the product level, helping individual items surface in AI comparison queries.

- Location Reviews: Collect and manage reviews for individual stores or branches. New bulk-management tools and developer APIs help brands manage large networks, compare locations, and strengthen their presence in local and conversational search.

- AI Search Market Insights: Compare how often AI platforms cite your Trustpilot profile versus competitors and identify gaps in AI visibility.

- Trustpilot AI (Beta): Available to Enterprise customers through a limited beta, the AI assistant and MCP service works within Slack, CRM platforms, and LLMs to draft review replies, explain customer-feedback trends and enable agentic workflows.

This launch marks the second phase of Trustpilot's broader product roadmap for AI-driven commerce. The first phase introduced the "3Rs" framework—Recency, Relevance, and Ranking—along with tools for collecting current customer feedback, improving review collection, monitoring AI visibility, and unifying reputation insights. To learn more about Trustpilot's business offerings, visit business.trustpilot.com.

About Trustpilot

Trustpilot began in 2007 with a simple idea - that trust between people and businesses should be built on transparency, not guesswork. As the world's largest open customer feedback platform, Trustpilot is where people share their experiences and businesses respond in public. Home to more than 400 million reviews, Trustpilot helps people make more informed decisions, while giving businesses the insights and tools to build trust, grow and improve. We apply clear rules to every review and every business, combining advanced technology with human expertise to protect the integrity of the platform. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Trustpilot operates globally with offices across the UK, Europe, North America and Australia.

SOURCE Trustpilot

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AutonomyAI Launches Autonomous Product Delivery: From Product Question to Review-Ready Pull Request

AutonomyAI's new Discover Mode finds what a product needs next, then takes it through planning and build without a handoff, opening pull requests that fit how the codebase is already written. More than 170 product teams, including Datadog and Nielsen, run on the platform.

NEW YORK, September 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The coding bottleneck is disappearing. The product backlog is not. AutonomyAI, the OS for product teams building in production, today launched Discover Mode, the final piece of its Autonomous Product Delivery system. A product manager can now take a question about what to improve, or allow the AI to suggest improvements, research it across the company's own data, turn the findings into a plan and generate the code. The work lands in the engineering queue as a review-ready pull request. Engineers decide whether it merges and reaches customers.

In most software companies, a product manager spots a pattern in support tickets and writes it up. The ticket waits for a sprint, then waits for an engineer, and ships a quarter later. By then the pattern has moved.

Two decades of tooling made engineers faster and code cheaper to produce. But it did not fix the real bottleneck: turning product questions into shipped improvements. Atlassian's State of Developer Experience 2025 found that developers spend just 16 percent of their time coding, and that half lose more than 10 hours a week to organizational inefficiency. The bottleneck is everything around the code. Context gets lost at every handoff, and no single system carries the work from identifying the problem through to building the solution.

"Every dollar the industry spent on developer productivity assumed the bottleneck was engineers. The bottleneck was the four handoffs before an engineer ever opened the ticket," said Adir Ben Yehuda, CEO of AutonomyAI. "Autonomous Product Delivery removes them, with engineers as the merge gate. Full autonomy is the destination. Verified delivery is how we earn the right to it."

Discover Mode closes that gap. A product manager can ask why fewer users are completing signups, which problem customers report most often, or what the team should improve next. AutonomyAI researches the question across the company's product analytics, support tickets, customer calls and codebase, then returns a brief showing what it found and the evidence behind it. The product manager does not even have to ask: Discover Mode monitors product usage and suggests the next improvement on its own, researched, scoped, and ready to build.

AutonomyAI runs the loop through three modes:

Discover Mode. Ask a hard product question, like why activation dropped after a UX change. AutonomyAI researches it across analytics, support tickets, customer calls and the codebase itself, and returns an evidence-backed brief in minutes.

Plan Mode. Turns a brief or an existing ticket into a reviewable spec mapped to the product's actual architecture. Duplicate components and requests that cannot be built get caught at the spec stage, before anyone writes or reviews code.

Build Mode. Generates the change using the company's own components, coding conventions and design elements, renders the live product, checks the result visually, and opens a review-ready pull request. Design Mode, the visual editing layer inside Build, lets designers adjust elements and variants directly on the rendered product.

"The proof is a merged PR on a ten-year-old codebase nobody wants to touch," said Tammuz Dubnov, co-founder and CTO of AutonomyAI. "Every merge teaches the system your conventions, your test patterns and which components are load-bearing. Task 101 is faster and safer than task 100."

More than 170 product teams use AutonomyAI, including Datadog, Nielsen, SolarWinds and SolarEdge.

Autonomous Product Delivery launches today on Product Hunt. AutonomyAI will exhibit at ProductCon San Francisco on October 7.

About AutonomyAI

AutonomyAI is the OS for building in production. Its Product Harness is built inside each customer's production codebase, learning the components, design tokens, architecture, and pull request conventions. Product managers and designers use it to take an idea from research to code that matches the team's standards, and engineers review and merge every change. It knows your code like your senior engineer, and your product like your best PM. Founded in 2023, AutonomyAI has raised $4 million to date.

Learn more at autonomyai.io.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/3009065/AutonomyAI.jpg

Contact: Guy Leshno, Marketing Lead

[email protected]

SOURCE AutonomyAI

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Private lenders can now order and receive verification reports without leaving Baseline

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseline, the loan origination and servicing platform built for private real estate lenders, has partnered with Xactus to bring Xactus verification solutions directly into the lending workflow. Through the integration, Baseline clients can order, track, and receive credit and flood reports without leaving the platform.

For most private lenders today, verification means logging into a separate system, re-entering borrower data, and manually pulling results back into the loan file. It works, but it's slow and creates more room for error. This integration helps eliminate that friction by bringing verification directly into the Baseline workflow.

"Private lenders compete on speed, and every manual step slows them down," said Shaye Wali, CEO of Baseline. "By integrating Xactus verification solutions into Baseline, our clients get the verification data they need right inside their workflow. They can focus on closing deals instead of chasing down reports."

The integration is part of Baseline's broader effort to consolidate the private lending technology stack into one place. By integrating verification capabilities directly into Baseline, lenders can access critical information without moving between separate systems."Our goal is to make verification more accessible within the systems lenders already use to manage their business," said Mike Brown, Chief Product Officer of Xactus. "By making Xactus verification solutions available through Baseline's platform, lenders can access critical verification data within their existing workflow, helping them reduce manual processes and make informed decisions faster. "

Xactus integrates with more than 50 loan origination systems, point-of-sale, and servicing systems, as well as client-specific APIs. Baseline integrated with Xactus to make verification solutions available to its clients within the private lending market.

The integration is live now. Existing Baseline clients can access Xactus verification services directly from their dashboard. Lenders interested in getting started can reach out to Baseline to learn more.

About Baseline Baseline is a loan origination and servicing platform built specifically for real estate private lenders. It centralizes origination, underwriting, document management, borrower portals, payment processing, and investor reporting into one system. Learn more at baselinesoftware.com.

About Xactus Xactus is a leading verification innovator advancing intelligent verification across financial services. The company delivers advanced data and technology solutions that help organizations make better decisions faster while increasing efficiency and reducing operational waste. With a focus on automation, accuracy, and innovation, Xactus continues to modernize verification and improve outcomes across complex decisioning environments. For more information about Xactus verification solutions, visit xactus.com.

Media Contacts:

Baseline

[email protected]

www.baselinesoftware.com

Xactus

[email protected]

www.xactus.com

SOURCE Baseline Financial Technologies Corp

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Allyon Selects Unanet to Strengthen Operations to Support New Federal Growth

Fast-growing technology solutions partner invests in the Unanet platform, starting with GovCon ERP to scale operations and navigate evolving federal compliance requirements with confidence

DULLES, Va., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Unanet, the leader in AI-first ERP and growth software for the government contracting (GovCon) industry, today announced that Allyon, a fast-growing federal solutions partner, has selected Unanet GovCon ERP in its FedRAMP Moderate Equivalent environment to strengthen its operations, improve compliance readiness, streamline its business processes and support its next stage of growth. Allyon also plans to adopt Unanet GovCon CRM as it continues building a more connected foundation for future growth.

Founded 17 years ago, Allyon is a federal solutions partner supporting government customers across cybersecurity, enterprise IT, cloud infrastructure, engineering and program management. As it prepares for a greater blend of prime and subcontract work, the company needed business solutions that could provide greater consistency and visibility across operations, stronger reporting, and support for evolving federal compliance and cybersecurity requirements.

"Growth is not always just about becoming bigger. It's about building a structure and discipline so that you can continue to deliver," said Gina Fritz, chief operating and chief people officer at Allyon. "With Unanet in place as a foundation, we feel more confident about being able to scale our systems and processes so our team can stay focused on serving our customers and their missions."

Unanet's deep GovCon expertise, commitment to keeping pace with federal cybersecurity and compliance requirements, and a FedRAMP Moderate Equivalent GovCon ERP were key factors in Allyon's decision. Allyon has implemented Unanet GovCon ERP and plans to add Unanet GovCon CRM in the future as it continues building a more connected foundation for growth. Allyon has already identified early operational improvements from its ERP implementation, including streamlining employee, project and timekeeping data that was previously managed manually.

"We wanted a partner that didn't dabble in the GovCon space but lived in the GovCon space. You want someone that's right there with you," added Fritz. "Unanet truly understands GovCon functionality, connected business systems and the security requirements associated with our federal work."

Across the industry, GovCons are investing in integrated platforms that connect business operations, financials and compliance, according to the 2026 GAUGE Report. As contractors pursue larger opportunities and navigate increasingly complex compliance requirements, unified systems provide the operational foundation needed to scale efficiently and pursue future growth.

"GovCon success depends on having systems that can scale while keeping pace with evolving compliance, security, and operational demands," said Chris Crowder, executive vice president of GovCon at Unanet. "We're proud to support Allyon as they prepare for their next phase of growth."

For more information about Unanet GovCon ERP, visit https://unanet.com/erp-for-govcon/overview.

About Unanet

Unanet is the leader in AI-first ERP and growth software for project-based businesses. Trusted by more than 4,200 government contractor, architecture, engineering, and construction firms, Unanet unifies pursuits, projects, people, and financials with built-in automation and compliance—all supported by a dedicated customer success team. This empowers leaders to make confident, real-time decisions that drive growth from pursuit to profit. Learn more at unanet.com.

About Allyon

Allyon is a mission first, people powered Federal solutions partner. We align people, process, and technology to help agencies deliver results with speed, resilience, and confidence as mission demands evolve. We build mission aligned partnerships designed to help Federal agencies deliver results, focusing on cybersecurity, enterprise IT, cloud infrastructure and engineering and program management. To learn more, go to https://allyon.com.

SOURCE Unanet

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NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CEO compensation continues to climb across corporate America. In the S&P 500, median CEO pay reached $17.5 million in 2026, up 63% from $10.7 million in 2017. From 2025 to 2026, median pay rose 6%.

Equity and performance-based awards are driving much of that growth. Since 2021, median performance-award values have increased 46% in the S&P 500, compared with a 16% increase in base salary.

The study also finds a sharp rise in personal and home security benefits for CEOs. Among S&P 500 CEOs, 34% now receive security benefits, nearly double the 18% reported in 2024.

"Executive security is increasingly a business risk and duty-of-care issue, rather than an executive benefit. As risks to senior leaders become more visible, boards need to consider how these arrangements are governed and where the line falls between business necessity and personal benefit," said Andrew Jones, author of the report and Director of The Conference Board Governance & Sustainability Center.

These findings come from a new report by The Conference Board, produced with ESGAUGE and FW Cook. The analysis is based on Russell 3000 and S&P 500 proxy statements through September 13, 2026.

CEO Pay

Reported total CEO compensation has climbed more than 60% since 2017.

- S&P 500: Median CEO pay reached $17.5 million in 2026, up 63% from $10.7 million in 2017.

- From 2025 to 2026, median pay rose 6%.

- Russell 3000: Median CEO pay reached $7.1 million, up 68% from $4.2 million in 2017.

- From 2025 to 2026, median pay rose 7%.

Equity awards are growing much faster than salaries.

- S&P 500: Since 2021, median performance-award values have risen 46%, compared with a 16% increase in base salary.

- Russell 3000: Performance-award values have risen 51%, compared with a 16% increase in salary.

Russell 3000 CEO pay jumped by double digits in several sectors.

- Consumer Staples: Median CEO pay rose 25% from 2025 to 2026.

- Financials: Median CEO pay rose 22%.

- Utilities: Median CEO pay rose 16%.

- Technology: Median CEO pay was essentially unchanged.

"The growth in CEO compensation is being driven much more by equity and incentives than by salary. Companies are using equity to emphasize performance, long-term value creation and retention. For compensation committees, the challenge is ensuring that awards and outcomes remain aligned with company strategy and performance," said Dana Etra, Managing Director at FW Cook.

CEO Security and Other Benefits

Personal and home security benefits for CEOs surge, especially at America's largest companies.

- S&P 500: Personal and home security is now reported for 34% of CEOs, up from 18% in 2024.

- Russell 3000: Security is now reported for 11% of CEOs, more than double the 5% reported in 2024.

- Largest companies: Among Russell 3000 companies with at least $50 billion in annual revenue, 60% of CEOs now receive personal and home security benefits.

Personal use of corporate aircraft also remains a defining feature of large-company CEO packages.

- S&P 500: Personal aircraft use is reported for 48% of CEOs, up from 43% in 2025.

- Russell 3000: Personal aircraft use is reported for 17% of CEOs, up from 15% in 2025.

Shareholder Support

Shareholders overwhelmingly supported CEO pay packages, even as compensation increased.

- Russell 3000: 76% of companies received at least 90% shareholder support for their say-on-pay proposals, up from 72% in 2025. Fewer than 1% failed.

- Exceptional awards: Some unusually large CEO awards drew significant opposition.

- For example, Warner Bros. Discovery received just 15.6% support after reporting $165 million in CEO compensation that included a special option award.

"Shareholder support for executive pay remains strong across the broader market. When companies depart from their regular compensation programs, however, the data show the importance of providing investors with clear context around those decisions," said Umesh Tiwari, Executive Director of ESGAUGE.

Women CEOs

Women are nearing 10% of S&P 500 CEOs.

- S&P 500: Women now hold 9.3% of CEO roles, up from 6% in 2021.

- Russell 3000: Women hold 7.7% of CEO roles, also up from 5.9%.

Gaps remain in the leadership pipeline. Women are underrepresented in key CEO pipeline roles.

- Leadership pipeline: Women make up about 20% of non-CEO senior executives in both indexes, but only about 14–17% of CFOs and COOs—roles that often serve as pathways to the CEO role.

Reported CEO pay differences between women and men are small.

- S&P 500: In 2026, median CEO pay is $17.8 million for women and $17.5 million for men.

- Russell 3000: Median CEO pay is $7.7 million for women and $7 million for men.

About The Conference Board

The Conference Board is the global, Member-driven think tank that delivers Trusted Insights for What's Ahead®. Founded in 1916, we are a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization. TCB.org  l  Learn about Membership

About ESGAUGE

ESGAUGE is a data mining and analytics firm uniquely designed for the corporate practitioner and the professional service firm seeking customized information on US public companies. It focuses on disclosure of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices such as executive and director compensation, board practices, CEO and NEO profiles, proxy voting and shareholder activism, and CSR/sustainability disclosure. Our clients include business corporations, asset management firms, compensation consultants, law firms, accounting and audit firms, and investment companies. We also partner on research projects with think tanks, academic institutions, and the media. www.esgauge.com

About FW Cook

FW Cook is an independent consulting firm that provides objective advice to boards and management of the world's leading companies. Our objective is to add value to the executive pay programs and processes of our clients. We collaborate with our clients to solve complex problems and design programs that support their business strategy and successfully link executive pay to shareholder value. Founded in 1973, we serve public, private, and tax-exempt organizations across a broad spectrum of industries. To learn more about us or to join our mail list, visit us on the web at www.fwcook.com

SOURCE The Conference Board

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Richard Huffman speaks on IFA Advocacy Summit panel to discuss winning bipartisan support

BALTIMORE, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebree School Founder, President, and CEO, Richard Huffman joined U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski and an owner of a local Chick-fil-A, on a featured panel at the 2026 International Franchise Association (IFA) Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. Hosted by Haider Murtaza, IFA's Senior Director of Federal Government Relations, the panel explored how personal relationships are what ultimately move legislation like the American Franchise Act across the finish line.

The Summit drew a record-setting crowd of more than 500 franchise executives, owners, and Franchisees of the Year to the nation's capital. Attendees spent the week making the case directly to lawmakers for passage of the American Franchise Act, bipartisan legislation designed to establish a single, permanent federal joint-employer standard for the franchise industry after a decade of shifting rules.

A Panel Built on Common Ground

Huffman focused less on the legislative text and more on the relationship-building that gets a bill like the AFA taken seriously on Capitol Hill.

"You don't win a lawmaker over with a fact sheet. How you make progress is by showing up, listening, and finding the goal you already share," said Huffman.

That shared goal is protecting franchise small businesses and the jobs they support. This is a mission that resonates on both sides of the aisle regardless of political affiliation. Huffman pointed to his own experience building Celebree from a single Ellicott City preschool in 1994 into a multi-state early childhood education franchise as proof that the franchise model is, at its core, a small business and workforce story that elected officials of any party can rally around.

Momentum for the American Franchise Act 

The bill has advanced through the House Education and Workforce Committee with broad bipartisan support and companion Senate legislation. Momentum grew further during the Summit when a White House official announced the Trump Administration's full support for the Act, a moment IFA leadership called a powerful signal that the industry's push for certainty is within reach.

Relationships Over Rhetoric

For Huffman, the Summit reinforced a philosophy he's carried since founding Celebree that advocacy is a long game built on trust, not a single ask. He encouraged fellow franchise leaders in the room to treat every meeting with a member of Congress as the start of an ongoing relationship rather than a transaction.

"Lawmakers remember the people who come back, who follow up, who are honest about what's working and what isn't," added Huffman. "That's how you build the kind of trust that turns into a vote."

Huffman's appearance also builds on his growing record of public service and advocacy. He was recently appointed by Maryland Governor Wes Moore to a five-year term on the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Celebree has also been recognized by the IFA for its commitment to responsible franchising, most notably as the inaugural recipient of the organization's Emerging Franchisor Award.

Looking Ahead

With the American Franchise Act now awaiting a full House floor vote, Huffman and other franchise leaders left Washington with a clear next step to keep the relationships they built at the Summit alive. As Huffman told fellow attendees, the work of advocacy doesn't end when the Summit does. It continues every time a franchise owner picks up the phone, sends a follow-up note, or invites a member of Congress to visit their business back home.

For more information about Celebree School franchise opportunities, please visit https://franchise.celebree.com/.

About Celebree School

Founded in 1994, Celebree School is a leader in early childhood education that provides infant and toddler care, preschool, and summer camp programs. With a mission to Grow People Big and Small™, Celebree School believes success in early childhood development is equal parts curriculum and connection. Each school employs a customized program that addresses the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs of children and follows applicable state guidelines. In 2019, Celebree School launched its franchise offering. In 2024, Celebree School's founder, Richard Huffman, launched a new parent company called Huffman Family Brands, merging Celebree affiliated concepts under one multi-brand company structure. Learn more about how we grow confident children who are prepared for school and life at Celebree.com. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

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In just its second year, Brazilian Bubbles earns a landmark distinction—building on an Innovator of the Year nomination, a 90-point rating, and a pioneering approach to bringing Brazilian wine to American consumers.

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bom Dia Brazilian Bubbles has become the first Brazilian wine ever selected for Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Best Buys, reaching the milestone in just its second year of existence. The recognition marks a breakthrough for the young brand and its mission to introduce American consumers to the quality, character, and tropical spirit of Brazilian sparkling wine. For Bom Dia, the achievement builds on another historic first: becoming the first Brazilian canned wine of any varietal ever exported outside Brazil.

"We created Bom Dia because we knew Brazil had something exceptional to share with the wine world," said Antonio Motta, co-founder and COO of Bom Dia Brazilian Bubbles. "To become the first Brazilian wine on this list, in only our second year, is an incredible moment for our team."

The distinction follows Bom Dia's 2025 nomination for Innovator of the Year at Wine Enthusiast's Wine Star Awards. Bom Dia also earned 90 points in the 2026 Brazil Special Report by Gabi Zimmer, published by Tim Atkin MW, adding recognition of the wine itself to the attention surrounding the brand's approach.

"From day one, we thought about how to make Brazilian wine connect with the American consumer—from the liquid to the design to the occasions where people would enjoy it," said Kevin Selvy, co-founder and CEO of Bom Dia Brazilian Bubbles. "The branding creates curiosity. The wine earns the next pour. Being recognized for both innovation and quality tells us we're building something with lasting potential."

Bom Dia Brazilian Bubbles brings the energy and tropical spirit of Brazil to sparkling wine. Produced in southern Brazil's Campanha region from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, its Brazilian Brut combines a crisp, refreshing style with hints of pineapple and passion fruit. Available in bottles and cans, Bom Dia pairs acclaimed wine with award-winning branding to introduce American consumers to a fresh expression of Brazil. Follow @bomdiabubbles on Instagram.

Communications Contact

Taylor Foxman

The Industry Collective

609-432-2237

SOURCE Bom Dia

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Discern Security Partners with Jamf to Bring AI Asset Discovery to Managed Mac Fleets

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Discern Security, an AI-driven cybersecurity management platform that helps organizations reduce security debt and prove measurable posture improvement using the security tools they already own today, announced its integration with Jamf, the standard for managing and securing Apple devices at work.

The new integration, available today on the Jamf Marketplace, empowers organizations to turn Jamf device inventory and security telemetry into actionable insights on both AI and Shadow AI assets. By combining Jamf data with intelligence from identity, email, vulnerability management, SASE, and compliance tools, Discern Security provides a unified view of security posture. This enables IT and security teams to better prioritize and coordinate remediation efforts across managed Mac environments.

Discern Security's integration with Jamf draws on an extensive range of Jamf Pro data, including computers, computer groups, OS X configuration profiles, patch policies, software title configurations and policies, mobile devices and applications, users and user groups, LDAP servers, SSO, and webhooks. Building on this comprehensive data foundation, the AI asset discovery feature matches application data against a curated AI service dictionary and adds five lightweight checks, delivered via Jamf extension attributes, to detect what standard inventory may miss. These checks identify local AI model runtimes, MCP server configuration files, command-line AI tools without app bundles, AI browser extensions, and applications with microphone or screen recording permissions.

No additional software needs to be installed on endpoints; the integration uses a read-only API role and leverages the existing Jamf agent already deployed across the fleet.

"Boards and executives everywhere are asking a critical question: What AI technologies are actually running on our endpoints? In most cases, organizations already have the data they need within their existing Jamf inventory; it simply hasn't been surfaced in a meaningful way. Through this partnership, we're able to deliver clear, actionable answers without introducing additional agents or complexity to the fleet," said Sai Venkataraman, CEO of Discern Security.

"Our customers manage some of the most sophisticated Mac fleets in the world, and a growing share of that risk now comes from AI tools their teams have adopted on their own. Working with Discern Security helps our customers utilize the asset data we already collect to enhance and complete the visibility to drive remediation across their fleets," said Matt Arsenault, VP of Corporate Development & Strategic Alliances, Jamf.

Visit the Discern Security booth to learn more about how Discern integrates with Jamf at the Jamf Nation User Conference (JNUC) 2026, taking place September 23-25 in Kansas City.

About Discern Security

Discern Security is an AI-driven cybersecurity management platform that helps organizations reduce security debt and prove measurable posture improvement using the security tools they already own. Backed by a $13 million Series A led by Forgepoint Capital, July 2026. discernsecurity.com.

About Jamf

Jamf's purpose is to simplify work by helping organizations manage and secure Apple devices while delivering an experience end users love and organizations trust. Built for the AI-enabled Apple enterprise, the Jamf platform provides a complete management and security solution with autonomous endpoint management and AI governance across cloud and on-device models. Today, Jamf helps over 78,000 organizations across 100 countries manage and secure over 35 million devices. To learn more, visit www.jamf.com.

Media Contact

Evgeniy Kharam

+1-416-258-3932

[email protected]

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