Management
Apple Hires Amazon’s Fire TV Head to Run Apple TV Business
Apple has hired Timothy Twerdahl, the former head of Amazon’s Fire TV unit, as a vice president in charge of Apple TV product marketing and shifted the executive who previously held the job to a spot negotiating media content deals, according to Bloomberg. The move suggests a renewed focus on the Apple TV and on providing more content for the device, an effort that has been stalled in the past by failed negotiations.
U.K. Companies Lack Board-Level Digital Defenses
Only 5 percent of large U.K. companies say their boards include directors with expertise in information technology or cyber security, even though the vast majority identify hacking and other digital threats as serious risks, a report showed.
Alphabet Gets Matsuoka Back as Nest CTO
Alphabet re-hired Yoky Matsuoka to oversee technology at its Nest Labs smart home unit, snapping up the robotics and artificial intelligence expert after she recently left Apple, according to Bloomberg. As Chief Technology Officer, Matsuoka will work closely with Nest's engineering and product teams to define a long-term technology roadmap.
Microsoft Leads Pushback Against Trump Immigration Order
Microsoft is asking U.S. officials to grant exceptions for law-abiding, visa-holding workers and students from President Donald Trump’s immigration order, channeling the outrage expressed by many in the technology industry with a proposed solution, according to Bloomberg.
Siemens Taps New Boss
Siemens introduced Jim Hagemann Snabe, a 51-year-old veteran of software house SAP, as its next chairman, scheduled to take effect next January, according to Bloomberg. The move makes sense as Siemens seeks to adapt its 19th-century industrial heritage to the 21st century, says William Mackie, an analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux who rates the company a buy.
Canadian CEOs Urge Trudeau to Take Rejected U.S. Tech Workers
Canada’s technology community is urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to snap up industry workers caught in U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping border crackdown, saying embracing diversity drives innovation and the economy, according to Bloomberg.
Sheryl Sandberg Unveils Startup Garage in Paris
Facebook will open a startup incubator at Paris’s soon-to-debut entrepreneur campus created by billionaire Xavier Niel, as COO Sheryl Sandberg vows to keep investing in France, according to Bloomberg.
Amazon to Create 100,000 New Jobs in U.S. in Next 18 Months
Amazon revealed plans to hire more than 100,000 people in the U.S. in the next 18 months, grabbing the spotlight as President-elect Donald Trump pushes companies to employ more Americans, according to Bloomberg. The move could appease Trump, who tangled with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos during the election campaign.
The Rise of the Chief Data Officer Signals an Age of Infinite Possibilities
At the end of last year, Gartner estimated that 25 percent of large global organizations had already hired a chief data officer (CDO). By 2019, Gartner expects that number to reach 90 percent. "This rapid shift is the tip of the iceberg," said Ted Friedman, research vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner, and summit chair for the Gartner Data & Analytics Summits.
Vimeo Enters Crowded TV Fray
The video-sharing site Vimeo, which predates YouTube, will join the crowded online-TV market, according to Bloomberg. Vimeo will soon introduce an on-demand video service akin to Netflix and Hulu, and is lining up TV shows and staff it hopes will convince people to cough up a monthly fee for yet another TV subscription. “We’re going to spend real money on programming for the first time ever, and put real marketing money behind it," IAC Chief Executive Officer Joey Levin said in an interview at CES in Las Vegas.
Apple Said to Seek Lower Taxes to Start Manufacturing in India
Apple wants India to offer tax concessions on iPhones that the company plans to manufacture in the country, according to Bloomberg. The company wrote to the industry ministry last month seeking lower import and manufacturing duties, a person with knowledge of the matter said, asking not to be identified. The concessions should continue even after the government rolls out its goods and services tax which is expected to subsume all existing tariffs, the person said.
Data Breaches Seen Unlikely to Derail Verizon Deal With Yahoo
The second major hack of Yahoo user accounts is unlikely to derail Verizon Communications Inc.’s $4.83 billion acquisition of the tech giant, with investors and the public becoming inured to near-daily disclosures of cyberattacks, according to Bloomberg.
Ericsson Weighs 1,000 Job Cuts After Italy Contract Loss
Ericsson is considering cutting about 1,000 jobs in Italy, about a quarter of its local workforce, after losing out on a contract to manage the country’s largest wireless network, according to Bloomberg. The Swedish company wasn’t selected to merge and run the network of CK Hutchison and VimpelCom, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private.
RTB House Strengthens Position in Spain, Portugal, and Benelux
RTB House, a tech company specializing in sophisticated retargeting scenarios and operating worldwide, has appointed two new Country Managers in Western Europe. The move is expected to strengthen its position in Spain, Portugal and Benelux as a leading retargeting service provider. As Country Managers, Monica Ibarbia will coordinate operations in Spain and Portugal, while Cyril Westerhof manages activities in Benelux.
Alphabet Shifts Self-Driving Cars Into New Unit Called Waymo
Alphabet is separating its self-driving car project into a new business called Waymo, seeking to sharpen its focus on changing the transportation industry, according to Bloomberg. John Krafcik, chief executive officer of Waymo, announced the move at an event in San Francisco. The company has been developing autonomous vehicle technology for more than six years, as part of its X research lab. Waymo is emerging from this research phase as a standalone business owned by Alphabet.
Boris Drilo new CTIO of Hrvatski Telekom
New Member of the Management Board and Chief Technical and Information Officer (CTIO) of Hrvatski Telekom, the biggest Croatian telecom operator, is Boris Drilo and he received this position for a three-year period commencing as of 1 January 2017. He was appointed by the Supervisory Board of Hrvatski Telekom.
Samsung Chief Lee May Dismantle Group Central Office
Samsung Group’s de-facto leader Jay Y. Lee said he’s willing to dismantle the central office that coordinates the South Korean conglomerate’s various businesses, according to Bloomberg. “If the public and lawmakers have negative perceptions toward it, I will eliminate it," Lee said during a parliamentary hearing of the nation’s tycoons.
Next Starbucks CEO Brings Tech Savvy
After turning Starbucks into the world’s largest coffee chain, Chief Executive Officer Howard Schultz will hand the reins to a lieutenant who could solidify its role as a technology company, according to Bloomberg.
Samsung Electronics Is Heading for a Split
Samsung didn’t quite come out and actually say it, but South Korea’s most valuable company is probably going to split as soon as next year, according to Bloomberg. Samsung said it’s looking at a plan to turn itself into a holding company, and would have more to say on the issue at a later date.
Microsoft to Tie Executive Bonuses to Company Diversity Goals
Microsoft will tie executive bonuses to workforce diversity goals after the company saw a second consecutive year of declines in the percentage of women employees, owing to its exit from the phone handset market, according to Bloomberg.
Amazon Taps Merchants for Warehouse Space
Amazon is turning to merchants who sell on its marketplace for extra warehouse space, a less-costly way to expand inventory available for quick delivery, according to Bloomberg. Inventory available for delivery within two business days expanded by 6 million items under the Seller Fulfilled Prime program, the company announced. Earlier this year they introduced the program, which lets independent merchants sell goods on Amazon as “Prime Eligible” even if Amazon isn’t handling packaging and delivery.
Amazon Files Lawsuits for Counterfeit Goods
Amazon filed two lawsuits against vendors allegedly selling counterfeit goods through its internet marketplace, stepping up efforts to keep fakes off the site heading into the holiday shopping season, according to Bloomberg. One suit targets ToysNet of Hacienda Heights, California; Disk Vision of Brandon, Florida; and individuals who Amazon says sold counterfeit Forearm Forklifts, straps used to carry heavy and bulky items.
Facebook Changes Ad Policy in Response to Discrimination Concern
Facebook will no longer allow marketers to target ads by ethnic affinity for certain types of housing, employment or credit, responding to concerns that its practices were discriminatory, according to Bloomberg. The company said it had been meeting with congressional leaders and organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union after a ProPublica report that explained how Facebook’s ads could be targeted to exclude minorities from seeing certain opportunities.
Gemalto CEO Promises Growth
Security software-maker Gemalto Chief Executive Officer Philippe Vallee says sales growth will accelerate as soon as this quarter and business prospects are good for the longer-term, calling on investors to move past a profit warning that has sent shares down 15 percent in just over a week, according to Bloomberg.
Ballmer Says Smartphones Broke His Relationship With Gates
Steve Ballmer said that his decision to push Microsoft into the hardware business contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with longtime friend and company co-founder Bill Gates, according to Bloomberg. Ballmer's only regret: not doing it sooner.
Alibaba Starts New Media Group With $1.5 Billion Fund
Alibaba is stepping up investments in the entertainment industry with the formation of a new media group along with a fund of more than 10 billion yuan ($1.48 billion) for new projects, according to Bloomberg. The change consolidates the Chinese e-commerce giant’s media empire into the Alibaba Digital Media and Entertainment Group, which will include video website Youku Tudou, web browser UCWeb, Alibaba Pictures Group Ltd. and the company’s gaming, literature, music and digital business units.
The New Standard for Keeping Millennials Happy at Work
A strong pat on the back and a reassuring word no longer cuts it when it comes to keeping millennials happy at work, according to Bloomberg. More than three-quarters of U.K. workers age 18 to 24 say company perks are crucial to their job satisfaction, according to a survey released this week by Perkbox, a company that sells employee gifts.
Nintendo President has Bigger Plans for Switch
Nintendo’s new gaming console Switch is part of a bigger plan that will include more accessories, a deeper lineup of software and possible tie-ups with other technologies, according to Bloomberg. In his first interview since unveiling the brand-new flagship product, President Tatsumi Kimishima said details about add-ons will be available in the new year.
Twitter Plans More Job Cuts as Soon as This Week
According to Bloomberg, Twitter is planning widespread job cuts, to be announced as soon as this week, said people familiar with the matter. The company may cut about 8 percent of the workforce, or about 300 people, the same percentage it did last year when co-founder Jack Dorsey took over as chief executive officer, the people said. Planning for the cuts is still fluid and the number could change, they added. The people asked not to be identified talking about private company plans.
Ericsson’s Top Shareholder Says CEO Search is Main Priority
Ericsson’s biggest shareholder is throwing its weight behind calls to find a new chief executive officer for the Swedish network equipment maker, according to Bloomberg. Company, that has been run by its chief financial officer since Hans Vestberg was fired from the top job in July, has delivered its owners a series of blows in recent months.