Day: April 4, 2023

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Škoda Appoints FCB as Global Agency of Record Led by London Office

Škoda Appoints FCB as Global Agency of Record Led by London Office

Image Description: A graphic celebrating FCB’s appointment as Global Agency of Record for ŠKODA.

LONDON, April 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Škoda Global Marketing Communications has appointed FCB as their new global creative lead agency partner following a four-way pitch involving three other undisclosed agencies. The account will commence from early April and will be run out of the London office with a remit encompassing major product launches and priorities for over 20 major markets.

The review process, which started last year, was handled by The Observatory International (London) on behalf of Škoda Global Marketing, and the new agency will transition with Škoda’s previous agency, OptimistThjnk, until the end of June.

The Volkswagen Group-owned marque is investing in its brand to compete with the upscale market, and the review follows the development of its new brand platform. The new appointment impacts Škoda’s global creative agency relationship only and does not impact its media agency relationship or relationships with agencies in regions or individual markets.

On appointing FCB, Meredith Kelly, Global Head of Marketing Škoda Auto, stated, “With FCB we identified not only first-class agency support but also a true long-term business partner, and they exceeded our expectations throughout every stage of this process. We are looking forward to getting started.”

Katy Wright, CEO FCB Inferno, added, “We had a car-shaped hole in our heart, and we are overjoyed to have filled it with such an iconic auto brand. We look forward to working with the entire global Škoda team in creating business-transforming work.”

“The opportunity to partner with Škoda is a dream come true for everyone across FCB,” said Tyler Turnbull, Global CEO of FCB. “From the first moment we spent together, we felt an incredible connection across our companies given our challenger spirits, passionate people and shared belief in the economic power of creativity. Together, I’m confident that we can help build the Škoda global business like never before.”

About Škoda Auto

› is successfully steering through the new decade with the Next Level – Škoda Strategy 2030.
› aims to be one of the five best-selling brands in Europe by 2030 with an attractive line-up in the entry-level segments and additional e-models.
› is emerging as the leading European brand in important growth markets such as India or North Africa.
› currently offers its customers twelve passenger-car series: the Fabia, Rapid, Scala, Octavia and Superb as
well as the Kamiq, Karoq, Kodiaq, Enyaq iV, Enyaq Coupé iV, Slavia and Kushaq.
› delivered over 731,000 vehicles to customers around the world in 2022.
› has been a member of the Volkswagen Group for 30 years. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful vehicle manufacturers in the world.
› independently manufactures and develops not only vehicles but also components such as engines and transmissions in association with the Group.
› operates at three sites in the Czech Republic; has additional production capacity in China, Russia, Slovakia and India primarily through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine with a local partner.
› employs 45,000 people globally and is active in over 100 markets.

About FCB

FCB (Foote, Cone & Belding) is a global, award-winning and integrated marketing communications company with a heritage of creativity and success dating from 1873.  FCB Inferno, based in London, work with a diverse mix of both local and global clients to create ideas that drive business today and build brands of tomorrow. Ideas that endure and are Never Finished.

Named Cannes Lions 2022 #2 Global Network, 2022 Ad Age A-List, 2022 Fast Company Most Innovative, Cannes Lions 2020/2021 Global Network of the Year, Adweek 2020 Global Agency of the Year and the #1 Global Network on The Good Report, FCB focuses on creating Never Finished campaign ideas that have the power to transform brands, businesses and communities. With more than 8,000 people in 109 operations in 80 countries, the company is part of the Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE: IPG). Visit fcb.com or follow @FCBglobal on Instagram and Twitter and FCB Global on Facebook and LinkedIn.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9088d3cb-3cf9-4b59-b917-7e78929ab39f

Kellie Gleason

kellie.gleason@fcb.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8801841

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For Myanmar’s ethnic groups, ID cards can help – or put them in junta’s crosshairs

For the Burman majority in Myanmar, obtaining a national identification card – usually needed for accessing medical services and public schools, opening a bank account or getting a passport – is a relatively easy process.

But for the country’s Karen, Chin, Shan and other ethnic minorities – about a third of the population – obtaining an ID card is a complicated ordeal, and having one can often do more harm than help.

Identification cards reveal the holder’s ethnicity and the geographic area he or she is from, so that information could link them to resistance groups like the People’s Defense Force that are fighting the military after the 2021 coup, thereby putting a target on their backs.

“There’s no real use (for ID cards), except for the fact that you’re exposing yourself to more scrutiny by going through that kind of complicated official process,” said Za Uk Ling, the deputy director of the Chin Human Rights Organization. “These days, people try to stay as low profile as they can, avoiding any contact with local officials.

There are other complicating factors, too. Some minorities don’t want to apply for ID cards under the junta, and thereby recognize its legitimacy.

And some administrative offices that issue ID cards have been destroyed or shut down due to the fighting. 

Many simply don’t have any form of identification, and so are officially stateless. 

‘Lost our chance’

But that can cut them off from opportunities and basic services. 

For example, five students at Laung Lin’s school in Mawlamyine, in southern Myanmar, were thrilled to gain acceptance into Thai universities. But they were unable to obtain an ID card needed to get a passport required to travel because the local junta-run office has been closed amid turmoil in the country. 

“I feel like we lost our right, our chance. We should be able to accept these opportunities – but we can’t,” Laung Lin said, asking to go by a nickname. “What if that village is not safe? If there’s war, you cannot do it at all. That’s been difficult for us.”

File photo of a man who brought the original copies of the national ID and Family Table List to the passport office in Yangon. Credit- RFA.jpeg
A man brings identity papers to the passport office in Yangon, Myanmar. Credit: RFA file photo

Ying Kawn Tai, a teacher who works for Shan education accessibility in Thailand, says that access to national identification has always been a struggle in Shan State, in eastern Myanmar, but has become almost impossible since the coup. She estimates that up to half of Shan people – roughly 2 million people – don’t have a citizen ID card.

Most government-run schools require an ID card to attend, but many Shan people who have fled to the Thai border don’t have any documentation. And there are very few Shan language schools which they can attend, she said.

Job hassles

Another problem is that traveling between states without proper identification can be risky. With high unemployment in Kayah State, those seeking work in nearby states could be arrested at checkpoints manned by junta soldiers. 

Without an ID card, a whole slew of activities is difficult or impossible. “Even bank accounts, even to register mobile [phone], SIM cards – we can’t do it if we have no ID,” Zue Zue, who works on education within the Karenni State Consultative Council said.

Further south, in Kayin State, where 350,000 people displaced by fighting are mostly living in camps, the problem emerges first with birth certificates.

The health department of the Karen National Union, which has been fighting the military for greater autonomy for decades, keeps records of children born in the camps. But it doesn’t issue any sort of birth certificate to the parents because the health department doesn’t have the funding, centralized office or international recognition to do that.

And without that documentation, applying for further types of identification as the child grows up becomes difficult. 

“If we start issuing the birth certificates, then the identifications or the passport or the ID cards, everything will follow after that,” a Karen Department of Health and Welfare spokesperson said, asking for anonymity for security reasons.

Educational hurdles

Schools in some areas go up to grade 10, and local educators would like to offer education to grade 12. But even if they did, taking the nationwide 12th grade examination requires an ID card.

“If you do not have an ID card, you can’t do that type of examination,” said Zue Zue. 

While she says they’re in the beginning stages of discussing an alternative ID system, they still face challenges in obtaining resources to complete such a task while focusing on humanitarian aid.  “We have a solution, but we don’t have the support to source that solution,” she said.

Other states have begun adopting similar measures. In Kachin State, National Unity Government Deputy Education Minister Ja Htoi Pan says students can use reference letters to enroll in school, rather than identification cards. 

“People use different methods to verify their ID, it depends on the situation, it depends on the school,” she said. “Some schools require their recommendation from a respectable person, a reference. Those are the temporary, interim arrangements.”

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

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Fogo de Chão Announces Plans to Enter Ecuador

Leading restaurant from Brazil signs franchise development agreement with Eljuri Group to bring the Fogo experience to Ecuador for the first time

Coral Gables, Fla.

Guests can enjoy new brand extensions such as the Next Level Lounge and The Butchery in the recently opened Coral Gables, Fla. location. https://fogodechao.com/newsroom

DALLAS, April 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fogo de Chão, the internationally renowned restaurant from Brazil that allows guests to make discoveries at every turn, today announced plans to make its debut in Ecuador with the signing of a franchise development agreement with the Eljuri Group. Through the agreement, the Eljuri Group is set to bring three Fogo restaurants to Ecuador in the coming years. The first location, in Quito, is slated to open in the summer of 2023. The announcement follows Fogo’s recently announced plans to enter Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Canada and the Philippines, as the brand continues to execute its strategic global growth plan.

The first of three restaurants will open at the JW Marriott, Quito’s premier luxury hotel, and will feature Fogo’s innovative design enhancements. The Quito restaurant will showcase Fogo’s recent brand transformation with enhanced design and innovation platforms in a warm, timeless and approachable setting. Design innovation platforms include an open air churrasco grill where guests can watch as gaucho chefs display the culinary art of churrasco, and a glass-enclosed terrace and bar area for guests to enjoy views of the Ecuadorian sky year-round.

The demand fueling Fogo’s international growth strategy can be credited to the brand’s continued year-over-year positive traffic results and a young, growing guest demographic. For nearly 45 years, Fogo has provided guests with authentic experiences rooted in discovery and continues to transform, innovating to fit guests’ needs. Fogo’s newest openings include restaurants in Woodland Hills, Calif., Paramus, N.J., Coral Gables, Fla., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Queens, N.Y., Reston, Va., Monterrey, Mexico and more expected soon.

“2023 is starting as another strong year for Fogo as we continue to execute on our long-term strategic growth plan, which includes expanding our presence in South America,” said Barry McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of Fogo de Chão. “We are honored to work with the accomplished team at the Eljuri Group to bring Fogo to Ecuador for the first time. Our franchisees around the world are an essential part of our brand and we are proud to work with them to introduce new guests to the culinary art of churrasco.”

Reston, Va.

Fogo opened the Reston, Va. location in December 2022, marking the 70th location globally for the brand. https://fogodechao.com/newsroom

With operations in the U.S., Latin America and Europe, the Eljuri Group manages a portfolio of well-known, international hospitality, retail and automotive franchises including JW Marriott, Hilton, Wendy’s, Volkswagen, Hyundai and KIA.

“We are proud to work with Fogo de Chão to bring their distinctive menu and innovative dining experience to Ecuador for the first time,” said Juan Pablo Eljuri, Chairman of the Eljuri Group. “As a longtime fan of Fogo de Chão myself, I believe it will be a unique addition to our portfolio of hospitality brands and look forward to bringing the culinary art of churrasco to Ecuadorians soon.”

Paramus, N.J.

In January 2023, Fogo opened its first New Jersey restaurant in Paramus at Garden State Plaza. https://fogodechao.com/newsroom

Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo de Chão is a 45-year-old brand known for its dining experience of discovery and showcasing the culinary art of churrasco where guests can watch as gaucho chefs butcher, hand-carve and grill high-quality cuts of protein over an open flame. With a warm, timeless design and signature offerings including a fresh and seasonal Market Table and an award-winning Bar Fogo menu featuring hand-crafted cocktails and South American wines, Fogo has become a destination of choice by both brand advocates and new guests globally.

For more information about Fogo de Chão, visit fogo.com. To learn more about global franchising opportunities, visit fogo.com/global-development/.

About Fogo de Chão
Fogo de Chão (fogo-dee-shown) is an internationally renowned restaurant that allows guests to discover what’s next at every turn. Founded in Southern Brazil in 1979, Fogo elevates the centuries-old cooking technique of churrasco – the art of roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame – into a cultural dining experience of discovery. In addition to its Market Table and Feijoada Bar – which includes seasonal salads and soup, fresh vegetables, imported charcuterie and more – guests are served simply-seasoned meats that are butchered, fire-roasted and carved tableside by gaucho chefs. Guests can also indulge in dry-aged or premium Wagyu cuts, seafood a la carte, All-Day Happy Hour including signature cocktails, and an award-winning South American wine list, as well as smaller, sharable plates in Bar Fogo. Fogo offers differentiated menus for all dayparts including lunch, dinner, weekend brunch and group dining, plus full-service catering and contactless takeout and delivery options. For locations and more information about Fogo de Chão, visit fogo.com.

About Eljuri Business Corporation
The Eljuri Business Corporation leads more than 120 companies within 12 industries, including: Insurance, Ceramics, Cars, Motorcycles, Beverages, Energy, Financial Services, Home Appliances, Logistics, Hospitality, and Telecommunications. Their extensive experience and knowledge in these fields have allowed for their steady and solid growth, establishing themselves as one of the most important business references in the region.

Today, the Eljuri Business Corporation employs more than 10,000 people, demonstrating their commitment to the development of human talent and contributing significantly to the country’s economy.

Fogo
Guests can enjoy new brand extensions such as the Next Level Lounge and The Butchery in the recently opened Coral Gables, Fla. location. https://fogodechao.com/newsroom

Fogo

Fogo opened the Reston, Va. location in December 2022, marking the 70th location globally for the brand. https://fogodechao.com/newsroom

Fogo

In January 2023, Fogo opened its first New Jersey restaurant in Paramus at Garden State Plaza. https://fogodechao.com/newsroom

Media Contact:
FogoPR@icrinc.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c16e254-ea7c-4d25-a995-d18b41daf028

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cc6ee902-21ae-469a-bd18-a96db2ed2ac5

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2a9665d1-69f7-4ae4-b6a1-d0c9f841a381

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8801767

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Bipsync and Burgiss team up to provide best-in-class capabilities to private market investors

The new strategic partnership combines Burgiss’ portfolio management with Bipsync’s investment screening, due diligence, CRM, document management, and workflow automation to provide a complete end-to-end lifecycle of private assets.

NEW YORK, April 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bipsync, a leading provider of RMS technology, and Burgiss, a global provider of data and analytics solutions for investors, announces a new partnership. The Bipsync platform now integrates with Burgiss’ Private i® Platform, which enables mutual clients operating in private markets to leverage Bipsync’s workflow management and document processing abilities with Burgiss’ best-in-class data and analytics. It is the latest addition to Bipsync’s ecosystem of partnerships that enrich the Bipsync experience and value proposition via integrations with our clients’ preferred data and technology providers.

The new data integration allows existing users of Burgiss’ Private i Platform to access key data at the fund, manager, and portfolio levels within Bipsync. This creates a centralized, single source of truth across the firm – from investment screening to due diligence to portfolio monitoring activities. Benefits of the integration include:

  • Key investment data from Burgiss is readily accessible to all teams within your organization.
  • Knowledge can be shared across teams, reducing the need for internal reporting.
  • All interactions with your investments, peers, and competitors can be easily captured.
  • Processes can be made repeatable, measurable, and auditable across pre- and post-commitment activities.

Bipsync offers dedicated dashboards for Burgiss data, giving users direct access to valuable insights that they can customize to their unique requirements, without having to submit data requests or switch between applications.

“This Burgiss collaboration is another milestone in our integration work with best-in-class financial data and analytics providers, building an ecosystem of value with Bipsync at its center,” said Danny Donado, CEO at Bipsync. “We’re ensuring critical data and processes are effectively and efficiently shared across firms, bringing investment and operational workflows together in an intuitive solution that streamlines and automates pipeline, due diligence, and portfolio monitoring processes.”

“Bipsync and the Private i Platform were made for each other, and now together cover the entire lifecycle of private capital investing,” said Jim Kocis, Founder & CEO of Burgiss. “Our clients will be absolutely thrilled with the addition of investment pipeline management, workflow capabilities, and seamless integration with Bipsync.”

The new Private i Platform integration is an addition to the existing integration of the Caissa Platform into Bipsync. Get in touch at hello@bipsync.com to learn more and see the integrations in action.

About Bipsync
Bipsync is a research and document processing and workflow automation solution connecting investment front and back offices. We use modern technologies, agile processes, and user-centered design to drive speed, agility, quality, and efficiency into our customers’ processes to drive better decisions, faster. Bipsync clients span the entire investment management industry across asset class, strategy and size. The world’s largest allocators right through to pre-launch fund managers rely on Bipsync as a single system of record and modern productivity environment to help them power their unique investment processes and drive operational excellence. For more information, visit www.bipsync.com.

About Burgiss
Burgiss is a global, market-leading provider of data and analytics solutions for investors. With over 30 years of expertise in alternative investments, we offer unrivaled data, analytics, and transparency that enable asset owners, asset managers, and financial intermediaries to evaluate and manage complex portfolios. Burgiss’ solutions serve 1,000+ clients in more than 30 countries, delivering data that represents over $15 trillion in assets. With offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific, we leverage our network and expertise so that we can service our clients by focusing on their varying needs across regions.

Media Contact
Chau Mai
cmai@bipsync.com
(864) 678-0446

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8801749

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Head that wears a crown

Cambodian social media is abuzz about an incident at the torch-lighting ceremony for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games held at the country’s famed Angkor Wat that was live-streamed nationwide. As Prime Minister Hun Sen and King Norodom Sihamoni were chatting in the hot sun, the king’s umbrella holder could be seen trying to protect strongman Hun Sen, instead of the powerless monarch. Two Cambodian opposition activists have been charged with insulting the king and incitement to commit a felony for saying that the nation can “clearly see who is the real king.”

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Acronis launches new Cyber Cloud data center in Mexico City

The latest Cyber Cloud data center ensures faster access, greater data resiliency, and data sovereignty for service provider clients, while empowering MSPs with comprehensive cyber protection solutions

MEXICO CITY, April 04, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, today announced the availability of a new Cyber Cloud data center in Mexico City, Mexico. This new addition to the company’s global network of Cyber Cloud data centers provides Acronis partners with access to a comprehensive range of cutting-edge cyber protection solutions, empowering them to create new services and offerings to manage their clients’ data protection needs more efficiently and effectively with faster access, continuous data availability, and the added benefit of data sovereignty.

Acronis’ global network of Cyber Cloud data centers includes more than fifty locations in the U.S., U.K., Switzerland, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and other regions. Today’s announcement marks Acronis’ seventh Cyber Cloud data center presence in North America, following the launch of the Toronto location last month. With the new Cyber Cloud data center, Acronis partners in Mexico and the LATAM region will have access to a full suite of cyber protection solutions and managed cloud solutions via the Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud platform, with the added benefit of local data management and support from their service providers.

“The expansion of Acronis Cyber Cloud data centers into Mexico offers a great advantage to our customers,” said Omar Navarro, General Director at VirtualTech. “We are proud to be an Acronis partner and distributor of its cyber protection solutions throughout Mexico and other Latin American countries, providing the best data security possible. With the proximity of a Cyber Cloud data center closer to our customers, the benefits are vast as Acronis continues to safeguard customer data, but now with a more local presence.”

The Acronis Cyber Cloud data centers are tailored to meet corporate and regulatory needs, enabling partners to exceed compliance, data sovereignty, and performance requirements. Acronis’ worldwide Cyber Cloud data centers adhere to the highest standards of physical security to restrict unauthorized physical access and protect the safety of customer data. The Mexico City Cyber Cloud data center’s standards and reports include ISO/IEC 27001:2013, ISO 14001:2015, ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018, ISO 9001:2015, ISO/IEC 38500:2015, ISO22301:2019, MX-574-2022, and MX-575-2022 underscoring Acronis’ commitment to providing secure and reliable cyber protection solutions.

Purpose-built to provide organizations with the utmost levels of data availability, security, and safety for their critical data, applications, and systems, each facility features state-of-the-art as well as the best operational and security controls. The Acronis Cyber Cloud data centers also follow the approach of need plus one (N+1) for greater redundancy across all hardware layers of its infrastructure, minimizing risks and eliminating single points of failure. This ensures that customers can always rely on Acronis for resilient and robust cyber protection solutions.

Acronis General Manager of Latin America and the Caribbean, Agustin Mella, said “The addition of an Acronis Cyber Cloud data center in Mexico is a huge milestone for our company and our LATAM partners. We are rapidly expanding into the market so this latest launch arms us with the juxtaposition necessary to meet the needs of local customers. With each new Acronis Cyber Cloud data center, we are further enhancing the network of availability to offer the most exceptional cyber protection solution in the market.”

Service providers interested in learning more about the advantages and opportunities that are created by offering integrated cyber protection solutions available are encouraged to visit: https://www.acronis.com/en-us/products/cloud/cyber-protect/.

About Acronis

Acronis unifies data protection and cybersecurity to deliver integrated, automated cyber protection that solves the safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges of the modern digital world. With flexible deployment models that fit the demands of service providers and IT professionals, Acronis provides superior cyber protection for data, applications, and systems with innovative next-generation antivirus, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint protection management solutions powered by AI. With advanced anti-malware powered by cutting-edge machine intelligence and blockchain based data authentication technologies, Acronis protects any environment – from cloud to hybrid to on premises – at a low and predictable cost.

Acronis is a Swiss company, founded in Singapore. Celebrating two decades of innovation, Acronis has more than 2,000 employees in 45 locations. Acronis Cyber Protect solution is available in 26 languages in over 150 countries and is used by 18,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses.

Media Contact:
Karl Bateson
Karl.Bateson@acronis.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8799909