Latest news with #German-headquartered
Campaign ME
14-07-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Merck appoints Ricola Furtado as Head of Communications and Policy
Merck, a German-headquartered science and technology company, has appointed Ricola Furtado as Head of Communications and Policy for its Gulf cluster. The appointment aims to support Merck's commitment to advancing a more strategic, integrated approach to communications and public affairs in the region. The company said it was seeking a leader with a proven track record in building high-performing communications functions, enhancing visibility and reputation, and fostering meaningful engagement with diverse healthcare stakeholders across the Gulf's dynamic and evolving landscape. With more than 15 years of experiences in strategic communications, operations, and stakeholder engagement across the Middle East, Furtado seemed the perfect fit. 'Ricola's appointment marks an important step in strengthening our communications and policy function at Merck,' said Sarrah Barakat, Director of Government & Public Affairs, Market Access & Pricing, Tenders and Communications – Gulf, Merck. 'She brings a strategic lens and regional expertise at a time when purposeful engagement, visibility, and reputation are more critical than ever.' As Head of Communications and Policy for Merck, Furtado is responsible for shaping and executing an integrated communications strategy across the Gulf region. Her role spans external and internal communications, media relations, advocacy, and policy initiatives, carried out in close collaboration with cross-functional teams and local franchises such as Cardiometabolic Diseases & Endocrinology, Oncology, Neurology, and Fertility. Furtado also serves as the regional communications partner within Merck's Global Communications & Policy network, helping ensure alignment, knowledge sharing, and consistency between global objectives and local execution. 'It's a privilege to join Merck and contribute to the company's mission of advancing science for the benefit of patients and communities,' said Furtado on her appointment. 'The Gulf region presents significant opportunity, and I look forward to shaping a strong, strategic voice for Merck that resonates with stakeholders, and reinforces our leadership in healthcare.' Before joining Merck, she served as Global Director of Creative Operations at Incubeta, where she led cross-market delivery teams and partnered closely with global C-suite leaders. Prior to that, she was Head of Operations for Edelman Middle East, overseeing resource management, project management, and business development, while also driving corporate communications programs for clients across a broad range of sectors. 'This blend of industry depth, regional expertise, and operational leadership enables me to contribute meaningfully in my current role,' Furtado concluded.
Business Standard
18-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
How OmniCard is Powering India's $5 Trillion Business Economy with a Fintech OS Built for Scale
VMPL New Delhi [India], June 18: India is standing at the edge of a transformational economic leap. India's retail sector is projected to reach a massive US$ 2 trillion in value by 2032, and the number of startups is expected to double to 2.4 lakh by 2030. But these projections rest on a fragile foundation. Out of the 64 million businesses in India, only 4 million are digitized - leaving 60 million enterprises operating without basic digital tools. Every Indian business loses money not because of fraud or theft, but because of broken systems. Over the past few years, OmniCard has been shaping the Fintech backbone that's now helping Indian businesses thrive. OmniCard is bridging India's digital divide with a user-friendly, digital-first platform designed for seamless adoption -- from shop floors to CXO suites, across tier-1 metros to tier-3 towns. Trusted by enterprises, OmniCard is emerging as the AI powered Fintech OS for business spend -- powering every layer of the value chain - expense management, petty cash, incentives, travel, R & R - all with last-mile payment visibility. Today, over 500 forward-thinking enterprises trust OmniCard to run their business spend--across industries like retail, logistics, education, financial services, and digital marketplaces. With an RBI-issued PPI license, OmniCard operates independently of banks while adhering to the highest regulatory standards. By connecting every touchpoint in the spend journey with intelligence and efficiency, OmniCard is redefining how enterprises manage and move money. This value generation is already being seen on the ground. For German-headquartered sports brand PUMA, its India counterpart is efficiently managing and optimizing expenses across its extensive retail network in the country with partner OmniCard. Siddarth Asrani, CFO at PUMA India, says, "Managing expenses across our retail network used to involve multiple tools and constant follow-ups. With OmniCard, our store teams now have access to controlled budgets, and we get real-time visibility at our India headquarters. What stands out is the platform's ease of use which doesn't require detailed training. For a fast-paced retail business like ours, OmniCard is becoming a key player in our ops." Whereas Mr. Ashutosh Mishra Senior Vice President Finance from Policybazaar, a public listed Insurance marketplace says "As a high-growth digital organization, we manage multiple categories of corporate spending - from employee benefits and team travel to marketing and operational costs. Before OmniCard, consolidating and reconciling these expenses was time-consuming and often reactive. With OmniCard, we now have centralized visibility and control across departments, enabling us to stay ahead of spend rather than catch up to it." Mr. Gagan Garg, Finance Controller at India's largest gifting and corporate retail brand, Ferns N Petals, says "For us, managing retail spends and company expenses across a growing business network required an end-to-end solution. OmniCard delivered exactly the same. It gives us the ability to assign budgets to teams, enable UPI payments, issue cards instantly, and track spending in real-time. It has significantly improved visibility and efficiency in how we manage business expenses--both in-store and at the office. For a business of our scale, having this level of control without added administrative burden is a big win." "India's economic future depends not just on scale, but on how efficiently its businesses operate" says Abhishek Saxena from OmniCard "We're driving the next wave of business payments in India with need-based innovation, delivered through a go-to platform for business expense management. We're building the rails for intelligent business spending in India, combining banking-grade infrastructure with the agility of Fintech. Our goal is to be the obvious choice for B2B Fintech in India. When any business thinks Fintech, we want them to think OmniCard." India's growth story is gaining momentum, but true progress demands intelligent systems. Built for scale and inclusivity, The OmniCard AI powered Fintech OS is purpose-built to serve businesses of all sizes--adapting to their unique needs, scale, and workflows. Whether it's a startup managing team expenses or an enterprise optimizing multi-location spend, OmniCard offers the flexibility and AI intelligence to power their financial operations end-to-end. As India builds toward a $5 trillion economy and millions of businesses move toward digitization, AI powered Fintech OS platforms like OmniCard will play a critical role in shaping how the country's enterprises manage money.
The National
12-06-2025
- Business
- The National
New direct bus service from Edinburgh to Heathrow Airport announced
FlixBus, a German-headquartered coach firm, has unveiled its new service between the Scottish capital, Glasgow and Heathrow Airport, which will launch on Monday. Scots will be able to travel directly to and from the UK's busiest airport, with tickets starting at just £14.99. FlixBus offers free travel for Young Scot under 22s, over 60s with a bus pass and anyone with a National Entitlement Card on its Scottish routes. READ MORE: Scottish Tories suffer fresh defection to Nigel Farage's Reform UK The travel firm said the route will provide a 'seamless and convenient' alternative to multiple train changes or 'expensive' airport parking, with coaches arriving and departing from Heathrow Central Bus Station. Andreas Schorling, senior managing director of FlixBus UK, said the firm is delighted to introduce the new direct bus link. He said: 'We launched direct routes to Heathrow from the Midlands earlier this year, which have been hugely popular, so we're delighted to be bringing our affordable, sustainable and reliable airport services to Edinburgh in time for summer!' Luggage will be included in the ticket price, with customers also having access to free Wi-Fi and the option to book a neighbour-free seat. 'We see this growth as a major step forward in our plans to be the largest coach network in the UK,' added Andreas. Tickets can be purchased on FlixBus website or app.
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Business Standard
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Adidas products may become costlier in the US, thanks to Trump tariffs
Amid global market uncertainty triggered by Trump tariffs, German-headquartered sportswear giant Adidas on Tuesday said it could hike price of all its US products. The company did not make it clear by how much it is going to increase the prices. The company said that the global trade dispute was preventing it from raising its full-year outlook despite a substantial increase in first-quarter profits, according to a report by CNBC. 'Higher tariffs will eventually cause higher costs for all our products for the US market,' Adidas said in a statement as quoted by CNBC. After Trump imposed 145 per cent tariffs on imports from China, Adidas said it had already reduced its China-made products shipped to the US to a minimum. Yet, the biggest impact on the company is from the general 10 per cent tariffs imposed on all other counties by the US. 'Given the uncertainty around the negotiations between the US and the different exporting countries, we do not know what the final tariffs will be,' the Adidas statement mentioned. No clarity on what to do Currently, various countries are in talks with the US to reach a trade agreement to avoid elevated tariffs, ensuring fair trade practices. As a result, companies across the world are unclear on their businesses and are unable to make decisions on their future course of work, including Adidas. Also Read 'Therefore, we cannot make any 'final' decisions on what to do. Cost increases due to higher tariffs will eventually cause price increases, not only in our sector, but it is currently impossible to quantify these or to conclude what impact this could have on the consumer demand for our products,' Adidas explained in its statement, as quoted by CNBC. Adidas said it was currently unable to produce almost any of its products in the US. Retailers weigh cost of tariffs The company, famous for sneakers like Superstar, Sambas, Stan Smiths, and Gazelles, as well as sportswear, makes its products in countries like Vietnam and Cambodia. These countries could face US tariffs of over 40 per cent because there is no trade deal, according to the media reports. Global uncertainty caused by tariffs The Trump tariffs created global uncertainty by raising import taxes on goods from countries like China, Vietnam, and others, disrupting global supply chains. Businesses were unsure about future costs, trade policies, and sourcing decisions, leading to price increases, shifting manufacturing locations, and concerns about demand and profits. This uncertainty affected everything from low-cost retailers to luxury brands.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Family killed in Hudson River helicopter crash in NYC was celebrating child's birthday
April 11 (UPI) -- The family of five from Spain killed in a helicopter crash in New York City had hired a sightseeing company as part of a birthday celebration for one of the children, officials said Friday. The Bell 206 sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near Manhattan about 3:15 p.m. EDT Thursday, killing the family and the pilot. It took off from a Wall Street heliport. The bodies of all six onboard were recovered from the water. Killed were Agustin Escobar, a senior executive with the German-headquartered technology firm Siemens, his wife, Merce Camprubi Montal, and their three young children. The pilot hasn't been identified. The New York Post obtained images of the family before their takoeff. "We know the ages of the young people involved -- 4, 8 and 10 -- and unfortunately the 8-year-old, it was his birthday today, so this was probably part of a normal tourist attraction of seeing the city from the skyline, but just a real unfortunate situation," New York Mayor Eric Adams said on WNYW's Good Day New York. Camprubi Montal also was celebrating her 40th birthday this week. The family arrived in New York from Barcelona earlier in the day, law enforcement sources told The New York Post. Escobar was in New York City on business and had his family fly to New York City so they could "extend the trip a couple days in NYC," Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop posted on X. "The brother-in-law is flying in this A.M. and we are working with [the medical examiner] to expedite release of the family to fly back to Spain," Fulop said. "Take a moment today and think about this family and your family. These situations are always very difficult and sad." Escobar was CEO of rail infrastructure at Siemens Mobility Division. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash in which Agustin Escobar and his family lost their lives. Our heartfelt condolences go out to all their loved ones," Siemens said in a statement. The wreckage recovery continued through Friday with divers used. The plane was owned by New York Helicopter Tours, which has been in business for 30 years. The website noted their pilots have "logged thousands of flight hours." CEO Michael Roth told The Telegraph the pilot "called in that he was landing and that he needed fuel, and it should have taken him about three minutes to arrive, but 20 minutes later, he didn't arrive. We're all devastated." He told the New York Post: "The only thing I know by watching a video of the helicopter falling down, that the main rotor blades weren't on the helicopter. "And I haven't seen anything like that in my 30 years being in business, in the helicopter business. The only thing I could guess -- I got no clue -- is that it either had a bird strike or the main rotor blades failed. I have no clue. I don't know." The company had posted on Facebook an image of one of its helicopters in February. The chopper had taken off from the heliport at 2:59 p.m. It then went south and then turned to fly north up the Hudson River along the Manhattan shoreline. At 3:08 p.m., it reached the George Washington Bridge and turned to fly south along the New Jersey shoreline. Shortly later the "aircraft lost control and hit the water just a few feet off the coast of the pier, a park in Hoboken," New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a news conference Thursday. Some witnesses told NBC News they heard a loud noise. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation with help from other agencies. Aviation analyst Jeff Guzzetti said on NBC's Today on Friday: "There was some sort of sudden in-flight failure that occurred to the point at which the pilot didn't have an opportunity to make a forced landing or a mayday call, so something happened abruptly. The Bell 206 includes a military version. There were 7,300 manufactured from 1962 to 2017 by Bell Helicopter, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas.
