Latest news with #executives

Spied: AMG's New 4-Door Supercar Caught Testing In the Alps

Motor 1

12 hours ago

Automotive
Motor 1

Spied: AMG's New 4-Door Supercar Caught Testing In the Alps

Hot on the heels of the AMG GT XX concept's reveal on Tuesday , spy videographers have caught Mercedes testing the production version gliding stealthily through the Alps. Expected to share much of the concept's design, AMG's all-electric, four-door supercar wears the same sleek fastback bodylines as the GT XX, albeit heavily camouflaged in a patterned wrap. The massive grille seems to be making a return, as do the circular-pattern taillights. But the headlights are notably different, with a more production-ready tri-star design, inspired by the brand's logo. Though we never see this test mule pull off any quick corners or hard accelerations, we do get a taste of its sound. That's right, this EV isn't silent. There's a distinct engine-like idle emanating from underneath that camouflage, a feature hyped up by executives at the concept's reveal on Wednesday. There's not much to glean from the sound itself—it doesn't seem like a burbling V-8 to us—but it's also likely not finalized. So take the noise with a grain of salt, for now. As for performance, there should be a lot of it. The AMG GT XX concept is rated at 1,340 horsepower thanks to three axial-flux motors, two at the rear, and another up front. It runs on an 800-volt architecture for ultra-quick charging and uses direct-cooled cylindrical battery cells for better cooling attributes. While that power figure might not be the same, it's very likely the production car will carry this same powertrain setup when it's revealed later this year. As for pricing, the AMG GT EV will likely compete directly against its closest segment rival, the Porsche Taycan , which starts at $101,395. More on AMG's New Four-Door Weapon The First Standalone Mercedes-AMG EV Has NA Miata-Looking Fake Taillights Mercedes-AMG GT4 EV Spied For The First Time As Porsche Taycan Rival Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )

Why Strong Administrative Support Systems Help Entrepreneurs Thrive

Forbes

15 hours ago

Business
Forbes

Why Strong Administrative Support Systems Help Entrepreneurs Thrive

Entrepreneurs and business admins meeting in large conference room Although they try, entrepreneurs can't run everything. It takes support systems, including highly skilled admin staff, to keep a business performing at peak levels. A strong back-end infrastructure ensures that founders don't sweat the small stuff. They can devote their energy to vision, growth and strategy. While administrative support systems may not be as visible as those at the top, it doesn't mean the staff aren't leaders. They often need and desire some of the same training as entrepreneurs. After all, they're the ones by the executives' sides, handling operational details and interacting with external stakeholders. Admin staff are the reason entrepreneurs can thrive, and here's why. Reinforces Collaborative Communication Admin staff interact with employees across the organization, plus clients and vendors. They're the glue in terms of coordinating tasks and managing how information flows. Assistants are privy to the big picture, including whether communication and relationships are mutually productive. This means they're usually in the middle of conflicts and misunderstandings. A founder's assistant can also be at the center of what's happening with the company's overall direction. This can include negotiations and major projects or strategic initiatives. Despite this, administrative professionals don't always believe they have the training to help in every way they can. I had the opportunity to interview Joan Burge of Office Dynamics International about this. Her company delivers training and professional development for admin professionals. One of the areas the training focuses on is communication. Three areas support professionals feel they need the most development in are public speaking, assertiveness and conflict resolution. When they master these areas, assistants can reinforce collaborative communication, becoming strategic partners with entrepreneurs. Founders can rely on admin staff to not only put out fires, but also see them coming before they start. Operations can run more smoothly when there's empowered support to handle potential everyday obstacles to founders' objectives. Enhances Productivity Robert Solow, an American economist, championed the idea that increased productivity fuels the majority of economic growth. Productivity is driven by innovation, something entrepreneurs are responsible for. It's the big ideas and the implementation of them that move economic growth forward. But if entrepreneurs are busy trying to organize their days, they can't be effective visionaries. A strong administrative support system manages the documents, meetings, travel and day-to-day operations. Whether a founder is launching a startup or overseeing a transition to the next growth stage, time management is key. Having tools to automate information workflows is a critical part of a strong support system. Nevertheless, technology can't handle it all. And it's prone to glitches that humans can step in to prevent and fix. With skilled staff, entrepreneurs don't have to troubleshoot breakdowns in essential processes. Instead, they can learn where the problems lie and seek input on potential solutions. Admin staff are the eyes and ears of the organization. They keep everything organized so the business can run productively. They also offer insightful suggestions for improvements because they see how internal processes might be holding the company back. From a founder's email inbox to what happens on the production floor, administrative professionals play an instrumental role in boosting efficiency. Strengthens External Relationships Entrepreneurs might bring clients on board. However, admin assistants are usually the initial point of contact. They interact with external stakeholders throughout the day. Assistants also observe and coordinate communications. This coordination can include introducing clients to other internal employees responsible for overseeing critical project details. Furthermore, admin professionals could be charged with managing vendor relationships. They could be calling potential vendors for bids or to come onsite for introductions and communicating the company's needs. They're responsible for ensuring bids come in on time, according to specifications. Admin support staff are the ones following up, ensuring vendors complete work by the deadline and to satisfaction. Like founders, assistants can have great influence on a company's relationships with external stakeholders. They're responsible for establishing rapport, moving information through the pipeline and working through hiccups. Admin professionals can influence founders' decisions on whether to pursue relationships with vendors and clients. For instance, they can disclose their impressions of those they meet and interact with. In terms of vendors, assistants may be closer to the work results these stakeholders produce. Admin professionals can recommend contract renewals, spot additional needs as the company scales and advise founders about details they've come across. When the quality of external relationships improves, the output of the company's work can also improve. Helping Entrepreneurs Thrive There's more to a strong admin support system than taking meeting minutes and grabbing lattes. Administrative professionals are like the foundation of a home. If it's not solid enough, the entire structure collapses. But when entrepreneurs' support systems are skilled and efficient, the visions that brought the company to life can keep expanding innovation's possibilities.

Italian court hands down prison sentences for PFAS pollution from chemical plant

NHK

21 hours ago

Italian court hands down prison sentences for PFAS pollution from chemical plant

An Italian court has sentenced former executives of a chemical manufacturer to prison terms of up to 17 and a half years for polluting groundwater. The court in the northern city of Vicenza on Thursday handed down the sentences to 11 officials out of 15 defendants who were executives at the company. The remaining four were acquitted. The 11 officials were found guilty for their roles in contaminating groundwater with PFAS from a chemical plant. PFAS are a group of organic fluorine compounds, some of which are considered potentially harmful. The 11 convicted officials' prison terms range from two years and eight months to 17 years and six months. Three of the 11 are Japanese from Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation, which was a parent company of the chemical maker. Two of the three were reportedly sentenced to 16 years in prison and the other was given 11 years. Local media say the chemical company was making products including PFAS chemicals from the 1960s until it went bankrupt in 2018, and that water from its plant polluted groundwater. Mitsubishi Corporation says it will refrain from making comments on the ruling as they would be related to the ongoing legal proceedings. The trading house says it will continue to respond sincerely to debate in the judicial arena.

Smart Home Devices Reach 45% of US Internet Households

Yahoo

a day ago

Business
Yahoo

Smart Home Devices Reach 45% of US Internet Households

The smart home market is maturing, with 45% of US households owning core devices. As the customer base diversifies, business leaders must evolve strategies for success. Our research, surveying 100+ IoT executives, explores market growth, business models, customer retention, AI integration, and more. Dublin, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Smart Home: Integration, Automation, and Control" report has been added to offering. The smart home market is maturing, with 45% of US internet households owning at least one core smart home device. The customer base is shifting to a more mass-market profile, new competitors continue to enter the market, and category leaders continue to push the envelope of innovation and value to keep their competitive edge. As the market matures, business leaders must adapt their product strategy, business models, and marketing messages for success. This research surveys more than 100 executives across the connected home and consumer IoT landscape to better understand their view of the market, changing business strategies, key metrics for success, and top challenges facing the market. Key questions addressed: Where is the growth in the smart home market today? What business models are most common, and which are most profitable? What are the best ways to acquire and retain customers? How is product marketing and merchandising changing as the market matures? How are solution providers incorporating AI? What will be the defining forces shaping the competitive landscape in the next three years? What are companies' outlook on industry standards efforts, including Matter? What are the greatest challenges facing consumer IoT businesses in the short and medium term, and what are the best strategies to tackle those challenges? Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Business Expectation for 2025 vs. 2024 vs. 2023 Drivers of Positive 2025 Outlook Reasons for Challenged Outlook Connected Home Business KPIs % of Units Connected to Internet Engagement Frequency for an "Active" Customer Smart Product Benchmarks % of Businesses with Strategic Industry Partners How are industry partnerships most beneficial to your business? Top 10 Most Impactful Marketing Channels Drivers for User Engagement with Connected Devices Matter Standard Adoption % Using AI Internally % Using Consumer-Facing AI IoT Market Evolution Business Profile and Offerings Company Product Profile Business Models Employed Type of Connected Consumer Product Offered Types of Business Customers Served Revenue Models & Channels Revenue Models Employed for Connected Consumer Products and Services Business Model Most Impacting Profitability Services Offered in Connected Home Services Paid Service Subscription Adoption Paid Service Subscription Retain for 12 Months Price of Basic-Tier Smart Products Compared to Traditional Products Products Bundle with Smart Products Sales Channels of Connected Consumer Solution Return Rate of Smart Home Products Compared to Traditional Products Most Impactful Marketing Channel Business Strategic Partnership "In a few words tell us how industry partnerships are most beneficial to your business." Important Factors Influencing Vendor Selection Evaluating the User Experience Metrics Indicative of Successful Connected Consumer Products Engagement Frequency for an "Active" Customer Drivers for User Engagement with Connected Devices Average Percentage of Smart Product Units Connected to the Internet Effective Methods to Ensure Product Connecting Online Services Offered to Help Device Set-up and Installation Data Strategies & AI Products & Services Guided from User Generated Data Willingness to Pay Money for Insights Derived from User Data AI Usage in Organization AI Usage in Consumer Product and Service Business Strategy to Computing and Storage Technology Interoperability & Ecosystems Home Automation Standards, X10 to Matter Home Automation Standards Supported Challenges to Smart Home Interoperability Matter Standard Product Adoption "What factors do you believe will be most critical to Matter's success in the smart home ecosystem?" Attitudes Towards Tech Giants Business Outlook: 2025 and Beyond Business Expectation for 2025 vs. 2024 vs. 2023 Drivers of Positive 2025 Outlook Reasons for Challenged Outlook Business Challenges in the Future Goals for Connected Product Business in 2025 "What competitive advantages do you see as most critical for success in the smart home market?" Connected Home Market Growth Outlook: 2025-2028 For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Executives Get 141 Years in Prison for Italy PFAS Contamination

Bloomberg