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☆ Twilio cofounder Jeff Lawson appears to have just bought The Onion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Katherine Long | Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Satirical news website The Onion was sold to a company called Global Tetrahedron. Global Tetrahedron is also the name of a fictional evil megacorporation in a long-running Onion gag. But it's a real company, and Twilio founder Jeff Lawson appears to be behind it. AdvertisementJeff Lawson, the cofounder of cloud computing company Twilio, appears to have purchased the satirical news website The Onion from G/O Media. When asked whether he had purchased The Onion, Lawson played coy.

Persons: Jeff Lawson, —, Lawson, Jim Spanfeller, Katie Robertson, Spanfeller, coy, O Organizations: Service, O, New York Times Locations: San Francisco, Chicago

☆ Twilio board shakeup prompts renewed activist scrutiny
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

On Monday, Twilio announced a settlement with Sachem Head, an activist investor whose involvement in the company had been previously unreported. The agreement resulted in Twilio, which sells communications software, giving a board seat to Andy Stafman, a partner at Sachem Head. Two days later, Twilio said Byron Deeter, a prominent venture capitalist and early investor in the company, would be leaving the board. On March 11, less than a week after Twilio concluded the review, Sachem Head told the company it planned to nominate board candidates. "This issue remains relevant despite Mr. Deeter's departure given the continued directorship of another Bessemer partner," Gupta said.

Persons: Twilio, Jeff Lawson, Anson, that's, Andy Stafman, Byron Deeter, Sagar Gupta, Gupta, Lawson's, Legion, FactSet, Lawson, Sachem, Stafman, Deeter, Bessemer, Jeff Epstein Organizations: Anson Funds, Sachem, Board, Nasdaq, Legion Partners, CNBC, Bessemer Locations: Twilio, Europe, Anson, Bessemer

☆ Twilio begins operational review of activist-targeted business unit
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Twilio has been the subject of shareholder scrutiny over the performance of its Segment business, which it acquired at a large premium to its private-market valuation and has dragged on the performance of Twilio's longer-standing communications business. Activist investors at Anson Funds and Legion Capital have both said they would like the company to sell off either the Segment unit or the whole company. The company reported earnings per share, excluding items, of 86 cents, better than an LSEG, formerly Refinitiv, consensus estimate of 58 cents. The company reported a loss of $365.4 million in its fourth quarter. Analysts surveyed by StreetAccount had been expecting 311,000 active customers, but the company reported only 305,000 active customers.

Persons: Jeff Lawson, Twilio, Twilio didn't, Jeff Lawson's, Lawson, Khozema Shipchandler, Shipchandler, StreetAccount Organizations: Communications, Twilio Inc, New York Stock Exchange, Anson Funds, Legion Capital, Revenue, CNBC PRO Locations: New York City

☆ Lawson shares surge 18% after Japan's KDDI launches $3.4 billion privatization offer
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

A customer exits a Lawson Inc. convenience store in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Shares of Japan's third-largest convenience store chain Lawson surged 18% it received an offer to go private. The offer would see conglomerate Mitsubishi and mobile carrier KDDI jointly manage the convenience store chain, with each owning a 50% stake. This represents a 16% premium to Lawson's closing share price of 8,913 yen on Tuesday, valuing the offer at about 500 billion yen ($3.4 billion). KDDI currently owns a 2.11% stake in Lawson, while Mitsubishi owns 50.11%.

Persons: Lawson, KDDI Organizations: Lawson Inc, Mitsubishi, KDDI Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Lawson

☆ What to know about Lea Cayanan, the 'Bachelor' contestant who nabbed the first impression rose after throwing away her secret advantage
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In the first episode, lead Joey Graziadei gives the first impression rose to Lea Cayanan. But it's a whole different animal when you're actually handed that card," Joey told BI. Advertisement"I said it the whole time, from the beginning of 'After the Final Rose' to that moment with the card, she was dealt the hardest hand out of everyone. For Joey, his conversation with Lea about her difficult position made him realize he wanted to continue to get to know her, hence his decision to give her the first impression rose. AdvertisementHe told BI that he wanted to convey a lot by giving Lea the first impression rose, namely that he was impressed with how she handled the tough situation.

Persons: Joey Graziadei, Lea Cayanan, Joey, —, Joey Graziadei's, Lea, Charity, Dotun Olubeko, Lee, Rose, Jesse Palmer Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Hawaii, Waipahu, Lea

☆ What to know about Joey Graziadei, the star of 'The Bachelor' season 28
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Joey Graziadei stars on season 28 of "The Bachelor." AdvertisementDuring the emotional season 20 finale of "The Bachelorette," star Charity Lawson accepted a proposal from Dotun Olubeko after breaking things off with her runner-up, Joey Graziadei. A website for West Chester University's athletics department states that Joey was 5'11 and 170 lbs when he played tennis in the 2016-2017 season. His tennis career continued after college and now he's a coachAccording to Tennis Recruiting, Graziadei last ranked at No. Graziadei previously opened up about his family life during Lawson's season of "The Bachelorette."

Persons: Joey Graziadei, —, Charity Lawson, Dotun, Lawson, Graziadei, West Chester University of Pennsylvania Graziadei, Joey, it's, We've, Nick, Cathy, Serena Pitt, Joe Amabile Organizations: Service, ABC, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Ford High School, Ford, Pi Kappa Alpha, Division II, West Chester, Tennis, West Chester University's, United States Professional Tennis Association, Us Locations: Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Collegeville , Pennsylvania, Lawai, Kauai, West, Koloa

☆ Where to find all of Joey's 'Bachelor' contestants on Instagram
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Joey Graziadei is the lead of the new season of "The Bachelor." Here's where to find all of "The Bachelor" season 28 contestants on Instagram. Advertisement"The Bachelor" season 28 is finally here. The women on Graziadei's season of "The Bachelor" include a radiochemist from New Mexico and a pair of sisters from Philadelphia. We've rounded up what you need to know about all 32 contestants, as well as where to follow them on Instagram.

Persons: Joey Graziadei, —, We've Organizations: ABC, Service, Charity Locations: New Mexico, Philadelphia

☆ Twilio CEO Lawson steps down after bruising activist battles
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The move comes as Twilio grapples with two activist investors who have been pushing for significant changes. In a regulatory filing announcing the move, the company also said Twilio expected fourth-quarter revenue and income to come in above its prior guidance. Lawson will also step down from Twilio's board, where he had served as chairman. "I am honored to step into the CEO role," Shipchandler said in a release. We look forward to continuing to engage with Twilio's Board and management team going forward," he added.

Persons: Jeff Lawson, Spain Twilio, Twilio, Lawson, Khozema, Shipchandler, Jeff Epstein, we've, Jeff Lawson's, Sagar Gupta, Gupta, Partner's Organizations: Twilio, Mobile, Congress, Bessemer Venture Partners, Anson Funds, Legion Partners, CNBC, Qatalyst Partners, Twilio's, Partners, Twilio's Board, CNBC PRO Locations: Barcelona, Spain, Twilio

☆ Twilio lays off 5% of employees in unit activists want to divest
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Jeff Lawson, chief executive officer of Twilio Inc., during the Singapore FinTech Festival in Singapore, on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Software provider Twilio said Monday it would lay off roughly 5% of its workforce citing underachievement in the growth of a unit that activist investors have targeted. The cuts will strike deepest in Twilio's Data and Applications unit, the same unit activist investors at Legion Partners and Anson Funds are pushing Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson to divest. Lawson said in his letter that Twilio will also change how it sells its Flex digital engagement product. Anson and Legion have pushed Twilio to sell the Data & Applications unit, if not the whole company.

Persons: Jeff Lawson, Twilio, Anson, Legion, Lawson, hasn't Organizations: Twilio Inc, Singapore FinTech Festival, underachievement, Legion Partners, Anson Funds, CNBC, Securities, Exchange Commission, Communications, Legion Locations: Singapore

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Legislature didn't violate the state constitution when it approved congressional maps pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that helped the GOP replace a Black Democratic representative with a white conservative, an appeals court ruled Friday. The 1st District Court of Appeal reversed a lower court's ruling that the map that rewrote U.S. Rep. Alan Lawson's district was unconstitutional because it diminished Black voters' ability to elect a candidate of their choice. Voting rights groups had argued the new map was unconstitutional because it dismantled a district where Black citizens made up nearly half the registered voters. The appeals court agreed with DeSantis that a district can't be drawn to connect two Black communities that otherwise have no connection.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Alan Lawson's, DeSantis, “ Organizations: Republican Gov, GOP, Black Democratic, Rep, Black Locations: TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Florida, downtown Jacksonville, Gadsden County, Georgia, Washington, Alabama, Orlando

☆ A Florida judge struck down a DeSantis-drawn congressional map because it diminished the voting power of Black residents
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Florida judge has tossed the North Florida redistricting plan engineered by Gov. Judge J. Lee Marsh ruled that DeSantis' congressional map violated the state constitution. Lawson, who ran for reelection in 2022 and lost to Republican Rep. Neal Dunn in the conservative 2nd congressional district, praised the judge's ruling. "I am pleased the Court struck down the DeSantis congressional map, finding that his office and the Legislature violated the Constitution. My only goal right now is to ensure that fair representation is returned to the people of North Florida," he added.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Judge J, Lee Marsh, Al Lawson, J, DeSantis, Al Lawson's, Cord Byrd, Jasmine Burney, Clark, Duval County —, Lawson, Neal Dunn Organizations: Gov, Democratic, Service, Republican Gov, Black, GOP, Congressional, Republican, Florida Supreme, Politico, League of Women Voters, Jacksonville — Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, North Florida, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Lawson's, Duval County, Gadsden County

☆ A North Florida congressional district that was held by a Black Democrat before it was dismantled by Ron DeSantis could be restored in 2024 under a new agreement
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An agreement could potentially restore a North Florida House dismantled by DeSantis, per Politico. The agreement wouldn't end the litigation over DeSantis' map, but would limit the scope of arguments against the lines. Ron DeSantis, who's currently running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, wasn't satisfied, submitting a map that dismantled the plurality-Black congressional district of then-Democratic Rep. Al Lawson. But an ongoing legal challenge to the state's congressional maps has produced an agreement that could restore Lawson's North Florida district for the 2024 election, according to Politico. Another lawsuit involving the congressional maps is currently in federal court.

Persons: Democrat Al Lawson, Ron DeSantis, who's, wasn't, Al Lawson, Olivia Mendoza, DeSantis, Cord Byrd Organizations: Florida House, DeSantis, Politico, Democrat, Service, Republican, Democratic, Florida Supreme, GOP, National Redistricting Foundation, Black, Gov, Florida Republican, League of Women Voters Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Lawson's, Orlando, Tampa Bay

☆ Leaked memo: Amazon Studios parts ways with a longtime MGM film exec and expands others' roles in shakeup
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon Studios is shaking up its business ranks in the wake of its acquisition of MGM. Feldman has been at Amazon Studios since 2015 and was a VP at MTV for about four years before that. Feldman has been at Amazon Studios since 2015 and was a VP at MTV for about four years before that. Also getting new responsibilities is Sam Semon , who will have international business affairs consolidated under him, adding oversight for Ingrid Auyón Tanji, who leads business affairs in Latin America. , who will have international business affairs consolidated under him, adding oversight for Ingrid Auyón Tanji, who leads business affairs in Latin America.

Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson bought $10 million worth of his company's stock last week, putting him at the top of the list for insider buying, according to VerityData and securities filings. Twilio, like many other tech stocks, deflated in 2022, and the stock is down about 80% since mid-October 2021. A $10 million buy from Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson on Feb. 24. A nearly $2 million buy from Impinj chairman Steve Sanghi on Feb. 23. On the smaller side, Charles Rivers Labs director Richard Wallman made his second insider buy in three months.

☆ Twilio plans to lay off 17% of staff, internal email shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Twilio plans to lay off 17% of its staff, according to an internal email. "This is upsetting to be sure, so I want to share with you the reasons for making this tough decision, as well as some other changes," Lawson wrote. The company is also reorganizing to create new business divisions: Twilio Data & Applications, led by Elena Donio, and Twilio Communications, led by Khozema Shipchandler. Lawson's email said affected employees would be notified within three hours of the announcement via their personal addresses. Twilio's business boomed during the pandemic when demand for its communication services soared, and it hired thousands of new staff.

☆ 'It's embarrassing for our sport.': Duke University women's basketball coach says her team played first half with the wrong ball
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

According to Lawson, her players complained about the basketball during the first half of the game against FSU. While Lawson alleges it was men's basketball used in the first half, the ACC and FSU concluded otherwise, per ESPN. Despite her outrage, Atlantic Coast Conference and Florida State officials concluded the ball used during the first half of Sunday's game, which was played in Florida, wasn't a men's basketball. They beat us playing with a men's ball in the first half and a women's ball in the second half," Lawson said. "But I can't say if we'd have played with a women's ball in the first half and the second half that we would have won.

☆ Today's Google Doodle features a Silicon Valley trailblazer who knew Steve Jobs and Wozniak—and 'was not impressed with them'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Today's Google Doodle highlights a little-known piece of Silicon Valley history. The animation recognizes tech and gaming pioneer Jerry Lawson, one of the few Black engineers working in the tech industry in the 1970s. The console was a flop with consumers, but it changed the gaming industry forever by featuring the first-ever removable video game cartridges. A different figure from those early tech days made a much larger impression on Lawson: Allan Alcorn, creator of the iconic video game "Pong." The conversation prompted Lawson to start building his own coin-operated video game in his garage, called "Demolition Derby."

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