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☆ TikTok's global head of marketing is leaving as part of a reorg. Read the leaked memo to staff outlining the changes.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-20 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewKate Jhaveri, TikTok's head of global marketing, is leaving the company this month as part of a leadership shake-up, according to an internal memo shared with staffers. "Together, we decided the best way to achieve this vision is to remove the head of global marketing role, and bring everyone within Global Brand & Comms under one leader." Its former VP of global communications, Hilary McQuaide, exited the company that same month, the executive posted on LinkedIn. Together, we decided the best way to achieve this vision is to remove the head of global marketing role, and bring everyone within Global Brand & Comms under one leader, aligning our work and goals toward one comprehensive vision. AdvertisementFinally, we are also making a change to our social media team to enable a more scalable model for Global Brand & Comms.

Persons: —, Kate Jhaveri, Zenia Mucha, Mucha, Jhaveri, Zuber Mohammed, Hilary McQuaide, ByteDance, Kate, Dexter Fedor, Manish Gupta, Alistair Lennie, Zuber, Alastair Boyle, Jordan Guo, Carol Baracat, Helen Lawrence, Erin Fors Organizations: Service, Global, Business, Disney, NBA, LinkedIn, CSR, AMS, EMEA, Global Brand Locations: Beijing

☆ 'Fly Me to the Moon' explores the ultimate space race conspiracy theory. Here's what's fact and fiction in the movie.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Ayomikun Adekaiyero | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read preview"Fly Me to the Moon," Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum's new romantic comedy-drama about faking the moon landing, is fictional but draws on some true historical events. The White House eventually tasks Kelly with filming a fake moon landing in case the real one fails. Apollo 11 spaceship launch director Cole Davis (Tatum) opposes Kelly's plan, believing it will discredit NASA's efforts. This storyline leans into the conspiracy theory that NASA faked the US moon landing in 1969. But there's no evidence to suggests NASA or any network tried to fake the moon landing.

Persons: —, Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum's, Kelly Jones, Johansson, Kelly, Cole Davis, Tatum, NASA's, Bill Kaysing, Greg Berlanti, Berlanti, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Michael Collins, Cole, Nick Dillenburg, Christian Zuber, Colin Woodell, Ed White, Roger Chaffee, Gus Grissom, Nikita Khrushchev, Yuri Gargarin, Henry Smalls, Ray Romano, Dan McFadden, Sony Pictures Kelly didn't, David Meerman Scott, Richard Jurek's, Armstrong's Organizations: Service, Business, NASA, Hollywood, Entertainment, Sony Pictures, Television, Sony Pictures NASA's Locations: USSR, Cape Kennedy, Florida, Christian, Vietnam

☆ Review: A ‘Roméo et Juliette’ Is Saved by Its Stars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Oussama Zahr | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two weeks ago at the Metropolitan Opera, a superb cast in “La Forza del Destino” outshone a new, somewhat confused staging by Mariusz Trelinski. And now, Bartlett Sher’s handsome yet unconvincing 2016 production of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” has returned to the house with a pair of singers in splendid form. Sher’s staging situates the action on a raised platform surrounded by stone facades and colonnades. Beautifully lit by Jennifer Tipton and costumed by Catherine Zuber, the production runs out of ideas quickly. But that doesn’t really matter when you have singers on the order of Nadine Sierra and Benjamin Bernheim in the title roles.

Persons: Mariusz Trelinski, Bartlett Sher’s, Roméo, Juliette ”, Jennifer Tipton, Catherine Zuber, Nadine Sierra, Benjamin Bernheim Organizations: Metropolitan Opera, Forza Locations: “

☆ A financially independent investor shares the strategy he used to buy a NYC apartment for 'about 20% cheaper than I would have bought it last year'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"A, people have less access to capital and less purchasing power because interest rates are so high. People don't want to leave their lower interest rates to enter into a higher interest rate mortgage." This is a strategy that California-based real estate investor Mike Zuber refers to as " learning your buy box ." To pick your buy box, spend time walking through different neighborhoods, going to open houses, and looking at rental listings. He had a major advantage in that he could make all-cash offers, he noted, but anyone can use the "buy box" strategy to find deals right now when there are less buyers.

Persons: Grant Sabatier, it's, don't, Sabatier, they're, Mike Zuber, seasonality, It's Organizations: Rolex, Business Locations: Ohio, Indiana, New York City, California, Park Slope, New York

About 1 in 5 American workers, nearly 30 million people, are bound by noncompete agreements, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Horror stories about companies using noncompete agreements to trap workers in middling jobs or punish them for taking their skills elsewhere for better pay prompted New York legislators to pass a bill last June that would ban noncompete agreements. "But the fact that I had to spend a year fighting off my former employer was just wrong.”A handful of states, including California, already ban noncompete agreements. Other states, including Minnesota and Oklahoma, have laws that void noncompete agreements if a person is laid off. Advocates for the bill argue that striking noncompete agreements will actually be good for innovation.

Persons: Kathy Hochul hasn't, Richard Tatum, “, Tatum, Joe Biden, she’s, ”, Paul Zuber, Sean Ryan, ” Ryan, ” ___, Khan, Maysoon Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, New, Public Policy Institute, Business Council, New York City, Hochul, Democrat, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America, Twitter Locations: ALBANY, N.Y, New York, California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas, Silicon Valley

☆ Biden teases forthcoming executive order on AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The White House plans to introduce a highly anticipated executive order in the coming weeks dealing with artificial intelligence, President Joe Biden said Wednesday. Biden’s signing of the order would build on an earlier administration proposal for an “AI Bill of Rights.” Civil society groups have urged the Biden administration to require federal agencies to implement the AI Bill of Rights as part of any executive order on the technology. Meanwhile, the US Senate is continuing to educate lawmakers on artificial intelligence in preparation for months of legislative work on the issue. “Vast differences exist among them in terms of what potential it has, what dangers there are, and so, I have a keen interest in AI,” Biden said. The meeting also saw presidential advisers showcasing to Biden several use cases for artificial intelligence.

Persons: Joe Biden, I’m, ” Biden, Biden, he’s, “ I’ve, ”, Maria Zuber Organizations: CNN, White, Presidential, Advisors, Science, Technology, United, Biden Locations: America, United States, United Kingdom

At the same time, the property price surge and demand for the ultra-high-end segment is stirring memories of old excesses. In 2008, the global financial crisis hit Dubai hard, leading to a flight of capital and people, a crash in property prices and highly leveraged flagship companies known as government-related entities (GREs) struggling to repay debts. Dubai set up a Debt Management Office in 2022, has repaid or restructured some outstanding debt, and announced plans to list government stakes in 10 companies to raise capital and deepen financial markets. 'GLOBAL SAFE HAVEN'The United Arab Emirates' commercial centre, Dubai has shovelled resources into social and business reforms and sectors like digital technology. Average property prices rose 12.8% in Q1, with villa prices up almost 15%, according to property research firm CBRE.

Persons: Knight Frank, Nasser Al Shaikh, GREs, Shaikh, Justin Alexander, Betterhomes, Richard Waind, Philippe Zuber, Beyonce, Rachna Uppal, Yousef Saba, Lisa Barrington, William Maclean Organizations: Reuters, Khalij, GlobalSource Partners, Dubai Media Office, Management, HAVEN, United Arab Emirates, Villa, Dubai Inc, Emirates, Kerzner, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, DUBAI, Dubai, glitzy, Property, Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi, Gulf, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE

☆ UK supermarket Asda to buy petrol stations operator EG Group UK
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

British supermarket group Asda said it would buy petrol station operator EG Group's UK and Ireland business to accelerate its move into the convenience sector, creating a company with combined revenues of nearly 30 billion pounds ($38 billion). Asda, Britain's third-largest grocer, and EG are both owned by brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa and private equity group TDR Capital. The deal, which includes around 350 petrol stations and over 1,000 food-to-go locations, values EG at 2.27 billion pounds, including debt, the groups said on Tuesday. 2 supermarket and the deal will enable it to roll out Asda Express across the EG petrol estate. Since the Issa brothers bought Asda in 2021, 166 EG sites have already been converted to the "Asda on the Move" format.

☆ UK's Asda to buy EG petrol stations unit in $2.9-bln deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Asda, Britain's third-largest grocer, and EG are both owned by brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa and private equity group TDR Capital. The unit of around 350 petrol stations and over 1,000 food-to-go locations will be valued at 2.27 billion pounds. The deal will help spur Asda in its drive to overtake Sainsbury's (SBRY.L) and become Britain's No. 2 supermarket as it rolls out the Asda Express across the EG petrol estate. The Issa brothers bought Asda in 2021 and have already converted 166 EG sites to the "Asda on the Move" format.

☆ Big landlords are barreling towards a 'reckoning.' But smaller ones are doing just fine.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Some big landlords are starting to feel the squeeze of stalled rents and increased operating expenses. The main difference between 'big' and 'small' landlords: the financingA key difference between smaller, mom-and-pop landlords and larger landlords is how they're financing deals. While small landlords are typically purchasing single-family homes or multi-family properties like duplexes and triplexes, which you can finance with residential debt, big landlords are buying apartment buildings and have to use commercial debt. With a residential loan, you can typically get a fixed interest rate, which will not change over the lifetime of the loan. "One of the reasons I invest in four units or less is you get 30-year fixed rate debt," he said.

☆ Profit at UK supermarket Asda slumps on inflation hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, March 29 (Reuters) - British supermarket group Asda on Wednesday reported a 24% fall in annual earnings after it decided not to pass the full impact of cost inflation onto consumers, taking a hit to profits instead. Asda, owned by brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa and private equity firm TDR Capital, said core earnings, or adjusted EBITDA, were 886 million pounds ($1.1 billion) in 2022, down from 1.17 billion pounds in 2021, on flat sales of 20.45 billion pounds. Grocery inflation in March hit a record high of 17.5%, according to market researcher Kantar. The group said it was making progress towards achieving its long-term goal of becoming the number two supermarket in UK grocery. In January, the Times reported that the Issas and TDR were exploring a merger of EG and Asda.

☆ Enterprise Tech Firms Push Further Into Generative AI
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Angus Loten | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Generative AI, the technology underlying the viral ChatGPT chatbot, runs on algorithmic language models trained on vast amounts of online data. “We think 2023 will be the year that generative AI will become prevalent and a key component of modern office work,” he said. On Tuesday, the company launched a $250 million investing fund targeting generative AI startups. Yet despite assurances from the enterprise market’s biggest players, most corporate tech chiefs are taking a wait-and-see approach to ChatGPT-like generative AI technology, analysts said. Steve Santana, chief information officer at educational-testing company ETS, said he is more open to working with large enterprise-technology firms on generative AI capabilities, rather than small niche providers.

☆ Asda retail boss Towle leaves after less than ten months
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Feb 20 (Reuters) - British supermarket group Asda said on Monday retail director Ken Towle is leaving the business less than ten months after starting the job. Asda also said on Monday it had appointed Aldi UK veteran David Hills as its new chief customer officer. Hills has been at the German-owned discounter since 2007 and is currently group director, marketing & communications. Asda said acting chief customer officer, Sam Dickson, will continue in the role until Hills arrives later this year and will then assume a strategy role for the Asda and George brands. Asda had a tough 2022 but in November reported a return to quarterly sales growth, while industry data has shown its sales growth matching that of Tesco and Sainsbury's.

☆ Costcutter owner Bestway buys Sainsbury's stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( James Davey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sainsbury's shares were up 4.5% on Friday, hitting their highest since April and leading gainers on the FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index. The 3.45% stake makes Bestway Sainsbury's sixth largest investor, Refinitiv Eikon data showed. Asda was purchased by brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa and private equity company TDR Capital for an enterprise value of 6.8 billion pounds, while Morrisons was bought by U.S. private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for 7 billion pounds. Sainsbury's proposed 7.3 billion pounds takeover of Asda was blocked by Britain's competition regulator in 2019. Shares in Sainsbury's closed on Thursday at 239.4 pence, valuing the business at 5.6 billion pounds.

☆ Owners of UK supermarket Asda and EG Group considering merger, the Times reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - British supermarket chain Asda could be merged with petrol forecourts business EG Group under plans being explored by the owners of both companies, the London-based Times reported on Saturday. The combination would create a retail giant worth between 11 billion and 13 billion pounds ($13.6 billion-$16.1 billion) which would have more than 581 supermarkets, 700 petrol forecourts and 100 convenience stores in Britain, the newspaper said. Brothers Zuber and Mohsin Issa and London-based private equity group TDR Capital have owned EG Group together since 2016. Asda and TDR Capital declined to comment. Talks over merging the two businesses come ahead of a refinancing of EG Group, which has 7 billion pounds of debt due in 2025, according to the report.

☆ 8 money books that can help you build wealth in 2023, according to real estate investors, 'super savers,' and finance experts who have read them cover-to-cover
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Another popular choice among real estate investors specifically is "Rich Dad Poor Dad." It was Ramit Sethi's popular money book that taught them how to be more intentional when it came to spending. Real estate"Retire on Real Estate" by Kai AndersonAvery Heilbron, who achieved financial freedom before 30 partly thanks to his investment properties, says that "Retire on Real Estate" is what nudged him in the direction of buying property to build wealth. Courtesy of Avery HeilbronIf you want to build long-term wealth, "I think real estate is 100% the best thing," Heilbron said. "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert KiyosakiThis classic by Robert Kiyosaki is a favorite among real estate investors and early retirees, including Mike Zuber, who was able to quit his day job in his 40s thanks to his lucrative real estate portfolio.

☆ 5 real-estate investing veterans share their wealth-building strategies heading into 2023, including how they're finding great deals and putting their cash to work
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Others are focused on optimizing their current rental properties. Dana Bull is optimizing the rental properties she already ownsReal estate investor and consultant Dana Bull. Matt 'The Lumberjack Landlord' is bolstering his cash cushionNew Hampshire-based real estate investor Matt "The Lumberjack Landlord" and his family. Karina Mejia is poised to expand her portfolio and wants properties that will immediately cash flowReal estate investor Karina Mejia owns properties in Boston and Georgia. Mike Zuber is writing aggressive offers two times a weekReal estate investor Mike Zuber and his wife Olivia.

☆ 4 real estate investors agree that mortgage interest rates are 'not that high' and explain why 2023 could actually be a great time to buy property
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

A handful of successful real estate investors agree that mortgage interest rates aren't too high. A handful of successful real estate investors agree: Stop waiting for interest rates to go down before investing in a rental property or buying a primary residence. In the grand scheme of things, today's rates are "not that high," emphasized Massachusetts-based real estate investor and consultant Dana Bull. Here's what Bull and three other successful real estate investors advise heading into 2023. When you focus on making the numbers work for you and getting a great cash-on-cash return, things like rising interest rates don't matter as much, he added: "I don't care if interest rates are 7%, 9% or 11%.

☆ How do real estate investors 'do the numbers?' An investor with 9 properties shares the method — and spreadsheet — that helps him identify a good deal and avoid the bad ones.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

It's also correlated with risk: Generally, a high cap rate points to a riskier investment, since a high cap rate means a lower property value. A "good cap rate" depends on your market and how much risk you're willing to tolerate. To calculate cap rate, you need to know your NOI, which is your estimated annual rent minus your annual operating expenses. To calculate NOI, you subtract annual operating expenses from annual rent, which is an assumption based on rent prices in the area. He's not the only investor who focuses on cash flow: Mike Zuber, who owns over 100 units in Fresno, California, says that cash flow should be a top priority when evaluating investment properties.

☆ Here’s how China’s COVID lockdown protests are sparking unrest across markets and rattling the global investing landscape.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Today we're going over what the ongoing protests in China mean for markets and investors. While the protests in China have been largely peaceful, some protesters have been met with violence from the authorities. Anti-government protests have erupted from Shanghai to Beijing as citizens rise up in opposition of China's zero-COVID policies. "Markets don't like bad news, and protests are bad news," Laffer told me on a phone call yesterday. China protests over lockdown measures could mean inflation gets stuck at 4%, according to Mohamed El-Erian.

☆ A real-estate investor who retired in his 40s doubled his portfolio during the 2008 housing market crash. He shares what he learned from investing in the downturn and 4 tips for investors heading into
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Real estate investor Mike Zuber doubled his portfolio in the aftermath of the 2008 housing crash. After purchasing their first rental, they continued working full-time and living frugally to save more money to buy more real estate. At this point, Zuber has been doing real estate investing for 20 years. The real estate investing veteran spoke to Insider about what he learned from investing in 2008 and offered some concrete advice for investors today. When it comes to real estate investing, "if you hold long enough, you're going to be just fine," he said.

☆ 4 real estate investors explain how their investing strategies have shifted, why they're still buying property right now, and their advice for beginners
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Veteran real estate investors agree that now is an excellent time to expand your property portfolio. Veteran real estate investors agree that now is an excellent time to expand your property portfolio if you have the means. Mike Zuber is 'ecstatic for what's coming' and writing 'aggressive offers' twice a weekReal estate investor Michael Zuber and his family. Matt 'the Lumberjack Landlord' is preparing for rent delinquencies and a market correctionNew Hampshire-based real estate investor Matt "the Lumberjack Landlord" and his family. Courtesy of Matt and AshleyOne veteran real estate investor is gearing up for rough economic times and a potential 2023 recession.

☆ A top economist breaks down why he's forecasting a 50% chance of recession next year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

In a wide-ranging conversation, Moody's Analytics' Mark Zandi broke down his US recession forecast and how a looming housing correction differs from 2008. The way Mark Zandi sees it, the US is facing a 50% chance of a recession next year, but his baseline forecast actually sounds more optimistic than those odds. "I expect prices to be down 10% peak to trough, with no recession," he said. Bank of America analysts shared one area of the bond market that's set to deliver 13% returns in 2023. A recession presents an opportunity to build wealth as a real estate investor, Mike Zuber explained.

☆ A real estate investor who owns more than 100 rental units says that investors should be 'a lot more excited to buy this year than last.' Here's his 4-step process for finding a great deal.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Start by deciding where you want to buy property and learn everything about that market. Then, figure out what an "average deal" is in your area so you can score great deals. If you're going to be a buy-and-hold investor in a new area, get a buy box and make it hyper-focused." "The more you know your buy box, the better your chances at finding a great deal," he said. I'm willing to write lots of offers and I will close on every great deal."

☆ One office building is trying a radical new ploy to lure Google and other firms to Brooklyn
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An office building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is slashing rents and offering flexible leases. At 25 Kent Ave., it's offering 50% off to lure tech and media firms that are attracted to Manhattan. In July 2019, Rubenstein opened an eight-story, 511,000-square-foot office building at 25 Kent Ave. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Bilyana DimitrovaTarget tenants include Google, Facebook, Amazon, and companies that have over 500,000 square feet of office space in Manhattan. People who work at 25 Kent have access to its fitness center.

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