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☆ Patagonia lays off staff and launches a 'business transformation' to set it up for the next 50 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Patagonia laid off 41 members of staff on Monday as part of a major business transformation. AdvertisementPatagonia laid off 41 members of staff on Monday and announced a major business transformation aimed at preparing the company for the next 50 years. The CEO told staff that the layoffs were "a sad and difficult decision" but were part of the company's transformation for the "next chapter." New roles are being created, some are being eliminated and many are evolving," Gellert told staff in the internal email. Gellert told staff to expect more details over the coming days, weeks, and months.

Persons: Ryan Gellert, —, Gellert, Diego Donamaria, Yvon Chouinard, Chouinard, Campbell Brewer, Vincent Stanley, Stanley Organizations: Service, BI, Walmart Locations: Patagonia, Ventura, Reno

☆ Don’t get sick from salmonella this holiday season
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Lisa Drayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Martin Wiedmann: Salmonella is a microorganism that is very small. You might ingest salmonella 100 times, and 99% of the time you are fine, but then one time you get sick. Wiedmann: Raw cookie dough represents a risk for salmonella, even if you have eaten raw cookie dough in the past without getting sick. Best ways to avoid getting infected with salmonellaTo limit your chances of salmonella infection, cook raw meat and poultry properly. If a spatula touches raw meat on a grill for example, that spatula can also be a source of salmonella.

Persons: Martin Wiedmann, Martin, miodrag ignjatovic, Will, cantaloupe, ” Wiedmann, Lisa Drayer Organizations: CNN, Cornell University, New York, New York State Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence, salmonella, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, “, Food and Drug Administration, US Department of Agriculture Locations: Ithaca , New York, New York State, United States

REUTERS/Bianca Flowers Acquire Licensing RightsSept 22 (Reuters) - Jeffrey Aznavorian has already cut output about 6% at his small auto parts factory outside Detroit due to the United Auto Workers strike. If the strike expands, it would only be a matter of weeks before some smaller suppliers faltered, said Marick Masters, a professor of business at Wayne State University. He estimates 30% of smaller suppliers carry too much debt to survive a long strike. Other measures also point to a supply base that was strained even before the strike. RapidRatings calculates "core health scores" for privately owned auto parts companies - based on a 100-point scale - which looks at their returns, cost structures, and capital structure.

Persons: Bianca Flowers, Jeffrey Aznavorian, Pittsburgh steelmaker, Laurie Harbour, Marick, James Gellert, Gellert, Timothy Aeppel, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Ford UAW, Detroit, REUTERS, United Auto Workers, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, GM, Anderson Economic, Auto, CIE, Spain’s CIE Automotive, . Steel, Pittsburgh, Reuters, Harbour, Inc, Wayne State University, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Detroit, Michigan, Midwest, Illinois, Southfield , Michigan, Plymouth , Michigan

☆ Patagonia boss shares the No. 1 responsibility all CEOs have right now—it takes 'courage' to pull off
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Ashton Jackson | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert has a simple message for other leaders across corporate America: Start taking your responsibility to the environment seriously. "I think common sense tells us that the climate ecological crisis is one of the biggest threats facing humanity." Thousands of CEOs across the world say evolving to more environmentally-conscious business models is essential for the longevity of their companies, the 26th annual PwC Global CEO Survey found. CEOs with the "courage" and "consistent willingness to do the work" could reap similar benefits, Gellert said. DON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life?

Persons: Ryan Gellert, Gellert, Yvon Chouinard, aren't, Axios Harris Organizations: PwC Global, Survey, Harvard, McKinsey & Co, Costco, Apple, CNBC Locations: Patagonia, America

☆ Private auto suppliers see secondary consequences of UAW strike, says RapidRatings CEO Gellert
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailPrivate auto suppliers see secondary consequences of UAW strike, says RapidRatings CEO GellertRapidRatings CEO James Gellert joins 'The Exchange' to discuss risks the UAW strike poses to the auto supply chain, the shift in auto production spawned by EV, and the impact the rising cost of cars has on gross auto sales.

Persons: Gellert, James Gellert Organizations: UAW, EV

☆ American Airlines is suing Skiplagged, accusing the travel site of being a 'classic bait and switch'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Taylor Rains | Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

American Airlines filed a lawsuit against Skiplagged.com on Thursday. Both United Airlines and Southwest Airlines have sued Skiplagged.com in the past. American Airlines has had enough of Skiplagged.com. Then, Southwest Airlines filed a lawsuit against Skiplagged in 2021 after it showed the airline's ticket prices. United Airlines and travel booking Orbitz accused Skiplagged of costing them $75,000 in their 2014 lawsuit.

Persons: Skiplagged.com, Orbitz, Aktarer Zaman, Zaman, d3sign, Skiplagged, Dan Gellert, United, Charlotte —, Gellert Organizations: American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Morning, American, His North, Skiplagged, Delta Air Lines Locations: The Texas, Texas, Florida, New York, Charlotte, His, His North Carolina, American, Chicago, New York City, Southwest

☆ A controversial hack to save on plane tickets carries a 'super big risk,' says travel expert
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Baona | E+ | Getty ImagesThe carrier, American Airlines, reportedly discovered the traveler's intent and canceled their ticket. When booking a flight, travelers agree to airlines' contracts, or conditions of carriage. They may have been able to sell an empty seat to another passenger, or perhaps sell a more expensive nonstop ticket to the skiplagging passenger, for example. Additionally, when travelers deviate from what's expected it messes with airlines' internal planning, flight scheduling and data science, for example, Slotnick said. Thousands of people book Skiplagging or hidden city tickets every day and we generally hear of no issues from any of them," Gellert said.

Persons: Natnan, Skiplagged.com, Baona, Slotnick, David Slotnick, Guy More, Orbitz, They're, Dan Gellert, Skipplagged.com, Gellert Organizations: American Airlines, Skiplagged.com's, Airlines Locations: Gainesville , Florida, New York, Charlotte , North Carolina, Charlotte

☆ Rapid Ratings CEO: We will see a significant increase in defaults in mid-size private companies
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailRapid Ratings CEO: We will see a significant increase in defaults in mid-size private companiesRapid Ratings CEO James Gellert joins 'The Exchange' to discuss refinance troubles for upcoming debt maturities, industry and business size impacting borrowing dynamics, and small companies feeling the strain from contraction in customer budgets.

Persons: James Gellert Organizations: Rapid

☆ Watch CNBC's full interview with RapidRatings CEO James Gellert
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWatch CNBC's full interview with RapidRatings CEO James GellertRapid Ratings CEO James Gellert joins 'The Exchange' to discuss refinance troubles for upcoming debt maturities, industry and business size impacting borrowing dynamics, and small companies feeling the strain from contraction in customer budgets.

Persons: James Gellert

☆ How to book a skiplag flight to save money — and why you shouldn't
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"Skiplagging" is the practice of booking an airline ticket with the layover city intended as the destination. The strategy involves booking a flight with a layover intended as the destination city and then skipping the second leg. Founded by computer scientist Aktarer Zaman in 2013, the website helps customers find "hidden city" fares based on their preferred airports and destination. This did not bode well with Lufthansa, which identified the itinerary as hidden city ticketing and then requested about $2,400 from the customer as additional payment, according to court documents. American Airlines, for example, added new tools in 2021 to help agents recognize a hidden city ticket.

☆ Tesla has more ability to experiment than other automakers, says Rapid Ratings CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTesla has more ability to experiment than other automakers, says Rapid Ratings CEOJames Gellert, Rapid Ratings CEO, joins 'Power Lunch' to discuss Tesla's price cuts and the state of the auto industry.

The timeline shows the challenges of quickly finding and implementing replacements for Packers Sanitation Services Inc (PSSI), which provides cleaning services at slaughterhouses. "We made the decision to terminate the agreements with PSSI," Hans Kabat, who leads Cargill's protein business in North America, told Reuters. Cargill said it notified PSSI in March that it was terminating services at a beef plant in Dodge City, Kansas, and then followed with all PSSI's sanitation contracts. One of the largest penalties stemmed from PSSI's contracts at Cargill's plant in Dodge City. Cargill, the world's largest ground beef producer, is reviewing options for cleaning plants, Kabat said.

WASHINGTON, April 25 (Reuters) - Chrysler-parent Stellantis NV (STLAM.MI) wants to cut approximately 3,500 hourly U.S. jobs and is offering voluntary exit packages, according to a United Auto Workers union letter made public Tuesday. A person briefed on the matter said the figure might be lower than the figure cited in the UAW letter. The action impacted about 1,350 workers at the Belvidere, Illinois, plant that built the Jeep Cherokee SUV and resulted in indefinite layoffs. The UAW letter said openings created by workers leaving would be filled by workers on indefinite layoff. Stellantis said in February that about 40,000 U.S. hourly workers were eligible for profit sharing.

Companies European Central Bank FollowLONDON, April 24 (Reuters) - France's central bank governor François Villeroy de Galhau has pushed back against criticism of central banks' increasing involvement in the fight against climate change, calling the issue a "must have" focus. "Central banks' core mandate worldwide is price stability, and climate change already affects the level of prices and activity," Villeroy stressed. The debate about how much influence central banks can have in tackling climate issues has become increasingly divisive this year. Villeroy, however, who has long been a firm advocate of doing more, urged central banks and others to come up with better models of how climate change is likely to alter economies. It is also aiming to release short-term climate change scenarios by the end of 2024, which should show more adverse developments, incorporate tougher "shocks" and directly explore the potential impacts of climate change on inflation.

LONDON, April 24 (Reuters) - Issuing "catastrophe bonds" and setting up public-private partnerships could help plug the "insurance gap" to better cover damage from climate change, a discussion paper from the European Central Bank and European Union insurance regulators said on Monday. Only a quarter of EU climate-related catastrophe losses are insured, creating risks to the economy and financial stability from uninsured households and businesses not being able to recover quickly from extreme events like fire or flood, the paper from the ECB and EU insurance watchdog EIOPA said. Without action, the insurance gap could widen as more frequent and intense events lead to higher premiums, and impact credit supply from banks in high risk areas. Direct aggregate catastrophe losses in the EU totaled 487 billion euros ($535 billion) between 1980 and 2020, and insurer Swiss Re has estimated there were $120 billion of catastrophe losses globally last year. Actions could include incentivising people and businesses to mitigate against climate-related disasters by offering discounts on policies, the paper said.

OTTAWA, April 22 (Reuters) - A union representing some 155,000 striking Canadian public workers called on Saturday for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to speed up negotiations over a deal for higher wages and work-from-home guarantees. "I need to see the prime minister getting involved in these negotiations and helping and assisting to move these negotiations along," Aylward said. "There is no time, nor tolerance for stalling and misinformation," the office of Treasury Board President Mona Fortier said in a statement. Tax agency workers want a pay bump of 22.5% over three years, while the Treasury Board workers are seeking a 13.5% pay rise over three years. Apart from wages, PSAC also wants the new agreement to recognize the right to work remotely.

A Reuters review of testimony, previously unreported public documents and interviews with elected leaders, lobbyists and attorneys detail mounting challenges to many pending anti-ESG bills. The tussles have financial implications for some of the largest investment firms that manage billions of dollars for state pension plans. Lauren Doroghazi, senior vice president at government relations consultant MultiState Associates, said the debates show lawmakers coming to terms with the anti-ESG bills' practical impact. Several public pension systems raised concerns about it, including the largest, the $182 billion Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS). For instance, if federally-regulated local banks faced new national rules on an issue like climate change disclosures, banks would need special permissions from local officials to keep public business in Utah he said.

Companies Bp Plc FollowOSLO, April 22 (Reuters) - Norway's $1.4 trillion sovereign wealth fund, one of the world's largest investors, said on Saturday it will vote against a resolution calling on British oil major BP (BP.L) to adopt tougher greenhouse gas targets. The Norwegian fund, itself built on oil and gas revenue, owned 2.73% of BP's shares worth some $2.8 billion at the end of 2022. BP's board has recommended that shareholders vote against the resolution saying it was "unclear" what it wanted the company to do. Investor advisers ISS and Glass Lewis also recommended BP shareholders oppose the resolution, while Britain's Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) asked investors to back it. In February BP rowed back on plans to slash its 2019 oil and gas output levels by 40% by 2030, and now it envisages a 25% cut, angering climate activists.

Negotiators for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have asked the roughly 11,500 members to give them the power to call a strike after May 1 if contract talks break down. The last WGA strike, in 2007 and 2008, lasted 100 days. Film and television work has rebounded, but movie-going remains below pre-pandemic levels, despite blockbusters such as "Avatar: The Way of Water." Residuals paid to TV writers hit an unprecedented $493.6 million in 2021. In 2017, WGA members authorized a strike but reached a deal hours before writers headed to picket lines.

Below are key extracts from the G7 climate, energy and environment ministers' communique, including the annex. RUSSIA"We condemn Russia's illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine;"We stand ready to support the sustainable and resilient recovery and green reconstruction of Ukraine." "Currently $13 billion fiscal support that can be used for domestic and foreign projects is prepared across the G7 countries." PLASTIC POLLUTION"We are committed to end plastic pollution, with the ambition to reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040." Reporting by Katya Golubkova; Editing by David Dolan and William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

SYDNEY, April 16 (Reuters) - Fifty climate change activists were charged with unlawful protest near Australia's biggest coal export port on Sunday after protesters climbed on a coal train. Climate activist group Rising Tide, which claimed responsibility for the protest, said arrests were made when people were "occupying the train". "Twenty of the group scaled the train and used shovels to unload coal from the laden wagons," it said in a statement. Climate change is a divisive issue in Australia, the world's top exporter of coal. The protest group posted an image on Twitter showing protesters in front and on top of a coal train.

"Climate change is an existential risk and a risk to investor returns," said John Galloway, who oversees the Pennsylvania firm's engagement and proxy voting at portfolio companies, in an interview by teleconference. Galloway said in practice the proposal, which won 42% support, would have required a wholesale change to Valero's business, a decision best left to the board. "A proposal that’s asking a company to make a change that’s changing its strategy is not a proposal we're likely to support," Galloway said. U.S. Republican politicians applauded the move as responsive to their efforts to counter many companies' treatment of environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. Galloway said the decision was driven with an eye on the varied views of its largely retail client base.

NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - Firms find that investors penalize their stock less for high greenhouse gas emissions if they voluntarily disclose that data, researchers at Lazard's climate center said on Friday. For energy companies the effect was more pronounced: Disclosure actually increased their P/E measure by 0.8%. "People might assume the worst if you don't disclose," said Peter Orszag, chief executive of financial advisory at Lazard. Many firms have pledged in recent years to reduce their carbon emissions, but the report found this had little observable impact on their valuations. "Investors may not interpret pledges as bearing material weight, but rather as ... bolstering public relations," the report said.

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - The Biden administration's proposal on Wednesday to sharply cut tailpipe emissions and vehicle pollutants is on a fast track as the future of U.S. auto production could become a presidential campaign issue next year. Under Trump, the EPA reversed that decision and rolled back the Obama standards, a move that would have increased U.S. oil consumption by about 500,000 barrels per day by the 2030s. Biden, a self-proclaimed "car guy," will accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, the White House said on Wednesday. The EPA rules are also crucial to meeting the administration climate goals. Biden has said he intends to be the Democratic candidate for president in 2024 but has not made a formal announcement.

☆ 2 questions that helped Patagonia's CEO go from packing boxes for $6 an hour to leading a $3 billion brand
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-18 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert is seen on stage during the "Earth Is Now Our Only Shareholder" keynote session during 2023 SXSW Conference and Festival on March 12, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Patagonia CEO Ryan Gellert is the first to admit that he's "the last person anybody should ask career advice," he said in conversation with Katie Couric at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, recently. "And they said, 'No, we'd love to offer you $6 an hour to come pack boxes in the warehouse.' What he learned from Patagonia's founderGellert became Patagonia's CEO in 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and racial justice protests erupting around the country. Step by step, Gellert says, Chouinard will ask himself: "What did I learn?

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