Day: June 5, 2024

AMEC Chair Official Handover 2024

AMEC Chair Official Handover 2024 during the Global Summit on Measurement

LONDON, June 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC) has announced the new incoming Chair of the association.

AMEC, the world’s largest media intelligence and insights professional body announced Raina Lazarova, Co-Founder of global media intelligence organisation Ruepoint, will take over the position for a two-year term commencing June 2024. As Chair, Raina Lazarova will lead the AMEC Board of Directors to continue to deliver on its mission to define, promote and advance best practice in communication measurement and evaluation, research, analysis, evaluation, data and insights in a fast-changing communication landscape.

The official handover took place at the 2024 AMEC Global Summit on Measurement, in Sofia 21-23 May which welcomed over 200 in-person attendees including communicators, public relations professionals, academics and those involved in the research and analytics industry.

Outgoing Chair Aseem Sood, CEO, Impact Research and Measurement Pvt said, “After a successful two-year tenure as the AMEC Chair, I am pleased to hand over the reins of leadership to Ms. Raina Lazarova. Her vision and innovative ideas make her the ideal person to guide AMEC into its next chapter of growth and success. I am confident that under her leadership, AMEC will continue to thrive and achieve even greater accomplishments. During the recent board meeting in Sofia, the AMEC Board deliberated and established the key areas of focus and strategic plan for the upcoming two years. I will continue to serve as an engaged member of the AMEC Board of Directors, with a specific focus on spearheading the development of a thought leadership editorial calendar for the board.”

New Chair elect Raina Lazarova said, “It is a great honour to have been elected Chair of AMEC’s board of directors. As a leading industry body, we will continue to promote the benefits of communication measurement and evaluation, while delivering value to our members and the extended communication community. The advent of generative AI has meant that we are in a very interesting time for the communication sector, and AMEC recognises its role in providing both thought leadership and support to the profession in leveraging new technologies.”

AMEC CEO, Johna Burke added, “We have International Board Director elections every year which assures members are engaged and represented as we consider the complex and important industry initiatives. It’s only every two years we hold a special election for the Chair role. During this transition, we celebrate Aseem’s leadership and contributions as Chair and welcome Raina who is a champion of the AMEC community. Raina is already working on collaborations allowing AMEC Members to navigate the known and unknown during the next two years as a collective to learn from each other and benefit from the global experience of the broadest ecosystem in the media intelligence industry.”

AMEC represents a global membership community of over 200 organizations including media monitoring and analysis companies, PR and communications agencies, brand owners and market research companies. The association has chapters across four continents – EMEA, Asia Pacific, North America and Latin America.

AMEC strives to support to the global communication industry with free educational resources and best practice guidance on how to plan, measure and evaluate performance to raise standards and promote the value of PR and Communication globally.

It is the founding organisation of the prominently accepted, adopted and applied best practice resources, including the Barcelona Principles (1.0, 2.0 and 3.0) and the globally used Integrated Evaluation Framework (IEF).

For more information about AMEC, please visit https://amecorg.com.

Connect with us

Contact us via AMEC CEO and Global Managing Director, Johna Burke – johna@amecorg.com

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BARCELONA, Spain and SAN FRANCISCO, June 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mediktor, the leading digital healthcare company, has announced the acquisition of Sensely, a San Francisco-based digital healthcare provider that pioneered an empathy-driven conversational platform to support hospital systems and insurance services with world-class member engagement. This consolidation of two world-leading artificial intelligence-driven solutions providers marks a major medical technology milestone, extending Mediktor’s global presence to more than 35 countries and expanding its footprint in the United States.

The merger creates one of the largest global providers of AI-based solutions in the healthcare ecosystem. The new organisation will be driven by an enriched conversational healthcare platform to help increase efficiency and reduce costs through its complementary technologies, including the company’s AI medical assistant. According to a recent survey of insurance customers, 54% of patients who used it were satisfied with the medical advice it provided and did not need additional services or follow-up from a physician.

“This acquisition is a transformative step for Mediktor, reinforcing our commitment to digital health innovation. By joining forces with Sensely, we will be able to offer a leading, best-in-class AI solution to multiple companies, ultimately improving access to healthcare for millions of people,” said Cristian Pascual, Chief Executive Officer of Mediktor.

As a result of the integration, Mediktor will acquire Mayo Clinic’s educational healthcare content developed under a pre-existing agreement with Sensely. Mayo Clinic will also become a shareholder in the combined company and will have an observer seat on the board of directors.

MTIP, a leading Swiss-based growth equity firm and long-time partner of Mediktor, has reaffirmed its confidence in the company’s vision and direction. As a member of Mediktor’s Board of Directors, MTIP has communicated its unwavering financial and strategic support for the company’s acquisition of Sensely and its overall growth strategy.

At the same time, Aliath Bioventures, a venture capital firm that has been supporting Mediktor since 2018, also played a significant role in facilitating this acquisition. Aliath remains deeply committed to supporting Mediktor’s strategic growth, strengthening its market leadership, and long-term success.

“Mediktor and Sensely represent the perfect synergy between AI-based symptom assessment and empathy-driven, patient-centric virtual assistance,” said Adam Odessky, co-founder and CEO of Sensely. “The combination of these two organisations provides customers with a strong, comprehensive suite of technology services that are proven to increase efficiency and reduce overhead costs for institutions, while delivering unparalleled personalised engagement services to patients and plan members. We’re excited to share Mediktor’s vision of becoming a leading player in an evolving and competitive digital healthcare environment.

Mediktor plans to integrate Sensely’s current staff and management team into the new organisation, with Mr. Odessky taking on the role of Chief Product Officer, bringing his extensive experience and leadership to the team.

About Mediktor

Mediktor is the most advanced AI-based medical chatbot for triage and pre-diagnosis, guiding patients to the right level of care at the right time – improving access while enabling more efficient care navigation. Powered by a sophisticated AI engine that allows users to converse naturally in multiple languages, Mediktor’s white-labelled SaaS is omnichannel and can be easily embedded into any interface (web, mobile, desktop). Mediktor’s customers include health plans, hospitals and health systems, telemedicine and pharmaceutical companies. For further information please visit www.mediktor.com.

About Sensely

Sensely is a leading innovator of avatar- and chatbot-based platforms designed to assist insurance plan members and patients with insurance services and healthcare resources whenever they need them. With offices in San Francisco and London, Sensely’s global teams provide virtual assistant solutions to a range of diverse healthcare sectors, including insurance companies, hospital systems and pharmaceutical clients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.sensely.com.

About MTIP
MTIP is a Swiss-based growth equity firm investing in European healthtech companies that aim to revolutionise global healthcare. The team leverages deep sector expertise to help scale up successful and sustainable healthtech businesses. For more information, visit www.mtip.ch.

About Aliath Bioventures
Aliath Bioventures, formerly known as Alta Life Sciences, is a life sciences venture capital firm part of the AltamarCAM group. Aliath aims to provide solutions to the most pressing healthcare challenges by targeting therapeutics and HealthTech companies built on innovative and disruptive trends. For more information visit https://www.aliathbio.com/.

Media Relations Contact
David Patti
Telephone: +1 908.421.5971
Email: dspcommsconsulting@gmail.com
www.mediktor.com

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Platform offers agents improved networking and business connections on a worldwide scale

BELLINGHAM, Wash., June 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — eXp Realty^®, the largest real estate brokerage on the planet and the core subsidiary of eXp World Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPI), is proud to announce the launch of its Global Agent Referral Platform, designed to simplify and accelerate the real estate referral process. This innovative tool empowers its agents worldwide to effortlessly connect and collaborate, contributing to a robust and interconnected global marketplace

David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd, as one of the speakers on Yi Cai’s Chief Strategy Forum on Chinese investment opportunities

David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd, shares insights with Yi Cai on the surge in foreign interest in Chinese investments. He explores the factors driving major investors to Chinese markets and offers his outlook on their future growth.

LONDON, June 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — David Barrett, CEO of EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd, recently shared his insights on the burgeoning interest in Chinese investments during an in-depth interview with Yi Cai. Barrett explored the factors driving major investors toward Chinese markets and offered his outlook on the future of these investments.

Surge in Foreign Interest

In recent months, there has been a notable increase in foreign interest in Chinese stocks, driven by high-profile investors. Michael Burry, well-known for his predictions during ‘The Big Short,’ has significantly raised his investments in JD.com and Alibaba. Similarly, David Tepper’s hedge fund has heavily invested in technology and Chinese markets. This growing interest is reflected in the performance of the Nasdaq Golden Dragon China Index, which surged by 14.86% from April 22 to May 3, achieving its largest two-week gain since January 2023. On May 16, the Index closed up by 2.49%, marking its highest level since September 2023.

Barrett attributes this renewed interest to the relative value Chinese markets offer. “Chinese indexes have struggled since the property-led bust in 2021, causing a significant dip in foreign direct investment and domestic confidence. However, this has led to extreme pricing discrepancies, making Chinese stocks an attractive option for value-focused investors,” Barrett explained. “Investors like Burry and Tepper are known for their strategic focus on high-concentration portfolios, and their significant investments in Chinese companies signal strong confidence in the potential upside of these markets.”

Future Prospects of Chinese Investments

Looking ahead, Barrett remains optimistic about the continued growth of Chinese markets. “There are several indicators suggesting that the Chinese government is taking effective measures to stimulate economic growth and restore market confidence,” Barrett noted. “Efforts to support vulnerable areas of the economy, encourage domestic investments, and stabilize the financial landscape are beginning to show positive results.”

He emphasized the crucial role of domestic policy in sustaining this growth. “Policies aimed at reducing property-related risks, supporting the semiconductor industry, and encouraging state-owned enterprises to strengthen their financial positions are essential. Additionally, initiatives to increase dividend payouts among Chinese companies are likely to attract more foreign investors seeking yield in a higher interest rate environment.”

Promising Sectors and Global Asset Allocation

Barrett highlighted the technology sector as a key area for investment within the A-share and Hong Kong stock markets. “Chinese tech companies are at the forefront of innovation, and with substantial government backing, they are well-positioned to navigate global challenges,” Barrett asserted. “For instance, if China faces headwinds in purchasing semiconductors, they have the capability to develop their own. Given the impressive profit margins seen in companies like NVIDIA, there is a strong incentive for Chinese firms to produce competitive, lower-cost chips. With significant government support and investment, the resilience and growth potential in this sector are considerable.”

He also identified the electric vehicle (EV) industry as a promising sector. “EVs as a topic has been grabbing a lot of column inches of late,” Barrett observed. “However, it’s uncertain how well Western brands will perform in mainland China, and vice versa, how Chinese brands will fare in the global market. Despite these challenges, Chinese tech remains on the cutting edge, and any progress, especially amid geopolitical tensions, will likely bolster domestic investment. This increased focus on local innovation and development will enhance the industry’s growth prospects.”

From a global perspective, Barrett advises a diversified asset allocation strategy, cautioning against overreliance on US stocks. “While US markets have experienced substantial growth, it is crucial to consider opportunities elsewhere, such as in China, where valuations are compelling,” he explained. “Given the recent run-up in US stocks, there is a need to be cautious and diversify. Commodities like gold remain attractive as a store of value and a hedge against economic and geopolitical uncertainties. As central banks continue to manage liquidity and interest rates, maintaining a balanced portfolio that includes undervalued international assets and tangible commodities could provide stability and growth potential.”

About EBC Financial Group
Founded in the esteemed financial district of London, EBC Financial Group (EBC) is renowned for its comprehensive suite of services that includes financial brokerage, asset management, and comprehensive investment solutions. With offices strategically located in prominent financial centres, such as London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, the Cayman Islands, Bangkok, Limassol, and more, EBC caters to a diverse clientele of retail, professional, and institutional investors worldwide.

Recognised by multiple awards, EBC prides itself on adhering to the highest levels of ethical standards and international regulation. EBC Financial Group (UK) Limited is regulated by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), EBC Financial Group (Australia) Pty Ltd is regulated by Australia’s Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and EBC Financial Group (Cayman) Limited is regulated by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA).

At the core of EBC Group are seasoned professionals with over 30 years of profound experience in major financial institutions, having adeptly navigated through significant economic cycles from the Plaza Accord to the 2015 Swiss franc crisis. EBC champions a culture where integrity, respect, and client asset security are paramount, ensuring that every investor engagement is treated with the utmost seriousness it deserves.

EBC is the Official Foreign Exchange Partner of FC Barcelona, offering specialised services in regions such as Asia, LATAM, the Middle East, Africa, and Oceania. EBC is also a partner of United to Beat Malaria, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, aiming to improve global health outcomes. Starting February 2024, EBC supports the ‘What Economists Really Do’ public engagement series by Oxford University’s Department of Economics, demystifying economics, and its application to major societal challenges to enhance public understanding and dialogue.

https://www.ebc.com/

Media Contact:
Douglas Chew
Global Public Relations Manager
douglas.chew@ebc.com

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