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Vodworks Launches Kumo to Drive Blockchain Innovation Where It Matters

Blockchain has moved beyond the hype and is now being embraced across industries for its ability to save money, build trust, and boost competitiveness in the digital economy. As more businesses transition from Web2 to Web3, even companies in more traditional industries are realising the benefits of blockchain in enhancing security and transparency, and cutting out intermediaries. Blockchain is here to stay—so let’s explore how Kumo, a new venture by Vodworks, can help you adopt this transformative technology.

Vodworks’ Blockchain Expertise

Vodworks has been a leader in software development, providing bespoke solutions for global clients such as EA, Canal+, and True Corporation. Specialising in outsourcing and augmented teams, Vodworks supports partners across industries like Media & Entertainment, Telecommunications, Fintech, and Compliance. Since 2018, their R&D team has been committed to advancing Web3 and blockchain adoption, developing decentralised finance (DeFi) platforms and Web3 games to overcome mass adoption challenges.

Blockchain Expertise

Introducing Kumo: Blockchain Where It Matters

Originally a Vodworks project, Kumo is now an independent company offering an enterprise blockchain platform and custom blockchain development services. Kumo delivers real-world value through practical use cases such as:

  • Loyalty Programs: Transform customer engagement with tokenized rewards.
  • Gaming: Enable the creation and trading of in-game assets.
  • Identity Management: Issue secure, verifiable digital credentials.
  • Fan Engagement: Deepen fan relationships through interactive experiences.
  • NFT Marketplaces: Launch marketplaces in hours.
  • Real Assets: Tokenize physical objects to improve security and transparency.

Trusted by Avarik Saga, Veve, NiiFi, Pixel.Inc, and more, Kumo partners with Web3Auth, Microsoft, Coinbase, Metamask, and others to make blockchain accessible and impactful for all clients.

“Kumo’s ongoing development and successful project implementations highlight our commitment to pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology.”
— Sakib Mirza, CEO of Kumo & Vodworks

Your Future with Kumo

Whether you’re exploring blockchain for the first time or you’re an established Web3 company, Kumo’s global team is ready to tackle your challenges and deliver results. Vodworks will continue to provide world-class software development across industries, while Kumo focuses exclusively on blockchain and Web3.

Reach out to Kumo for a free consultation and start building the future of tech today.


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CEOWORLD magazineLatestTech and InnovationVodworks Launches Kumo to Drive Blockchain Innovation Where It Matters


CEOs from Microsoft, BlackRock & Nvidia Meet With Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Strengthen UAE-U.S. Ties Through AI and Technology Partnerships

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Washington, D.C., to discuss the rapid advancements in technology and artificial intelligence (AI). These meetings were part of Sheikh Mohamed’s official visit to the United States and centered on the opportunities created by these technological innovations, as well as the growing collaboration between the UAE and the U.S. in the tech sector.

The discussions highlighted the existing partnerships between the two nations, including the recent collaboration between UAE-based G42 and Microsoft, along with the newly announced Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership. This initiative involves MGX, a UAE technology company, along with Microsoft, BlackRock, and other major stakeholders, aiming to significantly enhance global investment in AI to drive development and prosperity worldwide.

During the meetings, Sheikh Mohamed reiterated the UAE’s strong commitment to investing in AI and advanced technology to support its national development goals. He emphasized the need for increased cooperation with international partners, noting that the responsible application of AI and cutting-edge technology has the potential to accelerate progress and create economic opportunities for communities across the globe.

The CEOs of Microsoft, BlackRock, and Nvidia expressed their enthusiasm for continuing to collaborate with the UAE in the field of advanced technology, acknowledging the importance of the country’s AI strategy and its potential to drive innovation and global growth.

 

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CEOWORLD magazineLatestSuccess and LeadershipCEOs from Microsoft, BlackRock & Nvidia Meet With Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Strengthen UAE-U.S. Ties Through AI and Technology Partnerships


The Essential Guide to Remote Work Security for Executives

In today’s business world, the rise of remote work is an undeniable trend that’s reshaping industries. The benefits vary from increased flexibility to reduced office costs, the list being endless. The greater the power, the greater the responsibility, and this brings a new set of challenges, especially for cybersecurity. To executives, securing a distributed workforce means much more than protection against sensitive data breaches but also stakeholder and employee trust, and client trust.  

Of these, being well-informed ranks among the top ways executives will be able to confront these new challenges. In the first instance, make sure that all devices are well-guarded. Using the right solution, such as a VPN adds extra security to the remote work arena against external dangers and keeps communications safe while minimizing vulnerabilities.

The following article shall look at some of the main security strategies that executives should adopt to keep their remote workforce safe, looking into practical yet robust measures that can fortify company systems from cyber threats.

  1. Development of a Sound Security Policy: Working remotely would automatically mean that companies re-strategize on security matters from a holistic point. A good policy will clearly outline the requirements of strong passwords for data encryption. To the executives, the establishment of policies that can be workable and relayed to the team is paramount. Security protocols should not be compromised, and changes should routinely be addressed across the company for common knowledge.

    Establish levels of access for employees based on the nature of their positions. Not every employee needs to have access to all the information within the company. Since this forms a principle of least privilege, it does reduce the risk in case an individual’s device or account gets compromised.

  2. Virtual Private Networks: The need for safe internet access is quite crucial in those cases when employees log in from different locations. Public networks can be a real treasure for cyber threats; therefore, it would be a must to make VPNs an essential tool for such situations.

    A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel for online activity to pass through, making sure sensitive information does not fall into the hands of malicious actors. A relatively reliable VPN for Mac, Windows or other device is a pretty straightforward solution that keeps employees working on their devices safely and securely while giving them remote access to the company’s systems.

    This is a case where executives need to make VPNs mandatory for their remote workers, especially so when their personnel are connecting to public Wi-Fi or unsecured networks. Subsidizing company subscriptions for VPNs incentivizes correct use and reduces risks associated with non-protected connections to the internet.

  3. Multi-Factor Authentication – Implement: Passwords are no longer sufficient to protect business data. With phishing techniques becoming more advanced, and credential-stuffing attacks becoming rampant, businesses must make use of multi-factor authentication. MFA forces users to verify their identities in two or more ways: for instance, an application on a mobile device or fingerprint identification in addition to a password.

    The executives should be supportive of the adoption of MFA for all systems and devices. On the other hand, encouraging MFA among all your employees provides you with additional lines of defense, minimizing the possibility of unauthorized access even in the case of compromised passwords.

  4. Employ Endpoint Security Solutions: This in turn will mean that every endpoint in a remote work setup, laptop, smartphone, or tablet should be secured. Executives are supposed to invest in solutions for endpoint security to provide antivirus, firewalls, and other monitoring tools in order to protect them from malware and malicious attacks.

    It would be of great help if a centralized system allowed IT administrators to monitor all remote devices for early detection and prevention from propagation of various attacks. This emanates from the fact that all remote working devices need to be enrolled in a comprehensive endpoint security program to ensure corporate systems retain their integrity.

  5. Employee Training in Cybersecurity Best Practices: Human error is still one of the most common causes of data breaches. Working remotely, especially for employees who have limited knowledge in IT, poses a greater risk to the company whenever an employee clicks on a phishing link or uses weak passwords. Continuous training in cybersecurity will better prevent such risks.

    This can be achieved by incorporating regular cybersecurity training into the onboarding and ongoing education of employees. This should use engaging formats, including webinars, workshops, or gamified modules to enhance retention. Areas to cover would include how to identify and avoid phishing scams, how to use secure passwords, and the importance of Wi-Fi connections.

  6. Leverage Cloud Security and Secure Collaboration Tools: When people are working from home, cloud services for storing and sharing data are in heavy use. The cloud offers great convenience, but the risks have to be kept under control. Cloud providers that offer strong security measures together with end-to-end encryption have to be used. An executive should ensure that each utilized cloud platform complies with an industry requirement for data security.

    Also, collaboration tools used for communication—be it video conferencing or project management software—should be scrutinized on security grounds. Ensure these platforms provide encryption and various access controls to block unauthorized access to company meetings and data.

  7. Regular System Updates and Patching: This is because outdated software provides an avenue of entry for cybercriminals. Secondly, it remains one of the easiest ways to prevent vulnerabilities by keeping software, applications, and systems updated and patched. As an executive, it is about leading from the front-end, while the rest of the organization should be encouraged to do precisely the same.

    Automate the updates when possible, and teach employees to do regular updates of other software. Remind employees that delayed updates let threats loose on their device-and by extension, onto the company at large.

  8. Ensure Data Encryption is done: Encryption of data is very important in terms of security. Whether data is in transit or at rest, encryption makes sure that even in the case of a breach, the compromised data remains unreadable by unauthorized users. Encryption is very important, especially for remote employees who are normally working out of the confines of the office network. The executives should support encryption at all hierarchies of communication, from emails to stored files, by providing employees with tools that will make encryption user-friendly.
  9. Backups of Significant Data on a Regular Basis: Data can be lost for any number of reasons, from cyber-attacks to simple deletion. A robust backup system means that the company is able to restore operations quickly in the event of an occurrence. Regular automated backups to secure locations mean executives will sleep better, knowing that their valuable information is safe. Additionally, management should ensure that personnel are informed of how to recover data at any moment in time and from time to time should test the backup system to ensure it functions properly.
  10. Real-Time Threat Detection and Response: Proactive monitoring for threats allows for early recognition when a small issue might be getting out of hand and could blow into a full-scale crisis. Real-time threat monitoring tools can help in discovering unusual activity and thus warn the IT teams to take needful action. Executives should apportion resources to develop a SOC or use a third-party service to provide 24×7 monitoring for the organization.

    It is equally important to clearly define what an incident response plan is. Executives have to make sure that a well-defined process of handling breaches exists right from identifying the attack, isolating the systems affected, damage mitigation, and down to stakeholder notification.

Final Thoughts 

Remote work is here to stay, and with it comes the responsibility of executives to take due care of company data and systems. A strong security policy, VPNs, endpoint security solutions, and other software, combined with proper employee training in cybersecurity best practices, will continue to reduce the risks of working remotely.

The key to success here is being always alert, proactive, and adaptive. Since cyber threats change with each new day, so must the security that guards the remote employee. By placing security first, the executives will set a successful story of remote work for their organizations for life, where flexibility and safety go hand in hand.


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CEOWORLD magazineLatestTech and InnovationThe Essential Guide to Remote Work Security for Executives


Global Art Market Shrinks Totaling Around $65 Billion, as Ultra-Wealthy Buyers Pull Back

Global art sales saw a decline of 4% last year, totaling around $65 billion, as ultra-wealthy buyers exercised more caution, revealed the Art Market Report released by Swiss bank UBS on Thursday, October 24. The UBS wealth management team, which advises clients on art acquisitions but refrains from classifying these purchases as investments, observed that inflation, high interest rates, and political uncertainty were prompting affluent clients to slow down and deliberate longer over potential acquisitions.

The report noted a 7% drop in auction sales volume and a 3% decrease at galleries, largely due to reduced demand for high-end artwork and overall lower average purchase prices. China was the sole country to experience growth in art sales, with a 9% increase bringing transactions to $12.2 billion, which positioned it as the second-largest art market worldwide, just behind the United States. UBS Global Wealth Management’s chief economist, Paul Donovan, attributed China’s growth to delayed post-COVID spending, as the country maintained isolation measures longer than its Western counterparts.

Donovan also highlighted that elevated interest rates and inflation had heavily impacted the more speculative art segments, particularly digital art, including NFTs. NFT sales, which hit a peak of $2.9 billion in 2021, dropped 51% last year compared to that high point. According to Donovan, they have not rebounded this year, even as interest rates began to ease and other asset classes, like cryptocurrencies, gained value.

 

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CEOWORLD magazineLatestSpecial ReportsGlobal Art Market Shrinks Totaling Around $65 Billion, as Ultra-Wealthy Buyers Pull Back


Dutch Billionaires See Wealth Surge Amid Economic Challenges – Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken Still on Top

Despite a sluggish economy, the Netherlands’ wealthiest have seen their fortunes grow, with the top 500 individuals amassing a combined wealth of around $273 billion, marking a 5% increase from last year. This growth rate far outpaces the country’s 2023 economic expansion of 0.2% and inflation rate of 4.1%.

Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, heir to the Heineken legacy, remains the wealthiest individual on the list, with assets totaling almost $13 billion, though her fortune has dropped by 4% since 2023. Overall, 60 individuals in the rankings experienced declines in their assets.

Some prominent figures faced notable losses; Adriaan Mol, founder of the payment platform Mollie, saw his wealth fall by at least $1.6 billion, while Jitse Groen of Thuisbezorgd/Just Eat Takeaway and René Moos of Basic-Fit also faced declining share values. However, the year’s biggest financial gain went to Bunq director Ali Niknam, who increased his fortune by approximately $865 million, largely due to a successful IT investment in Belgium, bringing his net worth to $2.7 billion and raising his position from 28th to 12th in the rankings.

This year’s list includes 52 billionaires, with a minimum asset threshold of around $141 million for qualification. The Brenninkmeijer family, associated with retailer C&A, holds the title of wealthiest family at almost $24 billion, though their wealth declined by 11% from last year. The Van der Vorm family, through Hal Investments, ranks as the second wealthiest family with assets of $9.1 billion, followed by retail dynasties De Rijcke (Kruidvat) and Dreesmann (V&D) in third and fourth places.

Several Dutch celebrities are also represented on the list. Formula 1 star Max Verstappen ranks 322nd with assets of $227 million, up 40% from last year, while Princess Mabel van Oranje-Nassau holds 121st place with $492 million, bolstered by her investments in Adyen. DJ Tiësto’s wealth is estimated at almost $222 million, reflecting an 8% rise over the past year.

GDP (nominal) Capital Head of State Head of Government GDP (nominal) per capita GDP (PPP) GDP (PPP) GDP (PPP) per capita
Netherlands Amsterdam King Willem-Alexander Mark Rutte 1.092.748 61.770 1.297.024 73.317

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CEOWORLD magazineLatestMoney and WealthDutch Billionaires See Wealth Surge Amid Economic Challenges – Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken Still on Top


Former Cricketer Ajay Jadeja Inherits Jamnagar Throne, Becoming One of India’s Wealthiest

Ajay Jadeja, the former Indian cricketer, has recently been named the successor to the Royal Throne of Jamnagar, a title that significantly boosts his financial standing. With his new position, his net worth has reportedly surged to INR 1,450 crores, placing him among the wealthiest individuals in India. Jadeja now surpasses Virat Kohli in terms of net worth, making him arguably the richest sportsperson or former athlete in the country.

Maharaja Jamsaheb of Nawanagar officially declared Jadeja as the heir on October 12. In a public statement, the Maharaja expressed his joy, likening it to the symbolic significance of Dussehra. He shared that the festival marks the victory of the Pandavas after their exile and that, on this occasion, he too had resolved a long-standing issue with Jadeja accepting the responsibility of becoming his heir. The Maharaja viewed Jadeja’s decision to serve the people of Jamnagar as a significant blessing.

Jadeja has long had a close bond with the royal family of Nawanagar. This connection extends deeply into India’s cricketing history, as two of the country’s premier domestic tournaments, the Ranji Trophy and Duleep Trophy, are named after his relatives, KS Ranjitsinhji and KS Duleepsinhji.

Jadeja’s cricketing career has been a mix of highs and lows, featuring standout performances as well as controversies. He was known for his outstanding fielding and will always be remembered for his explosive 25-ball 45 against Pakistan in the 1996 ODI World Cup. However, his career also included a notorious match-fixing scandal that clouded his legacy.

Having started his international career in 1992, Jadeja played until 2000. His final appearance in an India jersey was an exceptional 93-run knock against Pakistan during the 2000 Asia Cup, a tournament that was then exclusively played in the One-Day International (ODI) format.

 

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CEOWORLD magazineLatestMoney and WealthFormer Cricketer Ajay Jadeja Inherits Jamnagar Throne, Becoming One of India’s Wealthiest


Miami Hosts Landmark Summit for Latin America’s Richest Families

Miami has once again captured the attention of Latin American investors and entrepreneurs, but this time, its appeal stretches beyond the usual focus on real estate. Wealthy families, including the founders of prominent companies such as Ecuador’s Bonita Banana, Guatemala’s Pollo Campero, and Panama’s Copa Airlines, are set to gather at a major summit aimed at fostering business, investment, sustainability, and technological development across Latin America. The event also seeks to strengthen ties with financial institutions in the United States.

The LATAM Investment Convergence Summit, organized by the Opal Group in partnership with the LATAM Family Office Society, will take place on October 8-9 at the JW Marriott Miami. The summit will explore investment opportunities by identifying high-growth sectors in Latin America, assess the role of technology in opening new business avenues, and analyze the real estate market to stimulate investments in both Miami and Latin American countries, among other financial topics.

A family office, as explained by experts, is a private entity tasked with managing a family’s financial and personal assets, with the primary goal of growing and preserving the family’s wealth across generations. While business summits involving American billionaire families are common, this marks the first event to bring together Latin American families with significant capital.

Ecuadorian businessman Luis Noboa, a board member of the LATAM Family Office Society, emphasized the importance of the event. He stated that the summit is crucial for advancing business development in Latin America. Noboa noted that by bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, and political figures, the event creates a conducive environment for companies of all sizes—ranging from startups to large corporations—to gain access to new investment opportunities, strategic partnerships, and emerging technologies. Noboa, whose family founded Bonita Banana, a company valued at over $1 billion by 1994, is one of the key figures in the summit.

Lourdes Castillo, co-founder of the LATAM Family Office Society and chairwoman of the board, described the event as an essential platform for wealthy families to network and share experiences. She explained that the summit brings together families operating on a similar economic level who are not only focused on enhancing their financial portfolios but also committed to investing in their home countries. Castillo, a Cuban-American executive, and publicist who co-founded the Economic Club of Miami, highlighted that this trend mirrors what is happening in family offices in the U.S., where younger generations, particularly millennials and Gen Z, are increasingly interested in supporting socially impactful investments. This trend was also reported by Forbes.

While Miami has long served as a key gateway for companies looking to enter Latin American markets, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted trade relations between the region and the city. Other global powers have since moved in to fill the gap left by weakened ties. However, Miami’s role as a strategic hub for Latin American entrepreneurs remains vital.

The summit will feature a panel that includes Luis Noboa, CEO of Art Mate; Rosemary Sagar, Investment Director of Sagar Family Office and co-founder of LATAM Family Office Society; Felipe Bosch Gutiérrez, CEO of Losa Group and a member of the family behind Pollo Campero; and Joseph DaGrosa, Chairman and Founder of Miami-based private equity firm DaGrosa Capital Partners LLC. Noboa highlighted the advantages Miami offers to Latin American business leaders like himself, who reside in South Florida but continue to run their family enterprises in their home countries.

The LATAM Family Office Society is an exclusive, invitation-only group. Entrepreneurs and investors interested in attending the LATAM Investment Convergence Summit can register on the event’s official website and pay a fee for participation.

 

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CEOWORLD magazineLatestSpecial ReportsMiami Hosts Landmark Summit for Latin America’s Richest Families


New Global Index Exposes Alarming Rise in Economic Inequality Worldwide

A new global index has revealed that nine out of ten countries are pursuing policies that are likely to exacerbate economic inequality. The report, published by Oxfam and Development Finance International (DFI), shows that 94% of countries with current World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans have reduced crucial investments in public education, healthcare, and social protection over the past two years. This figure rises to 95% for International Development Association (IDA) countries—the world’s poorest nations.

Kate Donald, head of Oxfam International’s Washington DC office, warned that these cuts are not only disheartening but also dangerous, undermining development efforts. She noted that many countries in the Global South face a painful dilemma: whether to invest in essential public services or adopt austerity measures to meet overwhelming debt repayments. Donald emphasized the severe human toll of these decisions, as millions of people rely on public services to improve their lives and those of their children.

Donald also pointed out that while the World Bank was praised last year for prioritizing inequality, the findings of the report indicate that both the Bank and IMF still have considerable work to do if they are to effectively tackle inequality.

In response to increasing pressure from economists, shareholders, and civil society, the World Bank introduced its first-ever “vision indicator” in 2023, aimed at reducing the number of countries with high inequality. Despite this progress, the report highlights that the Bank has scaled back its prior commitments to promote progressive taxation, including higher taxes on the super-rich. Furthermore, tackling inequality has not yet been fully integrated into the policy framework for the next replenishment of the IDA, which provides low-interest loans and grants to the world’s poorest countries—over half of which are located in Africa. Currently, inequality is high or rising in 54% of countries receiving IDA funds.

The “Commitment to Reducing Inequality (CRI) Index 2024” ranks 164 governments based on their policies regarding public services, taxation, and workers’ rights—all critical areas for reducing inequality. This year’s index reveals a worrying trend: for the first time since the index’s inception in 2017, most countries are regressing across all three key areas.

Overall, 84% of countries have reduced investment in education, health, and social protection, 81% have weakened the capacity of their tax systems to reduce inequality, and in 90% of countries, labor rights and minimum wage protections have deteriorated.

Despite these overall declines, some countries have made improvements. Burkina Faso and Vanuatu have raised their minimum wages, Croatia has increased health investment, and Guyana maintains one of the highest corporate tax rates at 40%. In contrast, other countries have seen sharp declines, such as Argentina, where the new government has slashed public health and education budgets by 76% and 60%, respectively, and is phasing out the wealth tax. Pakistan has also reduced its education and social protection budgets by a third under IMF-imposed austerity measures.

Even top performers in the index, primarily high-income countries like Norway and Canada, lag behind on certain indicators. Around 5% of their populations face catastrophic healthcare costs, and aside from Japan, most have low corporate income tax rates. Denmark, for instance, has been steadily reducing the income tax rate for the wealthiest 1% of its population.

At the bottom of the index, countries from Sub-Saharan Africa dominate, many of which have active World Bank and IMF programs. In these nations, scarce resources are being diverted from critical services like education and health due to low tax revenues, a crippling debt crisis, ongoing conflicts, and the effects of climate change. On average, low- and middle-income countries spend 48% of their budgets on debt servicing, significantly more than they allocate to education and healthcare combined. Six of the ten lowest-ranked countries are either in or on the brink of severe debt distress.

At the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in July 2024, the world’s largest economies agreed for the first time to cooperate in taxing the ultra-wealthy, a move that was welcomed by World Bank President Ajay Banga.

 

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CEOWORLD magazineLatestSpecial ReportsNew Global Index Exposes Alarming Rise in Economic Inequality Worldwide


Google Expands Street View and Enhances Satellite Imagery in Major Global Update

Google is rolling out updated Street View imagery across nearly 80 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Japan, the Philippines, Rwanda, Serbia, and South Africa. This update will also introduce Street View to several countries for the first time, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Namibia, Liechtenstein, and Paraguay.

The tech giant credits its portable Street View camera, launched in 2022, for expanding coverage and enabling the capture of more locations. Google noted that this technology will allow for even greater geographical reach in the future.

In addition to the Street View updates, Google Maps and Google Earth will now feature sharper satellite imagery. This improvement is made possible by Google’s cloud-removal AI tool, which eliminates clouds, shadows, haze, and mist from satellite photos, resulting in clearer, brighter, and more vibrant images.

Moreover, Google Earth will soon allow users to access historical imagery through its web and mobile apps, a feature that was previously limited to the desktop version, Google Earth Pro. This update will make it easier to view and compare satellite and aerial images of various locations over time.

 

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CEOWORLD magazineLatestTech and InnovationGoogle Expands Street View and Enhances Satellite Imagery in Major Global Update


Haslam Family’s HF Capital to Invest $725 Million in Ara Energy Decarbonization Initiative

HF Capital, the investment arm of the Haslam family based in Knoxville, has committed up to $725 million to support Ara Energy Decarbonization, a new unit of Ara Partners that aims to reduce carbon emissions in the energy sector across North America. The unit, led by former Pilot CEO Shameek Konar, will focus on acquiring energy companies and assets to help lower emissions. Ara Partners, a global private equity and infrastructure firm founded in 2017 to tackle climate change, made the announcement on September 16.

In 2023, Ara’s portfolio of 28 businesses achieved significant environmental milestones, cutting 10.8 million tons of carbon emissions and eliminating 424,000 tons of waste. As demand for electricity surges, particularly driven by AI technology and data centers, more attention has been directed toward the energy sector, which is responsible for approximately 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Founded by James A. Haslam II in 1958, the Haslam family built Pilot into the largest travel center chain in North America and a key supplier of fuel to the transportation sector. Before selling Pilot to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, the Knoxville-based company was ranked the fifth-largest private company in the U.S. by revenue. Pilot is not involved in the current investment, according to a spokesperson for Ara Partners.

The Haslam family, including former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam and Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, is considered the wealthiest family in Tennessee and one of the richest in the nation. They are 31st among the wealthiest U.S. families in 2023, with an estimated net worth of $14.4 billion.

Jimmy Haslam expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with Ara in a press release, stating that HF Capital is proud to make a significant capital commitment to support Konar and his team as they lead the new decarbonization strategy. HF Capital’s investment portfolio spans traditional and renewable energy companies, including Arizona DF Renewables and solar developer Silicon Ranch, as well as ventures in insurance and food production.

Charles Cherington, co-founder and managing partner at Ara Partners, emphasized that Ara’s decarbonization plans would not disrupt energy production. He acknowledged the role of pollutive energy sources in the energy transition over the next few decades but stressed the importance of addressing carbon emissions head-on. Cherington stated that Ara intends to apply its proven methods and financing expertise to decarbonize the conventional energy value chain.

Ara operates out of offices in Boston, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Dublin, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving waste management. As of June 30, the firm managed $6.3 billion in assets. Its strategy aims to combine significant potential for emissions reduction with strong financial returns. Among its investments is Genera, a Tennessee-based leader in producing compostable packaging from non-wood fibers, which Ara acquired in 2022.

Konar, who now leads Ara Energy Decarbonization, served as CEO of Pilot from January 2021 to April 2023, taking over from Jimmy Haslam before leaving the company after Berkshire Hathaway acquired an 80% controlling interest and appointed Adam Wright as CEO. During his time at Pilot, Konar oversaw the company’s expansion into renewable fuels and its partnership with GM to build a network of EV chargers. Under his leadership, Pilot generated $56.8 billion in revenue and sold more than 16 billion gallons of fuel in 2023.

Before his tenure at Pilot, Konar held roles at several energy firms, including Mercuria Energy Group and Constellation Energy. He also serves on the advisory board of the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where he teaches courses on climate change and mergers and acquisitions as an adjunct professor. Along with Ara co-founder Cherington, Konar is a board member of the Conservation Fund.

 

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CEOWORLD magazineLatestSuccess and LeadershipHaslam Family’s HF Capital to Invest $725 Million in Ara Energy Decarbonization Initiative