Author: Michelle Dryden

Categories
Business Healthcare Local News Science

Data from Phase 2 PILOT Study of Bristol Myers Squibb’s CAR T cell therapy Breyanzi show substantial durable responses in patients with refractory or relapsed large B-cell lymphoma after first-line therapy

First disclosure of results from primary analysis of Phase 2 PILOT study shows Breyanzi delivered complete responses in more than half of patients with refractory or relapsed large B-cell lymphoma after first-line therapy who were not deemed candidates for stem cell transplant

 

PILOT patient-reported outcomes analysis showed treatment with Breyanzi improved health-related quality of life measures for patients

 

Breyanzi is the only CAR T cell therapy that has been evaluated in two distinct trials in the second-line setting for large B-cell lymphoma, underscoring its value, if approved, as an important treatment option after failure of first-line therapy

 

PRINCETON, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $bmy #ASCO—Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced results from the primary analysis of PILOT, a multicenter, Phase 2 study evaluating Breyanzi (lisocabtagene maraleucel) in adults with refractory or relapsed large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) after first-line therapy who were not deemed candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). The PILOT study is the only company-sponsored trial to evaluate a CAR T cell therapy as a second-line treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL who are not considered candidates for stem cell transplant. The data will be presented in a poster presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on Saturday, June 4 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM EDT (ABSTRACT 7062).

The PILOT study enrolled a broad patient population of adults with refractory or relapsed LBCL after first-line treatment who were not considered candidates for transplant based on age, performance status and/or organ function and comorbidities, and regardless of time to relapse following first-line treatment. With a median follow-up of 12.3 months, the majority of patients treated with Breyanzi (n=61) saw a reduction in disease, with 80% of patients responding to treatment (overall response rate; 95% CI: 68.2 – 89.4) and 54% of patients achieving a complete response (CR; 95% CI:40.8-66.9). Responses with Breyanzi were durable, with a median duration of response of 12.1 months (95% CI: 6.2-NR) at 15.5 months median follow-up. In patients who achieved a CR, median duration of response was 21.7 months (95% CI: 12.7-NR). Median progression-free survival with Breyanzi was 9.0 months (95% CI: 4.2-NR), and median overall survival has not been reached (95% CI: 17.3-NR). In the PILOT study, patients were treated with Breyanzi and monitored in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.

 

“For patients with large B-cell lymphoma that is refractory to or relapses after first-line therapy, stem cell transplant has been the only potentially curative treatment option, but the reality is many patients are not candidates for stem cell transplant, leaving limited treatment options,” said Leo I. Gordon, M.D., study investigator, Professor in Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, Illinois. “The results from the PILOT study, including the patient-reported outcomes, show that treatment with liso-cel as a second-line therapy offers durable responses with improved quality of life for patients who historically have had poor prognosis.”

 

LBCL, the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is an aggressive blood cancer and approximately 40% of patients will have disease that is refractory to or relapses after first-line treatment. High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant has been the mainstay of care in the second-line setting; however, less than half of patients with primary refractory or relapsed disease are considered candidates for a stem cell transplant. For these patients, there are limited treatments that provide long-term disease control and palliative care is often the only option. If left untreated, patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL have a life expectancy of just three to four months.

 

“At Bristol Myers Squibb, we strive for cure by advancing innovative therapies that may provide long-term clinical benefit for some of the most challenging cancers with the hope of creating new standards of care that not only improve outcomes but also the patient experience,” said Anne Kerber, senior vice president, Cell Therapy Development, Bristol Myers Squibb. “With Breyanzi, we have boldly designed a broad clinical trial program in relapsed or refractory LBCL, including patients who are not intended for stem cell transplant after failure of first-line therapy. These results from the PILOT study continue to demonstrate the practice-changing potential of Breyanzi in this setting, delivering on the promise of CAR T cell therapy for more patients.”

 

In the PILOT study, Breyanzi showed a manageable safety profile with no new safety signals and low rates of severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or neurologic events, and no Grade 4/5 CRS or neurologic events reported. Any grade CRS occurred in 38% of patients, with Grade 3 CRS reported in one patient (2%). Any grade neurologic events were seen in 31% of patients with Grade 3 neurologic events reported in three patients (5%).

 

In a separate analysis of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) from the PILOT study, patients who received Breyanzi and were evaluable for the PRO analysis (n=56) showed significant improvements in fatigue and pain. Improvements in overall lymphoma symptoms were clinically meaningful following treatment with Breyanzi, and in an individual patient-level analysis, 70% of patients reported meaningful improvements in quality of life based on FACT-LymS scores at month 6. Results from the analysis will be presented in a poster presentation on Monday, June 6 from 2:15 PM – 5:15 PM EDT (Abstract 6567).

 

A supplemental Biologics License Application for Breyanzi for the treatment of relapsed or refractory LBCL after failure of first-line therapy is currently under Priority Review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with an assigned Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of June 24, 2022.

 

Breyanzi, a differentiated CD-19 directed CAR T cell therapy, is currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma grade 3B. Breyanzi is not indicated for the treatment of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma.

 

About Breyanzi

Breyanzi is a CD-19 directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, administered as a defined composition to reduce variability of the CD8 and CD4 component dose. Breyanzi has a 4-1BB costimulatory domain which enhances the expansion and persistence of the CAR T cells. Breyanzi was previously approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified (including DLBCL arising from indolent lymphoma), high-grade B-cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma grade 3B. Breyanzi is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the BREYANZI REMS.

 

Breyanzi is also approved in the European Union, Switzerland, Japan and Canada for relapsed and refractory LBCL after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Bristol Myers Squibb’s clinical development program for Breyanzi includes clinical studies in earlier lines of treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL and other types of lymphomas and leukemia. For more information, visit clinicaltrials.gov.

 

Breyanzi is not approved in any region for the second-line treatment of LBCL.

 

About PILOT

PILOT (NCT03483103) is a multicenter Phase 2 trial evaluating Breyanzi as a second-line therapy in adults with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after first-line therapy who are ineligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). All enrolled patients have relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after treatment with a single line of chemoimmunotherapy containing an anthracycline and a CD20-targeted agent and have been deemed non-candidates for high-dose chemotherapy and HSCT. The primary endpoint of the study is overall response rate. Other efficacy endpoints include complete response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, event-free survival and overall survival.

 

Important Safety Information

BOXED WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME and NEUROLOGIC TOXICITIES

  • Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving BREYANZI. Do not administer BREYANZI to patients with active infection or inflammatory disorders. Treat severe or life-threatening CRS with tocilizumab with or without corticosteroids.
  • Neurologic toxicities, including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred in patients receiving BREYANZI, including concurrently with CRS, after CRS resolution or in the absence of CRS. Monitor for neurologic events after treatment with BREYANZI. Provide supportive care and/or corticosteroids as needed.
  • BREYANZI is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the BREYANZI REMS.

 

Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)

CRS, including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred following treatment with BREYANZI. CRS occurred in 46% (122/268) of patients receiving BREYANZI, including ≥ Grade 3 (Lee grading system) CRS in 4% (11/268) of patients. One patient had fatal CRS and 2 had ongoing CRS at time of death. The median time to onset was 5 days (range: 1 to 15 days). CRS resolved in 119 of 122 patients (98%) with a median duration of 5 days (range: 1 to 17 days). Median duration of CRS was 5 days (range 1 to 30 days) in all patients, including those who died or had CRS ongoing at time of death.

 

Among patients with CRS, the most common manifestations of CRS include fever (93%), hypotension (49%), tachycardia (39%), chills (28%), and hypoxia (21%). Serious events that may be associated with CRS include cardiac arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia), cardiac arrest, cardiac failure, diffuse alveolar damage, renal insufficiency, capillary leak syndrome, hypotension, hypoxia, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis/macrophage activation syndrome (HLH/MAS).

 

Ensure that 2 doses of tocilizumab are available prior to infusion of BREYANZI. Sixty-one of 268 (23%) patients received tocilizumab and/or a corticosteroid for CRS after infusion of BREYANZI. Twenty-seven (10%) patients received tocilizumab only, 25 (9%) received tocilizumab and a corticosteroid, and 9 (3%) received corticosteroids only.

 

Neurologic Toxicities

Neurologic toxicities that were fatal or life-threatening, occurred following treatment with BREYANZI. CAR T cell-associated neurologic toxicities occurred in 35% (95/268) of patients receiving BREYANZI, including ≥ Grade 3 in 12% (31/268) of patients. Three patients had fatal neurologic toxicity and 7 had ongoing neurologic toxicity at time of death. The median time to onset of the first event was 8 days (range: 1 to 46 days). The onset of all neurologic events occurred within the first 8 weeks following BREYANZI infusion. Neurologic toxicities resolved in 81 of 95 patients (85%) with a median duration of 12 days (range: 1 to 87 days). Three of four patients with ongoing neurologic toxicity at data cutoff had tremor and one subject had encephalopathy. Median duration of neurologic toxicity was 15 days (range: 1 to 785 days) in all patients, including those with ongoing neurologic events at the time of death or at data cutoff.

 

Seventy-eight (78) of 95 (82%) patients with neurologic toxicity experienced CRS. Neurologic toxicity overlapped with CRS in 57 patients. The onset of neurologic toxicity was after onset of CRS in 30 patients, before CRS onset in 13 patients, same day as CRS onset in 7 patients, and same day as CRS resolution in 7 patients.

 

Neurologic toxicity resolved in three patients before the onset of CRS. Eighteen patients experienced neurologic toxicity after resolution of CRS.

 

The most common neurologic toxicities included encephalopathy (24%), tremor (14%), aphasia (9%), delirium (7%), headache (7%), dizziness (6%), and ataxia (6%). Serious events including cerebral edema and seizures occurred with BREYANZI. Fatal and serious cases of leukoencephalopathy, some attributable to fludarabine, have occurred in patients treated with BREYANZI.

 

CRS and Neurologic Toxicities Monitoring

Monitor patients daily at a certified healthcare facility during the first week following infusion, for signs and symptoms of CRS and neurologic toxicities. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of CRS and neurologic toxicities for at least 4 weeks after infusion; evaluate and treat promptly. Counsel patients to seek immediate medical attention should signs or symptoms of CRS or neurologic toxicity occur at any time. At the first sign of CRS, institute treatment with supportive care, tocilizumab or tocilizumab and corticosteroids as indicated.

 

BREYANZI REMS

Because of the risk of CRS and neurologic toxicities, BREYANZI is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the BREYANZI REMS. The required components of the BREYANZI REMS are:

  • Healthcare facilities that dispense and administer BREYANZI must be enrolled and comply with the REMS requirements.
  • Certified healthcare facilities must have on-site, immediate access to tocilizumab.
  • Ensure that a minimum of 2 doses of tocilizumab are available for each patient for infusion within 2 hours after BREYANZI infusion, if needed for treatment of CRS.
  • Certified healthcare facilities must ensure that healthcare providers who prescribe, dispense, or administer BREYANZI are trained on the management of CRS and neurologic toxicities.

 

Further information is available at www.BreyanziREMS.com, or contact Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-888-423-5436.

 

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Allergic reactions may occur with the infusion of BREYANZI. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, may be due to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

 

Serious Infections

Severe infections, including life-threatening or fatal infections, have occurred in patients after BREYANZI infusion. Infections (all grades) occurred in 45% (121/268) of patients. Grade 3 or higher infections occurred in 19% of patients. Grade 3 or higher infections with an unspecified pathogen occurred in 16% of patients, bacterial infections occurred in 5%, and viral and fungal infections occurred in 1.5% and 0.4% of patients, respectively. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection before and after BREYANZI administration and treat appropriately. Administer prophylactic antimicrobials according to standard institutional guidelines.

 

Febrile neutropenia has been observed in 9% (24/268) of patients after BREYANZI infusion and may be concurrent with CRS. In the event of febrile neutropenia, evaluate for infection and manage with broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, and other supportive care as medically indicated.

 

Avoid administration of BREYANZI in patients with clinically significant active systemic infections.

 

Viral reactivation: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death, can occur in patients treated with drugs directed against B cells. Ten of the 11 patients in the TRANSCEND study with a prior history of HBV were treated with concurrent antiviral suppressive therapy to prevent HBV reactivation during and after treatment with BREYANZI. Perform screening for HBV, HCV, and HIV in accordance with clinical guidelines before collection of cells for manufacturing.

 

Prolonged Cytopenias

Patients may exhibit cytopenias not resolved for several weeks following lymphodepleting chemotherapy and BREYANZI infusion. Grade 3 or higher cytopenias persisted at Day 29 following BREYANZI infusion in 31% (84/268) of patients, and included thrombocytopenia (26%), neutropenia (14%), and anemia (3%). Monitor complete blood counts prior to and after BREYANZI administration.

 

Hypogammaglobulinemia

B-cell aplasia and hypogammaglobulinemia can occur in patients receiving treatment with BREYANZI. The adverse event of hypogammaglobulinemia was reported as an adverse reaction in 14% (37/268) of patients; laboratory IgG levels fell below 500 mg/dL after infusion in 21% (56/268) of patients. Hypogammaglobulinemia, either as an adverse reaction or laboratory IgG level below 500 mg/dL after infusion, was reported in 32% (85/268) of patients. Monitor immunoglobulin levels after treatment with BREYANZI and manage using infection precautions, antibiotic prophylaxis, and immunoglobulin replacement as clinically indicated.

 

Live vaccines: The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines during or following BREYANZI treatment has not been studied. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, during BREYANZI treatment, and until immune recovery following treatment with BREYANZI.

 

Secondary Malignancies

Patients treated with BREYANZI may develop secondary malignancies. Monitor lifelong for secondary malignancies. In the event that a secondary malignancy occurs, contact Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-888-805-4555 for reporting and to obtain instructions on collection of patient samples for testing.

 

Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

Due to the potential for neurologic events, including altered mental status or seizures, patients receiving BREYANZI are at risk for altered or decreased consciousness or impaired coordination in the 8 weeks following BREYANZI administration. Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities, such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery, during this initial period.

 

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 46% of patients. The most common nonlaboratory, serious adverse reactions (> 2%) were CRS, encephalopathy, sepsis, febrile neutropenia, aphasia, pneumonia, fever, hypotension, dizziness, and delirium. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 4% of patients.

 

The most common nonlaboratory adverse reactions of any grade (≥ 20%) were fatigue, CRS, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, headache, encephalopathy, infections (pathogen unspecified), decreased appetite, diarrhea, hypotension, tachycardia, dizziness, cough, constipation, abdominal pain, vomiting, and edema.

 

Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS and Medication Guide.

 

Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer

Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single vision—transforming patients’ lives through science. The goal of the company’s cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine, and through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep scientific expertise, cutting-edge capabilities and discovery platforms enable the company to look at cancer from every angle. Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patient’s life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. Because as a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future.

 

Learn more about the science behind cell therapy and ongoing research at Bristol Myers Squibb here.

 

About Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

 

Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are wholly owned subsidiaries of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. In certain countries outside the U.S., due to local laws, Celgene and Juno Therapeutics are referred to as, Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb company and Juno Therapeutics, a Bristol Myers Squibb company.

 

Bristol Myers Squibb Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, that future study results will be consistent with the results to date, that Breyanzi (liso-cel) may not receive regulatory approval for the indication described in this release in the currently anticipated timeline or at all, any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitations on their use, and, if approved, whether such product candidate for such indication described in this release will be commercially successful. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibb’s business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibb’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

corporatefinancial-news

Contacts

Bristol Myers Squibb

Media Inquiries:
media@bms.com

Kimberly Whitefield

kimberly.whitefield@bms.com

Investors:
investor.relations@bms.com

Categories
Business Culture

AM Best affirms Credit Ratings of BNY Trade Insurance, Ltd. and The Hamilton Insurance Corp.

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Ratings of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a+” (Excellent) of BNY Trade Insurance, Ltd. (BNY Trade) (Hamilton, Bermuda) and The Hamilton Insurance Corp. (Hamilton) (Melville, NY). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings of BNY Trade reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings of Hamilton reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strongest, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM.

 

Both BNY Trade and Hamilton are single-parent captives of their ultimate parent, The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation [NYSE: BK], a leading global financial services company. In their roles as single-parent captives, both companies provide comprehensive reinsurance coverage and products to their parent.

 

BNY Trade’s ratings also reflect its steady growth in surplus driven by its consistent premium growth and favorable profitability over the past several years. Hamilton’s ratings also reflect its stable premium, strong liquidity and adequate operating performance, as well as its consistent level of investment income that contributes to its more-than-sufficient surplus levels. Both BNY Trade and Hamilton benefit from their parent’s robust, enterprise–wide policies and procedures in the areas of risk management, resiliency, corporate governance, compliance and ethics.

 

AM Best remains the leading rating agency of alternative risk transfer entities, with more than 200 such vehicles rated in the United States and throughout the world. For current Best’s Credit Ratings and independent data on the captive and alternative risk transfer insurance market, please visit www.ambest.com/captive.

 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Chul Hyung Lee
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5036
chul.lee@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Fred Eslami
Associate Director
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5829
fred.eslami@ambest.com

Jeff Mango
Managing Director,
Strategy & Communications
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5204
jeffrey.mango@ambest.com

Categories
Business Lifestyle Technology

Introducing Vultr Talon with NVIDIA GPUs — Cloud platform breakthrough makes accelerated computing efficient and affordable

Vultr is the first cloud provider to offer virtualization of the NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPU for AI workloads

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Vultr®, a leading independent provider of cloud infrastructure, announced Thursday that Vultr Talon, powered by NVIDIA GPUs and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, is now available in beta. A breakthrough cloud-based platform, Vultr Talon offers affordable accelerated computing by enabling GPU sharing, so multiple workloads can efficiently run on a single NVIDIA GPU.


Vultr is the first cloud provider to offer virtualization of NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs to enable GPU sharing. With the launch Thursday, Vultr is introducing a set of virtual machine (VM) plans featuring the NVIDIA A100, starting at just $90 per month, or $0.13 per hour.

 

Cloud Platform Breakthrough Enabling AI Workloads at a Fraction of the Cost

At the core of Vultr Talon is a state-of-the-art NVIDIA GPU virtualization platform built on NVIDIA’s vGPU software. Rather than attaching entire physical GPUs to VMs, Vultr instead attaches just a fraction in the form of a virtual GPU (vGPU). These vGPUs are powered by the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software suite, which includes NVIDIA vGPU software and is optimized for remotely running AI workloads and high-performance data analytics.

 

To a customer’s machine, a vGPU looks just like a physical GPU. Each vGPU has its own dedicated memory that is a portion of the underlying card’s memory. The vGPU has access to a corresponding portion of the physical GPU’s computational power. For Vultr plans with at least 10GB of GPU RAM, NVIDIA’s Multi-Instance GPU (MIG) technology is used to provide guaranteed QoS, fully isolated GPU high-bandwidth memory cache, and dedicated compute cores to tenants.

 

High-end GPUs typically cost thousands of dollars per month. While this expense is often justifiable for the largest enterprise workloads, for many businesses and developers, the cost of even a single GPU can be prohibitive to getting started, experimenting, or for running applications in development and testing environments. Even enterprises with substantial IT budgets may end up wasting significant amounts of money, provisioning more GPU capacity than needed, or simply deciding to avoid using GPUs at all.

 

“At Vultr, we pride ourselves on making high-performance cloud infrastructure affordable for everyone. With Vultr Talon, we have turned the GPU delivery model upside down. Because of our breakthrough cloud platform, AI developers and data scientists can provision exactly as much NVIDIA GPU processing as they actually need, at prices they can afford,” said J.J. Kardwell, CEO of Vultr’s parent company, Constant.

 

Fractions of an NVIDIA A100, Starting at Just $90 Per Month, or $0.13 Per Hour

The NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPU delivers unprecedented acceleration for deep learning, high-performance computing (HPC), and data analytics. Combined with the NVIDIA AI Enterprise software suite, optimized to leverage the benefits of the underlying architecture, NVIDIA A100 accelerates all major deep learning and data analytics frameworks like TensorFlow and over 700 HPC applications via NVIDIA NGC catalog.

 

Vultr worked closely with NVIDIA to create its Vultr Talon offering, starting with the NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPU.

 

“There’s no one size fits all when it comes to customer workloads, and provisioning the right size acceleration for your workload and maximizing utilization is critical for cloud cost optimization,” said Matthew McGrigg, director of global business development for cloud partners at NVIDIA. “Vultr’s highly accessible platform makes it easy to provision NVIDIA GPU resources with great granularity.”

 

Starting at just $90 per month, or $0.13 per hour, the initial Vultr Talon plans featuring the virtualized NVIDIA A100 and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software are perfectly suited for machine learning inference and model-building workloads as well as for applications such as natural language processing, voice recognition and computer vision.

 

Bare Metal GPU for Large Workloads

For customers who wish to run large workloads that require multiple physical GPUs, Vultr is also offering Bare Metal servers with four NVIDIA A100 GPUs and dual 24-core Intel Xeon CPUs.

 

Ambitious Expansion Ahead

Today’s beta launch is just the beginning for Vultr Talon with NVIDIA GPUs, with initial capacity of the NVIDIA A100 in New Jersey. Vultr will be adding global inventory for NVIDIA A100, A40, and A16 GPUs in the weeks ahead, to better support additional regions and a wider variety of use cases.

 

Vultr partners such as cloud orchestration platform Cycle.io are enthusiastic about Vultr Talon and Bare Metal GPU products.

 

“Through our partnership with Vultr, we’re thrilled to not only be able to offer a variety of GPU resources to organizations, but do so in an affordable, and flexible, manner – enough to meet any use case. The ability to mix and match vGPUs and bare metal is game changing for our users,” said Jake Warner, CEO of Cycle.io.

 

Businesses, developers, and data scientists interested in trying Vultr Talon can provision instances through Vultr’s control panel.

 

About Constant and Vultr

Constant, the creator and parent company of Vultr, is on a mission to make high-performance cloud computing easy to use, affordable, and locally accessible for businesses and developers around the world. Constant’s flagship product, Vultr, is a leading independent cloud computing platform. A favorite with developers, Vultr has served over 1.5 million customers across 185 countries with flexible, scalable, global cloud computing, bare metal, and cloud storage solutions. Founded by David Aninowsky, and completely bootstrapped, Constant has become one of the largest cloud computing platforms in the world, without ever raising equity financing. Learn more at www.constant.com and www.vultr.com.

 

© Vultr 2022

© 2022 Vultr. Vultr is a registered trademark of The Constant Company, LLC.

Contacts

Ryan Pollock, Vice President of Product Marketing, Constant (the parent company of Vultr)

rpollock@vultr.com

Categories
Business Culture

AM Best affirms credit ratings of Safety Insurance Group, Inc. and key subsidiaries

OLDWICK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #insurance—AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a+” (Excellent) of Safety Insurance Company, Safety Indemnity Insurance Company, Safety Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Safety Northeast Insurance Company. Collectively these companies are referred to as Safety Group (Safety). At the same time, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term ICR of “bbb+” (Good) of Safety Insurance Group, Inc. (Delaware) [NASDAQ/GS: SAFT], the publicly traded parent of Safety. The outlooks of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. All companies are domiciled in Boston, MA, except where specified.

The ratings reflect Safety’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

 

Safety’s balance sheet strength is supported by its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), low underwriting leverage, sound liquidity and historically favorable loss reserve development trends. Safety also benefits from the financial flexibility afforded by its publicly traded parent, which has the ability to access capital markets. Safety’s strong level of operating performance has supported policyholder surplus growth and is the result of management’s ability to manage the market conditions in Massachusetts successfully, where the majority of its business is written.

 

Safety’s business profile is assessed as neutral due to its leading market position and diverse product offerings, partially offset by its geographic concentration in Massachusetts, which exposes Safety to above average economic, regulatory and legislative risks. AM Best considers Safety’s ERM as appropriate for the company’s and scope of operations. Safety is exposed to considerable catastrophe tail risk and has implemented strategies to reduce this exposure.

 

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best’s Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

 

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Janet Hernandez
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5767
janet.hernandez@ambest.com

Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com

Chris Draghi
Associate Director
+1 908 439 2200, ext.5043
chris.draghi@ambest.com

Jeff Mango
Managing Director,
Strategy & Communications
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5204
jeffrey.mango@ambest.com

Categories
Business Sports & Gaming

Skechers elite runner Edward Cheserek wins second straight Carlsbad 5000

LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — Skechers, The Comfort Technology Company™, celebrates 17-time NCAA national champion Edward Cheserek’s second consecutive win at the 2022 Carlsbad 5000 in Carlsbad, CA on Sunday, May 22. The Skechers elite runner, who also won the event known as the World’s Fastest 5K when it was last held in 2019, ran in 13:44, crossing the finish line one second ahead of the next competitor.


“After winning in 2019, I said I couldn’t wait to race again here next year. It ended up taking a little bit longer than we thought due to the pandemic, but feels so good to be back and to win again on this course is more than I could have hoped for,” said Cheserek, who raced wearing the Skechers Speed Elite. “It’s a bonus that a legend like Meb is involved in this race. Knowing how much he achieved with Skechers really got me ready to compete hard, and I’m honored to represent the team with a victory.”

 

Since the inaugural race in 1986, the World’s Fastest 5K has been more than just a catchy tagline. Numerous records have been set throughout the past 35 years, and the Carlsbad 5000 is an ever-tested proving ground for racing. Skechers elite marathoner Meb Keflezighi headlines a group of local running industry leaders who took ownership of the event in 2018.

 

“It’s been a long three years since the last Carlsbad 5000, but Edward’s repeat win was the perfect way to begin the next chapter of this fantastic race,” added Meb Keflezighi. “It’s great to be back with the runners and fans in the San Diego area and I loved watching another member of the Skechers running family push so hard to cross that finish line first.”

 

“Edward is a true competitor who never gave up to get the win in an exciting photo finish ending,” said Michael Greenberg, president of Skechers. “Runners around the world are inspired by his determination and focus, so we’re fortunate to have him on our team illustrating how the comfort and performance of Skechers GO RUN technical footwear can lead to the podium. We look forward to continuing this journey together and the exciting possibilities ahead.”

 

Originally from Kenya, Cheserek attended Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School in New Jersey, where he was named the Gatorade 2013 National Cross Country Runner of the Year, before choosing to continue his collegiate career at distance running powerhouse, University of Oregon. In 2013, Cheserek became the first freshman in school history to win the NCAA National Cross Country Championships and would then go on to repeat as cross country champion in his sophomore and junior years. By the end of his collegiate career, Cheserek was the winningest male athlete in NCAA Division I athletics’ history with a combined 17 national championships in cross country plus indoor and outdoor track and field. After going pro in September 2017, he set a new PR in the indoor mile with a win at the 2018 Boston University Valentine Invitational. Wearing custom Skechers GO RUN racing spikes, his time of 3:49.44 placed him at #2 all-time on the world record list for that distance. In April 2019, Cheserek won the Carlsbad 5000 in 13:29, tying the IAAF road world record and achieving a new road 5K personal best.

 

Since its debut with the first model of Skechers GO RUN worn by Meb Keflezighi in 2012, Skechers Performance footwear has earned respect throughout the running world and won numerous awards within the footwear industry. The entire Skechers GO RUN collection for men and women is available at Skechers retail stores and skechers.com as well as select retail partners.

 

About Skechers USA, Inc.

Skechers USA, Inc. (NYSE:SKX), The Comfort Technology Company™ based in Southern California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company’s collections are available in over 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through digital stores and 4,308 Company- and third-party-owned physical retail stores. The Company manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit about.skechers.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

 

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, Skechers’ future domestic and international growth, financial results and operations including expected net sales and earnings, its development of new products, future demand for its products, its planned domestic and international expansion, opening of new stores and additional expenditures, and advertising and marketing initiatives. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “will,” “could,” “may,” “might,” or any variations of such words with similar meanings. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include the disruption of business and operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; delays or disruptions in our supply chain; international economic, political and market conditions including the challenging consumer retail markets in the United States and the impact of Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine; sustaining, managing and forecasting costs and proper inventory levels; losing any significant customers; decreased demand by industry retailers and cancellation of order commitments due to the lack of popularity of particular designs and/or categories of products; maintaining brand image and intense competition among sellers of footwear for consumers, especially in the highly competitive performance footwear market; anticipating, identifying, interpreting or forecasting changes in fashion trends, consumer demand for the products and the various market factors described above; sales levels during the spring, back-to-school and holiday selling seasons; and other factors referenced or incorporated by reference in Skechers’ annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2022. Taking these and other risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic into consideration, the dynamic nature of these circumstances means that what is stated in this press release could change at any time, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Skechers operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and we cannot predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Moreover, reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance.

 

Contacts

Jennifer Clay

SKECHERS USA, Inc.

jennc@skechers.com

Categories
Business Healthcare Lifestyle

Solstice HealthCommunications’ patient’s journey work is published in prestigious journal

FAR HILLS, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #PatientJourney–Solstice, a full-service, woman-owned, communications agency is excited to announce that its patient journey project has been documented and published in the May issue of the Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases, the portal for rare diseases and orphan drugs. “Mapping the PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum (PROS) Patient and Caregiver Journey Using a Patient-Centered Approach” explains how Solstice used its novel methodology to develop a patient engagement roadmap for PROS conditions. The article can be accessed online via PubMed (Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022 May 7;17(1):189. doi: 10.1186/s13023-022-02338-1.)

A large pharmaceutical company selected Solstice to develop this journey, which was created in concert with patients, caregivers, and advocates as key partners. The interactive visualization of the PROS journey identifies areas of unmet need, barriers to care, and education topics, and has been used as a core strategic planning tool for disease awareness and launch readiness. “This type of work, spearheaded by one of our Certified Health Education Specialists, is essential for pharmaceutical companies looking to understand the patient experience and areas of unmet need, particularly in the rare disease space,” according to Nanske Wood, President of Solstice.

 

Patient engagement is increasingly recognized as an integral part of patient-centered healthcare. A better understanding of the entire patient experience through this journey analysis method will help Pharma/Biotech develop the appropriate patient and caregiver strategies to effectively address educational and support needs.

 

To find out more regarding how this unique methodology could benefit your brand/marketing efforts, contact Nanske Wood at nwood@solsticehc.net or 973-879-3819.

 

About Solstice

Solstice is a full service, privately held WBENC and WOSB agency based in Far Hills, NJ. The philosophy, at the heart of our work is that “messaging” is not nearly enough and that customers of all kinds—HCPs as well as patients and families—must be engaged with a brand to drive change. Our engagement efforts are built on a keen understanding of customer needs and the clinical encounters between patients, caregivers, and HCPs. The end goal being to drive behavioral change among key stakeholders to positively impact the lives of patients.

Contacts

Nanske Wood

nwood@solsticehc.net
973-879-3819

Categories
Business Environment Science

The U.S. Department of Energy grants $2.1M to Solidia Technologies to develop CO2 capture and utilization technologies for building materials

The R&D grant will fund the development of synthetic supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) through direct capture of CO2 from cement plants

 

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #CO2–The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is providing $2.1 million in funding to Solidia Technologies® to develop and test methods for carbonating Solidia Cement™, broadening applications of Solidia’s low-carbon manufacturing technologies for building materials. With this funding, Solidia will develop processes for producing synthetic supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) through direct capture and utilization of CO2 from the flu gas stream of an operating cement plant.


Funded by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solidia will develop an efficient carbonation method of Solidia Cement in laboratory scale and perform tests in mortar and concrete to determine the suitability of this material as a cement replacement in concrete. This will provide a low CO2 alternative replacement material to OPC.

 

“We are proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Energy to continue innovating and ultimately deliver on our mission to provide commercially viable decarbonization technologies and sustainable solutions for the global construction and building materials industries,” said Solidia CEO Russell Hill, Ph.D.

 

The carbonated SCM will be added to concrete to create a product that will yield similar or better performance when compared to concrete made with commonly used SCMs, such as fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag.

 

“The DOE funding will advance our CCUS technologies and synthetic SCMs that can be easily integrated into Portland Cement-based concrete formulations, offering manufacturers a solution that is sustainable environmentally and economically, both lowering the carbon footprint and offering an alternative to traditional SCMs, which are in increasingly short supply,” added Dr. Hill.

 

About Solidia Technologies®
Based in Piscataway, N.J. (USA), Solidia Technologies® is a leading provider of decarbonization technologies and sustainable solutions to the construction and building materials industries. Investors include Imperative Ventures, Zero Carbon Partners, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Prelude Ventures, PIVA Capital, John Doerr, BP, OGCI Climate Investments, Bill Joy, Kleiner Perkins, BASF Venture Capital, Holcim, Total Carbon Neutrality Ventures, Air Liquide Venture Capital (ALIAD), and other private investors. Follow Solidia on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

 

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is working to build a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans. Our mission is to create and sustain American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy.

Contacts

Ellen Yui, YUI&Company, Inc.

o: 301-270-8571, m: 301-332-4135

ellenyui@yuico.com

Categories
Culture Regulations & Security Travel & Leisure

UNITE HERE Local 54 launches Atlantic City travel alert website in advance of possible labor dispute

The site–ACTravelAlert.org–will provide visitors with updates on casino contract negotiations

 

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — $BALY–Today UNITE HERE Local 54 launched a website to alert travelers to a potential labor dispute in Atlantic City. As the industry’s gaming operating profits surpass pre-pandemic levels, wages for Atlantic City’s casino workers have not kept pace. Contracts at all nine casinos are set to expire May 31. In the upcoming negotiations, casino workers see an opportunity to demand substantial raises across the board.

“Now that the casinos have recovered from the pandemic, it’s time for our members to recover, too. The Atlantic City gaming industry was established to create good middle class jobs, and our members are prepared to do whatever it takes to win the raises they need to get by in this economy,” said Bob McDevitt, President of Local 54. “Visitors to Atlantic City deserve to know the status of our contract negotiations, because when contracts expire, a labor dispute is always possible.”

 

Casino workers have sacrificed wage increases over the years for the health of the industry. Workers persevered through casino closures, Hurricane Sandy, and a global pandemic. Now, these same workers are getting left behind.

 

“I have to buy less because I need to pay the rent and utilities,” says Fabiola Sarmiento, a housekeeper at Harrah’s. “If I don’t, I will get my services cut. Electricity and gas have increased. The rent also increased. Food is super expensive, so I try to eat once per day. I am a cancer survivor and when I was ill with cancer, I applied to the state for help. The state did not give me any help. Supposedly, what I earn is enough to live on but that is not true.”

 

The website, ACTravelAlert.org, was last used by UNITE HERE Local 54 to update the public on the status of the Taj Mahal boycott and 2016 strike. Workers on strike held continuous picket lines in front of the Taj Mahal for 102 days.

 

Organizations that book business in Atlantic City should continue to check the website to keep up-to-date on contract negotiations. Travelers can also sign up to receive email updates about possible labor disputes.

 

The following casino contracts will expire on May 31, 2022:

  • Bally’s (NYSE:BALY) Atlantic City
  • Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa Atlantic City
  • Caesars ((NASDAQ:CZR) Atlantic City Hotel and Casino
  • Golden Nugget Atlantic City
  • Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City
  • Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
  • Ocean Resort Casino
  • Resorts Atlantic City
  • Tropicana Casino & Resort Atlantic City

 

For updates on this potential labor dispute, follow @UHLocal54 on Twitter.

 

UNITE HERE Local 54 Atlantic City has been representing hospitality workers in the hospitality industry for over 100 years. Our members work as housekeepers, bartenders, cocktail servers, cooks, bellmen, doormen, and other service jobs in the casinos and hospitality industry of South Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. With over 10,000 members, Local 54 is the largest private sector union in the region. Local 54 is an affiliate of UNITE HERE, an international labor union that represents 300,000 working people across North America.

Contacts

Bethany Holmes, 213-675-0905, bholmes@unitehere.org

Categories
Business Lifestyle News Now! Science

NEW ASCO Power blogs on data center industry innovation

Accessible through the Schneider Electric Blog site, read the new ASCO Power Technologies post about Powering Data Centers Through COVID-19 and Other Challenges.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — ASCO Power Technologies, the world’s leading provider of critical power solutions, has released its newest blog post, which highlights the latest electrical infrastructure and backup power topics for data centers. It shares insights and industry knowledge from a leader who solves backup power challenges every day. The article is accessible through the Schneider Electric Blog site.

 

The new May 2022 post, Powering Data Centers Through COVID-19 and Other Challenges, presents key points from an ASCO Power Innovation Talk Webinar on data center trends and challenges with Gary Russinko, Principal at kW Mission Critical Engineering.

 

The article explores four topics:

  • How COVID-19 impacted data centers
  • Responding changes in data center design
  • The emerging demand for sustainability in data center operations
  • The benefits digitization brings to data center operators

 

ASCO Power blog posts add to the body of education for critical power systems and provide valuable information for power industry professionals, engineers, facility managers, and technicians. Each successive post links to recorded interviews along with supplemental technical briefs, white papers, application notes, or case studies that are relevant to each topic. Reader can access the newest post here, and can access the entire series of ASCO Power though leadership blogs at ASCO Blogs.

 

About ASCO Power Technologies

ASCO Power Technologies has provided power reliability solutions for more than 125 years. The firm designs, manufactures, services, and supports automatic transfer switches, power control equipment, load banks, and critical power management appliances. ASCO products serve mission-critical functions in data centers, healthcare facilities, telecommunication networks, commercial buildings, and industrial operations. To learn more about any of ASCO’s premium products and services, call (800) 800 ASCO (2726), email CustomerCare@Ascopower.com, or visit www.ascopower.com. To receive updates on the latest news and updates, follow ASCO’s Facebook and LinkedIn.

Contacts

Laurence Grodsky

+ 1 973 307 7352

Larry.Grodsky@ascopower.com

Categories
Business Culture Science Technology

Align announces additional leadership for UK and EMEA to support continued growth

LONDON — (BUSINESS WIRE) — #ITservices—Align, the premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions celebrates significant growth throughout the UK and EMEA markets with management changes to support increasing demand. The appointment of Giulia Marcolina as Managing Director and Mike Konold as AV Solutions Director of Align’s UK-based headquarters, will enable the team to deliver innovative collaborative technology and state-of-the-art AV solutions.


Giulia brings over 25 years of IT experience, previously serving as Align’s Programme Manager, delivering corporate office relocation and consolidation projects for clients such as Blackrock, Total Gas and Power, and UBS. In her new role, she will lead Align’s team of project managers in building upon Align’s longstanding business relationships and delivering complex technology programmes including office design and build, cable infrastructure, and AV and security solutions.

 

“Giulia’s wealth of knowledge and experience across the spectrum of workplace technologies paired with her collaborative leadership style will be pivotal in Align meeting its strategic goals,” said Jim Dooling, CEO and President of Align. “With her expertise and keen attention to detail, she will be instrumental in driving revenue, increasing our presence throughout EMEA, empowering our team and improving the overall customer experience.”

 

“I am honored to have been given the opportunity to lead a strong team of industry specialists in pushing our strategic vision forward,” said Giulia. “I look forward to leveraging my expertise to grow our team, empower our professionals to provide innovative IT solutions across the UK and EMEA and to further our mission as a leading technology solutions provider.”

 

Align has also added Mike Konold, a 25-year veteran within the Audio-Visual, Telephony and Networks space. As the AV Solutions Director at Align, he will be working with clients on designing and integrating state-of-the art, dynamic AV solutions to enhance collaboration and employee engagement. Prior to joining the London team, he served as a Head of Collaboration Platforms at Schroders.

 

“Mike has an expansive and successful track record working in both AV environments and new builds,” said Giulia. “As the new AV Solutions Director, he will be essential in expanding our professional services portfolio.”

 

“The Align Team has a rich history of positioning and supporting clients for future growth and technological innovation, and I am excited to be a part of that,” said Mike. “Having come from the client side, I bring a unique perspective to the team and look forward to building and fortifying relationships with Align’s existing and future clients.”

 

About Align

Align is a premier global provider of technology infrastructure solutions. For over 35 years, leading firms worldwide have relied on Align to guide them through IT challenges, delivering complete, secure solutions for business change and growth. Align is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and has offices in New York City, London, Chicago, San Francisco, Arizona, New Jersey, and Virginia. Learn more at www.align.com, and follow @AlignITAdvisor.

Contacts

PR Contact:
Ashley Holbrook

212-546-6159

aholbrook@align.com