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Frost & Sullivan names Vonage Asia-Pacific Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) provider of the year for second consecutive year

Frost & Sullivan Names Vonage Asia-Pacific Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) Provider of the Year for Second Consecutive Year,

HOLMDEL, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–For the second year in a row, Frost & Sullivan has named Vonage (Nasdaq: VG), a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation, as the Asia-Pacific Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) Provider of the Year.

Vonage was recognized for the Vonage Communications Platform, which allows for the integration of fully programmable APIs into existing products, workflows and systems and from which the Company’s unified communications and contact center solutions are built. The Vonage Platform provides businesses worldwide with the power and flexibility to integrate multiple communications channels − video, voice, chat, messaging, email and verification − into their applications, products, and workflows to create new paradigms in their industries.

Vonage was selected as Provider of the Year using Frost & Sullivan’s proprietary, measurement-based methodology derived from extensive primary and secondary research including in-depth interviews, analysis, and industry benchmarking.

“Communications Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) is emerging as a key enabler for organizations aiming for integrated, feature-rich business communications applications. Staying true to its roots as a technology disruptor, Vonage offers scalable platforms for developers and businesses seeking unified communications, collaboration, and contact center solutions through programmable communications application programming interfaces (APIs) in the same stack and framework,” said Sherrel Roche, Industry Principal ICT Practice, Frost & Sullivan.

Roche continued, “The company is reinventing how organizations use communications solutions to collaborate and engage with their customers through the development of feature-rich APIs that seamlessly integrate with an organization’s applications, products and workflows. Leveraging a strong community of developers, partner ecosystem, technology adoption that adapts to market needs, and vertical-specific use cases have been critical to Vonage’s success in the Asia-Pacific market.”

“We are honored to be recognized by Frost & Sullivan for the second consecutive year, which is a testament to our continued leadership, innovation and growth within the industry and especially in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Omar Javaid, President of Vonage’s API Platform Group. “This award highlights our continued commitment to providing flexible business communications solutions that empower companies to build the unique experiences and disruptive solutions they need to stay connected to employees and customers from anywhere, through whichever channel they choose.”

With an ever-growing network of more than one million registered developers, the Vonage Communications Platform makes it easy for businesses to use APIs to disrupt their industries, and enable the type of business continuity, remote work, and remote delivery of services that is so essential in today’s environment. Through its partners, Vonage’s platform is at the center of many notable transformational projects in the APAC region, and a de facto for startups.

To find out more about Vonage, visit www.vonage.com.

About Vonage

Vonage (Nasdaq: VG), a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage’s Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. Vonage’s fully programmable unified communications and contact center applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or anywhere, providing enormous flexibility and ensuring business continuity.

Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Israel, Australia and Asia. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit twitter.com/vonage. To become a fan on Facebook, go to facebook.com/vonage. To subscribe on YouTube, visit youtube.com/vonage.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success.

Contacts

Vonage:
Media:

Elise Leonard, 732-837-3801, elise.leonard@vonage.com

Investor:
Hunter Blankenbaker, 732.444.4926, hunter.blankenbaker@vonage.com

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New Jersey American Water recognized for excellence in water quality by Partnership for Safe Water

Company demonstrates outstanding commitment to delivering high quality drinking water to customers

CAMDEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–New Jersey American Water’s Delaware River Regional Water Treatment Plant and Raritan-Millstone Treatment Plant have received the Partnership for Safe Water’s Phase III Directors Award for 20 years of water quality excellence. The national Partnership for Safe Water awards, which honor the efforts in continuously optimizing water treatment plant and distribution system operation and performance, were recently announced by the American Water Works Association.

“We hold ourselves to the highest standards in delivering clean, safe, high-quality drinking water to our customers while also providing water service that is reliable and affordable, and we are proud to be recognized for our commitment to high standards at these essential surface water treatment plants,” said Cheryl Norton, Senior Vice President, Chief Environmental Officer American Water and President of New Jersey American Water. “This achievement is testament to our incredible team of expert scientists, treatment plant operators and engineers who are deeply committed to excellence and helping to protect the health and safety of customers.”

The company’s Delaware River Regional Water Treatment Plant in Delran treats water drawn from the Delaware River and delivers as much as 40 million gallons of high-quality, reliable water daily to hundreds of thousands of customers in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties. Built in 1996, the plant was created to address the region’s critical water supply needs that could not be met from the aquifers alone.

The Raritan-Millstone Water Treatment Plant, situated in Bridgewater, is New Jersey American Water’s largest water production facility and a regional source of potable water supply for all or parts of seven counties in central New Jersey. The plant draws from the confluence of the Raritan and Millstone Rivers producing an average of 132 million gallons per day (MGD) with a peak capacity of 185 MGD. Aside from providing water supply to NJAW’s own customers the plant also supplies five large bulk water sales connections, and two emergency interconnections with the cities of Newark and Trenton.

About New Jersey American Water

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.8 million people. For more information, visit www.newjerseyamwater.com and follow New Jersey American Water on Twitter and Facebook.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Contacts

Denise Venuti Free

Director of Communications and External Affairs

Cell: 856-449-7357

Denise.Free@amwater.com

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Business

Wiley mourns the loss of Board Member William Pence

HOBOKEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–It is with great sadness that John Wiley & Sons, Inc. announces the death of Board Member William (Bill) Pence, who passed earlier this month.

“Bill was a trusted advisor and a champion of transformation, from culture to tech driven innovation, never one to shy away from disruptive ideas that would help us move forward,” said Jesse C. Wiley, Chairman of the Board, Wiley. “His care, expertise, wisdom, insight, passion and presence will be greatly missed in and outside our board. Bill was an all-around great human being. On behalf of the Wiley family, the Board of Directors and all Wiley colleagues, we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Maria and their two children during this very difficult time.”

Mr. Pence joined Wiley’s Board of Directors in 2016, bringing more than 25 years of leadership experience, and having previously serving in leading roles spanning technology, healthcare and media at organizations including AOL, WebMD, Napster, Universal Music Group, and IBM. His innovative thinking and technical expertise in technology and beyond guided Wiley’s ongoing transformation and performance.

“Bill was a very special man and we will miss him dearly,” said Brian A. Napack, President and CEO of Wiley. “His vision, quiet leadership, and positive, collaborative style enhanced Wiley and our global community in so many ways. Bill had real, lasting impact, and we were lucky to know him.”

Mr. Pence, a PhD, was committed to education and lifelong learning, for himself and the broader community and will be remembered as an accessible mentor and a confidant. He enjoyed teaching English as a second language at Neighbor’s Link in Mount Kisco, NY, and humanitarian trips in the Dominican Republic with Bridges to Community. At the time of his death, Mr. Pence was the chair of a Cornell University College of Engineering Advisory Board, an alumni advisor for the University of Virginia Department of Media Studies, and a member of the board of the Bedford Historical Society.

To read Bill Pence’s obituary, please visit: https://obits.lohud.com/obituaries/lohud/obituary.aspx?n=william-pence&pid=196773732&fhid=2248

About Wiley

Wiley drives the world forward with research and education. Through publishing, platforms and services, we help students, researchers, universities, and corporations to achieve their goals in an ever-changing world. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to all of our stakeholders. The Company’s website can be accessed at www.wiley.com.

All Corporate News

Contacts

Joanna Jia

Corporate Secretary

(201) 748-6020 / jjia@wiley.com

Katie Roberts

Vice President, Corporate Communications

(602) 373-7233 / karoberts@wiley.com

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Business

American Water’s Homeowner Services division launches new partnership with global energy provider

Iberdrola Texas selects American Home Solutions for quality, affordability, and reliability

CAMDEN, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–American Home Solutions, part of American Water’s Homeowner Services division, announced today it has entered into an agreement with Iberdrola Texas, a global renewable energy provider and producer of wind power. This partnership expands American Water’s Homeowner Services footprint in Texas, offering optional homeowner protection plans for individuals and families spending more time at home, placing additional stress and usage on their systems.

“During a time when we are all using our home systems more frequently, small problems can lead to significant, unplanned repairs and expenses,” said Eric Palm, President, Homeowner Services. “We are proud to be working with Iberdrola Texas to provide affordable protection plans to homeowners, covering AC units and electronic devices. American Home Solutions aims to offer peace of mind that comes with top-of-the-line customer service.”

Through the agreement, affordable home service protection plans will be offered to Iberdrola Texas customers, such as the Cooling Repair and Maintenance Plan, and Surge Protection Plan.

American Water’s Homeowner Services prides itself on quality, exceptional customer service, program coverage, and a proven track record in providing peace of mind and protecting homeowners across the country. To learn more about American Home Solutions, visit getstarted.yourhomesolutions.com/american-home-solutions.

About American Home Solutions

Pivotal Home Solutions, LLC does business as American Home Solutions in select markets. Pivotal Home Solutions, LLC is part of American Water’s Homeowner Services division, protecting homeowners from top to bottom, inside and out, including water and sewer lines, plumbing and electrical systems, HVAC maintenance and installation, and appliance repairs. American Water’s Homeowner Services brands protect nearly 2 million customers contracts across the US, including partnerships with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Orlando Utilities Commission, reaching 43 states and Washington, D.C. Pivotal Home Solutions, LLC has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. For more information about American Home Solutions, visit: getstarted.yourhomesolutions.com/american-home-solutions.

About Iberdrola Texas

Iberdrola Texas is part of the Iberdrola Group (IBERDROLA, S.A), one of the world’s largest electric integrated utility providers and a global leader in wind energy. The company produces and supplies energy to more than 100 million customers around the world. Iberdrola Texas is a leader in renewable energy that delivers 100% green electricity sourced exclusively from Texas wind farms. For more information, visit www.iberdrolatexas.com.

Contacts

Alicia Barbieri

American Water

Alicia.Barbieri@amwater.com
(609) 432-3331

Samantha Subar

Iberdrola

samantha.subar@iberdrolausa.com
214-529-4749

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Business

AM Best assigns Issue Credit Rating to MetLife, Inc.’s new preferred shares

OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AM Best has assigned a Long-Term Issue Credit Rating of “bbb” to the $1 billion issuance of 3.85% fixed rate reset non-cumulative preferred stock, Series G, recently issued by MetLife, Inc. (MetLife) (headquartered in New York, NY) [NYSE: MET]. The outlook assigned to the Credit Rating (rating) is stable. Leverage and coverage ratios remain supportive of the ratings. The existing ratings of MetLife and its subsidiaries are unchanged.

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 media use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media – Proper Use of Best’s Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

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 New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Louis Silvers
Senior Financial Analyst
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5802
louis.silvers@ambest.com

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

Rosemarie Mirabella
Director
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5892
rosemarie.mirabella@ambest.com

Jim Peavy
Director, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5644
james.peavy@ambest.com

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Business

Remarkety introduces SMS Marketing platform to help eCommerce companies enhance their multichannel marketing strategy and improve ROI

NEWARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#ecommerce–Remarkety Inc., a leading provider of data-driven marketing automation solutions, today introduced the Remarkety SMS Marketing platform, a new marketing solution that enables eCommerce companies to create and deliver personalized, hyper-targeted SMS messages that propel customers to action and improve ROI.

Built upon the same advanced technology as the company’s best-in-class email marketing automation tools, the Remarkety SMS Marketing platform makes it easier than ever for eCommerce companies to rise above the noise of the inbox and reach their customers. Users can send mass and trigger-based SMS messages or integrate SMS Marketing with their email automation strategy to build targeted, cross-platform campaigns that span multiple touchpoints and channels.

“Today’s consumers are on mobile devices more than ever, and SMS messages have an almost 100% open rate. Brands that can deliver relevant and timely SMS messages to their customers can foster loyalty and engagement and drive greater revenues,” said Joel Presman, Co-founder and General Manager at Remarkety. “In talking with thousands of our customers, we found there’s serious demand for a solution that allows eCommerce companies to do SMS marketing the right way—targeted and providing delight to customers, not spamming them. So, we built that platform, and we’re thrilled to give our customers another tool to add to their toolbox.”

With the Remarkety SMS Marketing platform, ecommerce companies have virtually limitless options to forge stronger connections with customers and bolster their bottom line, including:

  • Following up on an unopened email with an SMS, or vice versa.
  • Seamlessly continuing sessions across desktop and mobile, enabling customers to checkout or recover abandoned carts, regardless of browser cookies, login, or device.
  • Tracking and monitoring which audiences respond to which channels and leverage dynamic tags to segment and target accordingly.
  • Strengthening engagement and loyalty with personalized messages, invitations to exclusive flash sales, and product recommendations.
    • Hyper-targeted automated SMS’s based on real-time and historic user purchase and intent history

The Remarkety SMS Marketing platform is available to all our customers as of September 2020. For a limited time, customers who sign up for the platform can receive a $50 credit towards SMS, so they can try the platform absolutely risk-free. For more information visit: https://www.remarkety.com/sms-marketing

About Remarkety

Founded in 2012, Remarkety is a leading eCommerce Data-Driven Marketing Platform. Remarkety changes the way SMBs retailers market and resell to their customers, by giving them an enterprise-grade marketing power. Remarkety developed an industry-disrupted service to solve the marketing challenges of eCommerce SMBs by using big-data, shopping behavior and purchase history of millions of shoppers to execute targeted and segmented marketing strategies. More information can be found at https://www.remarkety.com/about-us.

Contacts

Maya Yeshurun

VP Marketing

(800) 570-7564

maya.yeshurun@remarkety.com

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Business

Proxy Specialist Tom Ball joins Alliance Advisors

BLOOMFIELD, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Alliance Advisors, a leading independent proxy solicitation and governance advisory firm, is pleased to announce that Thomas M. Ball has joined the firm as a Senior Vice President in the Proxy Solicitation Group.

Tom has over 40 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance consulting, shareholder activism and the inner workings of the proxy solicitation process. Tom was most recently Senior Managing Director at Morrow Sodali LLC., earning wide respect among clients and advisors for delivering results in numerous of high-profile contested votes, thousands of proxy solicitations and hundreds of tender offers – both domestic and international.

“In our industry, there are few people with the level of expertise in managing high-profile assignments, with complicated issues for corporations across the globe. Tom, an industry colleague and friend for years, will bring excellent interpersonal skills to our team and develop real-world strategies to meet the needs of our clients. I’m very pleased to have him join our team,” said Peter Casey, Executive Vice President and head of Alliance’s M&A Group.

“Alliance has a tremendous reputation for providing personalized, client-focused solutions,” commented Ball. “They understand the value of working together to find the optimal solution in very complex and contentious situations. I am very excited to join a firm with a deep bench of industry veterans with such diverse skills and I look forward to working with them to continue providing world-class service and advice to our clients.”

“We are thrilled to have obtained such a valuable asset with Tom and look forward to adding his expertise to Alliance’s arsenal of offerings,” said Reid Pearson, Executive Vice President who heads Alliance’s Governance Advisory Group.

About Alliance Advisors:

Alliance Advisors is a multi-faceted proxy solicitation and corporate advisory firm that services over 450 corporations worldwide. The firm is a single source solution for corporate executives and Boards as well as law firms and IR agencies for all proxy and governance related matters.

Contacts

Peter Casey, Executive Vice President

973-873-7710

pcasey@allianceadvisors.com
www.allianceadvisors.com

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Business

AM Best: Market dislocation drives growth for U.S. surplus lines (AM BestTV)

OLDWICK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–In this episode of AMBestTV, David Blades and Robert Raber, both associate directors, AM Best, said some excess and surplus lines insurers experienced a 15-year high in premium gains during 2019. Click on http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=surpluslines920 to view the entire program.

Blades highlighted the level of U.S. surplus lines business volume in 2019.

“The U.S. surplus lines premium volume increased considerably,” said Blades. “In particular, U.S. surplus lines companies that write more than 50% of their total business on a surplus lines basis increased their direct premium written by almost 15%, the highest level of growth since 2006. The entire surplus lines market, including business that is written by the Lloyd’s market syndicates, grew by 11.2% in 2019.”

Raber said the COVID-19-fueled economic shifts that have impacted the surplus lines market.

“The flow of new businesses definitely changed in two different directions,” said Raber. “First, there was a temporary decline in new business coming into the U.S. surplus lines market beginning in late March and into early April, as the stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders were implemented across the country. At the same time, rates are continuing to rise. AM Best’s expectation is that conditions are going to persist in the short term for the continuing rising of rates, as it continues to be a hardening market.”

Looking at the balance of 2020 and into 2021, AM Best anticipates this sector will continue to show resiliency.

To access the related market segment report, titled, “Expanding Opportunities Bolster Surplus Lines Growth and Operating Results,” please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=300916.

Recent AMBestTV coverage includes:

  • AM Best: Canada Property/Casualty Insurers Well-Positioned; Life Writers Face Volatility in 2020: Brian Lynch and Anthony McSwieney, senior financial analysts, AM Best, said 2020 has brought fewer property/casualty (P/C) claims, but has increased investment uncertainty in the Canada market: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=ambcanada920.
  • Hardening Market Driving Bermuda Captive Growth: Captive insurers old and new are writing more business during the hardening market, according to a panel focused on the Bermuda landscape: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=ambcaptives920.
  • Hard Market Driving Interest in Captives: The pandemic, economic downturn and higher insurance rates have increased interest in captive insurers, said panelists in a recent AM Best webinar: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=ambcaptiverecut920.
  • New Data Sources, AI Changing Commercial Underwriting: The “explosion of digital economy” and use of artificial intelligence is improving underwriting, according to the “Using New Data to Out-Select the Competition,” panel: http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=carpedata920.

AM BestTV covers exclusive AM Best and insurance industry information and reports, targeted topics and key developments in the insurance, reinsurance and related sectors daily. Sign up for alerts of episodes at www.ambest.com/multimedia/ambtvsignup.html. View AM BestTV episodes at www.ambest.tv.

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 New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright © 2020 by A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Contacts

Lee McDonald
Group Vice President, Publication and News Services
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5561
lee.mcdonald@ambest.com

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Business

Telia Carrier and ZenFi Networks partner to expand connectivity throughout the New York City and New Jersey metro region

The Joint Collaboration Allows ZenFi Networks’ Customers to Leverage Telia Carrier’s #1 Global IP Backbone for Enhanced Deployment Speed, Network Uptime, Resilience and Scalability

STOCKHOLM AND NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Telia Carrier and ZenFi Networks today announced a strategic partnership to deliver enhanced backbone connectivity to wholesale and enterprise customers throughout the New York and New Jersey metro region.

The partnership enables ZenFi Networks to offer expanded digital capabilities across its dense footprint through seamless and cost-efficient connections to all major cloud providers through Telia Carrier’s #1 ranked global IP backbone. The collaboration enhances ZenFi Networks’ footprint outside of the New York City and New Jersey metro region, empowering customers to expand their reach to more than 300 Points of Presence in 120 global markets. The partnership also gives Telia Carrier access to ZenFi Networks’ expansive fiber footprint, spanning more than 1,100 route miles, to provide diverse access to enterprise destinations across New York and New Jersey, a market with one of the world’s densest concentrations of commercial business.

“Like Telia Carrier, ZenFi Networks is focused on the customer experience,” said Rob Pulkownik, Telia Carrier’s Head of Channel Sales. “We’ve found that the core values of the two companies are in alignment. Both organizations focus on the customer with rapid delivery, collaboration and transparency as guiding principles. The complementary nature of ZenFi Networks’ metro NYC footprint and Telia Carrier’s #1 Global IP backbone adds up to a consistently positive experience for our shared customer base.”

“We have had a long-standing relationship with Telia Carrier and are excited for the evolution of our partnership. Our mutual customer-centric values create a collaboration that better serves our customers,” said Walter Cannon, Vice President of Business Development at ZenFi Networks. “Telia Carrier’s expanded global reach compliments ZenFi Networks’ ability to offer enhanced solutions and services to our channel partners, our wholesale customers, and enterprise businesses within and beyond our regional footprint.”

The collaboration leverages both firms’ technology and infrastructure to ensure quick deployments, to increase scalability and reduce downtime while delivering unique diversity and high levels of resilience for an extremely dependable network experience.

About Telia Carrier

Telia Carrier solves global connectivity challenges for multinational enterprises whose businesses rely on digital infrastructure. On top of the world’s #1 ranked IP backbone and a unique ecosystem of cloud and network service providers, we provide an award-winning customer experience to customers in 120 countries worldwide. Our global Internet services connect more than 700 cloud, security and content providers with low latency. For further resilience, our private Cloud Connect service connects directly to Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud and Oracle cloud across North America, Europe, and Asia. Discover more at teliacarrier.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About ZenFi Networks

ZenFi Networks is an innovative communications infrastructure company focused on enabling fiber optic network, network edge colocation and wireless siting solutions in the NY-NJ metro region. As the area’s most experienced communications infrastructure builders, ZenFi Networks has an unparalleled reputation for efficiently architecting and delivering solutions that enable Mobile Network Operators, Wholesale Telecommunications Providers and Large Enterprise clients. With its purpose-built C-RAN infrastructure, ZenFi Networks is at the forefront of network architecture innovation and a critical part of the mobile and wholesale telecommunications ecosystems in one of the biggest, most important markets in the world. For more information, please visit: www.zenfi.com.

Contacts

Media contact for Telia Carrier:
Jeannette Bitz

Engage PR

+1 510.295.4972

jbitz@engagepr.com

Media Contact for ZenFi Networks:
Ilissa Miller

iMiller Public Relations

Tel: +1 866 307 2510

pr@imillerpr.com

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Business

Audible launches Global Center for Urban Development

Veteran economic impact executive Aisha Glover to join the Center’s mission – to launch and prove out equitable community and economic development initiatives in Newark, N.J., and other cities around the world

NEWARK, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Audible, the world’s largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, today announced the creation of the Global Center for Urban Development, which will expand the company’s community and economic initiatives while launching new and measurable models focused on advancing equality, racial justice and economic empowerment. While based in and focused on Audible’s corporate hometown of Newark, N.J. the Center’s mission will encompass Audible locations in 14 cities around the world and include programs and policy initiatives that can be adopted in cities globally.

Audible also announced Aisha Glover will join the company as Vice President of Urban Innovation on October 5, reporting to SVP, Center for Urban Development, Abhinav Mathur. In her role, Glover will help establish the strategic direction of the Global Center for Urban Development and will lead a team dedicated to advancing equitable economic development solutions in cities worldwide. Glover joins Audible from the Newark Alliance, where she served as President & CEO for the past two years.

Audible relocated to Newark in 2007 to pursue one of its core corporate principles: We work to improve the lives of those in the cities and countries in which we operate, because Audible seeks to exemplify what a company can mean beyond what it does. We believe in giving people a chance, and we work to make this so, particularly in the urban core. Our focus on education innovation and urban economic and social renaissance is about advancing equality, and this mission should inform and inspire our days.

In pursuit of this defining principle, the company launched the social impact early-stage investment fund Newark Venture Partners; introduced the “Live Local” program that incentivizes Audible employees to live in Newark with after-tax subsidies; created the Audible Interns and Scholars programs alongside the Cornerstone program focused on creative Newark resident employee development; and offered corporate support for local small restaurant businesses, which during the crises of 2020 has become Newark Working Kitchens. In just 23 weeks since launch, Newark Working Kitchens has reopened 25 local restaurants and delivered more than 440,000 meals to underserved Newarkers.

The new Center for Urban Development will report into Audible Founder and Executive Chairman, Don Katz. “At a time of unprecedented crisis, Newark’s historic comeback is dependent on continued support from companies, philanthropies and governments working together. We believe all members of society — with strong companies like Audible and other scaled corporations leading the way — must commit to meaningful support for innovation and investment, focused on civic and social change that addresses the underlying causes of structural inequality,” said Katz. “With the Global Center for Urban Development, Audible aims to draw upon global best practices, cutting-edge analysis and elite talent to amplify its impact in Newark and beyond by establishing new paradigms that advance equitable development in cities everywhere. The Center has been specifically designed to partner more deeply with government, community organizations and corporate partners to coalesce around new and legacy programs that work at scale.”

A seasoned economic impact executive, Aisha Glover has a proven track record of spearheading equitable economic development programs throughout the region. Glover has more than 15 years of experience as an agent for economic empowerment and social justice. At the Newark Alliance, she worked closely with Mayor Ras Baraka to push for inclusive economic growth, helping to align dozens of corporations and private institutions with Newark’s needs, attracting billions of dollars in real estate development, and advancing citywide economic empowerment initiatives, including workforce training and women entrepreneurship programs.

“Aisha Glover’s commitment to and success in improving the lives of the people of Newark makes her uniquely suited to help carry out the vision of our Global Center for Urban Development,” continued Katz. “Aisha’s experience bringing together public, private and community-based organizations to create and sustain equitable economic development will be critical as we double down on our efforts on behalf of the city we call home, and other communities in which Audible operates. Aisha’s leadership of this new Global Center, along with Abhinav Mathur – a truly visionary executive who has led some of our most important efforts to be an inventive company that pursues meaning and purpose – is very exciting indeed.”

“I commend Audible for embracing its role in Newark, advancing its economic and social impact and investing in and launching initiatives that are aligned with my vision for an inclusive and equitable city,” said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. “Aisha is the perfect leader to continue this work from within Audible on behalf of the City’s residents and small businesses. We need all corporations to take an active role in helping to accelerate our recovery.”

“We are at a critical juncture in Newark and in many cities around the world. We’ve seen how corporations are beginning to step in to fill the gaps to help drive equity, and with Audible’s leadership and backing, the Global Center for Urban Development will be at the forefront to create a new type of urbanism,” said Glover. “My commitment to developing deep community, corporate and government partnerships have generated strong results for Newark, and I am energized to bring similar innovative and inclusive solutions to bear in Newark that not only help the city recover, but ensure that it thrives.”

Under Glover’s leadership, the Alliance and its corporate and institutional membership base has advanced a Hire Buy Live initiative, helping over 2,020 Newarkers secure employment within these institutions, increased local procurement spend with small businesses, and expanded opportunities for homeownership and relocation into the city. Prior to leading the Newark Alliance, Glover served as the President & CEO of the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, where she oversaw efforts to attract real estate development, businesses and more than $3B in development funds to Newark, leading the city to be shortlisted for Amazon’s second headquarters. Glover also served as the Vice President of External Affairs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, where she led strategic partnership development, community engagement, public affairs and fundraising to help establish Navy Yard as a global model for urban industrial development.

The Global Center for Urban Development will bring together all equitable community aspirations at Audible under a single organization, from existing community projects in Newark to new efforts around urban innovation, to work to improve the lives of those in the cities and countries in which Audible operates.

ABOUT AUDIBLE, INC.

Audible, Inc., an Amazon.com, Inc. subsidiary (NASDAQ:AMZN), is the world’s largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks, offering customers a new way to enhance and enrich their lives every day. Audible content includes more than 550,000 audio programs from leading audiobook publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, magazine and newspaper publishers, and business information providers.

Contacts

Kay Sarlin Wright

Public Affairs Director

prteam@audible.com