Latest news with #Barracuda
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Clive Birch, publisher whose books on British towns reinvigorated the field of local history
Clive Birch, who has died aged 93, was an innovative publisher in the field of local history, his 'Town Books' providing readers with an authoritative and entertaining guide to the lore of their neighbourhoods. A former journalist, Birch founded an independent publishing firm, Barracuda Books, in 1974. Operating at first from an attic office in Soho, Barracuda became particularly well-known for its books on British towns: crisply written and abundantly illustrated, they were received as a breath of fresh air in the local history genre, which at the time largely comprised either dry-as-dust tomes or cheap catchpenny volumes. Having settled in Buckinghamshire – in a 17th-century farmhouse he had restored – Birch wrote many of the volumes on Bucks towns himself. Several members of the Royal family were fans of the 'Town Books'. Prince Charles wrote the forewords to three of the volumes and once lent Birch a Royal barge for a launch party. One memorable day saw Birch do the rounds of 10 Downing Street, Lambeth Place and Clarence House to present volumes to Mrs Thatcher (on Grantham), the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother's aide Sir Martin Gilliat greeted him with the words 'Hello Barracuda, have a little drink-o' and instructed him that the correct etiquette was to inscribe the book 'from your faithful servant'. Clive Birch was born in Edgware on December 22 1931. His father, Raymond Birch CBE, ran Birch Bros, the family bus and coach operating business that had begun by running horse-drawn cabs in 1837. His mother Valerie (née Fry) was a performer who sang with Ivor Novello. After Uppingham School his National Service with the RAF amounted to 'undistinguished service stopping planes hitting mountains' in radar. His plans to go on to university were thwarted by the expectation that he would join the family firm, but he rebelled by heading north to work as a teaboy on a local newspaper in Manchester. He went on to be appointed editor of the Bucks Examiner aged 24. Birch yo-yoed for many years between the worlds of journalism and public relations. He was credited with doubling the circulation of Shooting Times as publishing manager of its parent company; when the editor, Philip Brown, chided him for his ignorance of field sports, Birch immediately took up game shooting, which he enjoyed into his 80s. In the 1970s Birch was appointed editor of the ailing Illustrated London News, the venerable magazine that had been purchased by the press magnate Lord Thomson of Fleet. 'The Times is my flagship, the ILN my pinnace,' Roy Thomson told Birch. 'They're both sinking. Save the ILN in 15 months or you're fired.' Birch reversed the circulation decline, but Lord Thomson fired him anyway in 1972 during a cost-cutting drive and although he almost immediately tried to rehire him, Birch decided to strike out on his own and launch Barracuda Books. He maintained an interest in the family transport business and in 1984 served as Master of the Worshipful Company of Carmen, as his father had been before him. He was a driving force in establishing the Carmen's Research Fellowship in vehicle design at the Royal College of Art, and in his 70s he became a visiting lecturer and tutor at the RCA, relishing involvement with university life, which he had been denied as a young man. He finally retired at 87. In 1985 he founded the Buckingham Heritage Trust, which, among other projects, bought and restored Buckingham Old Gaol and refashioned it as a museum. He was appointed MBE in 2000 for services to local heritage. His numerous books included a novel, A Decent Man, and a history of his family's firm, A World of Wheels, published when he was 92. After two marriages that ended in divorce, Clive Birch was married for more than 40 years to his third wife, Carolyn, who survives him with four children and three stepchildren. Clive Birch, born December 22 1931, died April 29 2025 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Techday NZ
5 days ago
- Business
- Techday NZ
Riverbed appoints Crighton to lead sales across Asia-Pacific
Riverbed has appointed Paul Crighton as Vice President Sales for Asia-Pacific and Japan as the company seeks to increase its presence for AI-powered observability and performance solutions in the region. Paul Crighton joins Riverbed with over 25 years of experience in sales leadership across the technology sector, having previously held senior roles at Barracuda, NetApp, Blackberry, PGi, Symantec, and Intel Security/McAfee. In his new role as Vice President Sales for Asia-Pacific and Japan, Crighton will oversee Riverbed's sales strategy and day-to-day operations within the region. He will report to Kris Luhrsen, Chief Revenue Officer at Riverbed. Kris Luhrsen said, "I'm delighted to welcome Paul to Riverbed as Vice President Sales for the APJ region. As an inspirational, people-centric leader, Paul has a proven track record in leading sales organisations, navigating complex markets, and forging strong customer and partners relationship across APJ. As Riverbed continues to invest in its AI-powered Platform and solutions, Paul will be instrumental in leading the APJ team to help our customers further leverage the Platform and Riverbed AI capabilities at scale, delivering significant business outcomes and ROI." Crighton expressed enthusiasm about his new position, stating, "I'm thrilled to be joining Riverbed at this really exciting time in the company's journey, delivering next-generation AIOps and observability solutions for our customers, as they look to streamline and improve their IT operations, and deliver exceptional digital experiences. The innovation agenda demonstrates the value customers are seeing in the Riverbed Platform. I look forward to working with our experienced team to execute on Riverbed's vision, drive value for our customers, and further extend the company's growth and market share in the region." The appointment comes as Riverbed expands its platform with new features designed to assist enterprises in managing complex hybrid environments. These additions include AIOps, data observability, and acceleration solutions. In April, Riverbed announced a significant extension of its platform, introducing AI-powered observability offerings that integrate Riverbed Generative, Predictive and Agentic AI, as well as enhanced data observability modules. The new modules support unified communications applications, network packet analysis, and compatibility with Intel Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi connected devices. Recent product launches from Riverbed include NPM+, which offers visibility into cloud, remote work, and zero trust architectures, Aternity Mobile for digital experience management of enterprise-owned mobile devices, Riverbed IQ Ops, Riverbed Unified Agent, and Aternity Intelligent Service Desk. This month, Riverbed introduced new and upgraded acceleration solutions aimed at increasing enterprise network performance, security, and IT adaptability. Notable advancements include RiOS 10, Riverbed's acceleration software for cloud, data centres, and edge environments; the SteelHead 90 series for improved resilient networking; and Riverbed Flex, a new subscription-based consumption model. Riverbed's focus is on using AI automation to help organisations identify and resolve IT issues, backed by over two decades of experience in data collection, AI, and machine learning. Its open, AI-powered platform supports a range of digital experience and IT efficiency improvements for customers operating in complex digital environments.
Channel Post MEA
17-05-2025
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Barracuda Names Michelle Hodges As Senior VP Of Global Channels & Alliances
Barracuda Networks has announced the appointment of Michelle Hodges as Senior Vice President of Global Channels and Alliances. Hodges brings more than two decades of experience in transforming partner programs for leading technology vendors. In her new role, she will spearhead Barracuda's worldwide channel strategy, driving growth and deepening engagement across the company's partner ecosystem. 'Michelle's appointment reflects Barracuda's deep commitment to empowering our partners with innovative solutions and managed security services that are easy to buy, deploy and use,' said Geoff Waters, Chief Revenue Officer at Barracuda Networks. 'Her experience and leadership will be instrumental in advancing the Barracuda Partner Success Program, enhancing our go-to-market execution and accelerating growth.' Prior to joining Barracuda, Hodges served as Senior Vice President of Global Channels and Alliances at Ivanti. She has also held senior leadership roles overseeing global channel and alliance strategy at GitLab, Gigamon, Riverbed, Apptio, Intel, VMware, SAP, and Microsoft. A recognized industry leader, Hodges has been named a CRN Channel Chief, one of CRN's Power 100 Women of the Channel and a Channel Futures Top Cybersecurity Leader. She holds a Master of Business Administration in International Management and Master of Arts in International Policy Studies from Monterey Institute of International Studies , as well as a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature and Philosophy from Whittier College . 'Barracuda's channel-first approach and outstanding reputation for delivering industry-leading solutions make it a trusted leader in the market,' said Hodges. 'I look forward to working with our partners to extend our global reach, help customers defend against today's evolving threat landscape and drive sustainable, mutual growth and value.' 0 0
Forbes
13-05-2025
- Forbes
This Chic Hotel In Itacaré Puts A Nordic Accent On Brazilian Style
The main pool at Barracuda Friluftsliv is one of those wonderfully Scandinavian words for the art of living. It denotes having a simple life in nature without destroying or disturbing anything. It's not the sort of word you'd expect to find on T-shirts in the boutique of a small beach hotel in Brazil. But then, Barracuda is not the sort of hotel you'd expect to find on a small beach in Brazil. They're hanging beside more swag that says Confia para está na Bahia ('trust, because you're in Bahia'), a more expected—and common—expression in the surfer-chic beach town of Itacaré. And it's the combination of those two ideas that makes Barracuda such a singular place—not only in Itacaré but in the world. Itacaré is one of those effortlessly cool beach towns that was first 'discovered' by surfers. Until 1998, when a road was built to connect it with Ilhéus (the main city in southern Bahia and home to the closest airport), Itacaré was largely cut off from the world, a place where most people caught fish or cultivated cacao but were hospitable to their foreign visitors. The rooftop of Barracuda hotel With that connection in place, more people came, both for the waves and for the lively Afro-Brazilian culture, natural beauty (rivers and waterfalls, not only oceans and beaches). Eventually, the town took on a life of its own, attracting like-minded people who wanted to encounter each other as well as the destination itself. (It's tempting to compare it to Tulum 20 years ago.) Juliana Ghiotto, a designer from São Paulo, was part of that early wave of visitors. In 2004, she meant to come for one week to 'slow down,' but fell in love with the place—and with a local surfer, Daniel Lima—and decided to stay. 'People thought I was crazy,' she recalls, but she knew she was onto something. She took a job at a local guesthouse, got involved with the local community and welcomed international visitors. 'Bahian and Swedish people both like a design that goes down to the essentials. It's like different languages to say the same thing. But our goal is to create a 'Barracuda language' that's a fusion of both cultures.' Now Ghiotto and Lima are the creative and hospitable soul of Barracuda. They're often on hand at the main Barracuda hotel, just outside the bustle of Itacaré, or at that hotel's lively little sister, Barracuda Boutique, on the main street in front of the fishermen's bay. Both properties are love letters to their adopted and native home. But also in the early days, when Ghiotto was working at the other guesthouse, she met a Swedish visitor, who happened to be one of the founders of a well-known Scandinavian hotel group. Since she was 'a Paulista full of energy' in a sleepy coastal town, she became a sort of fixer for the Swede and his artist and entrepreneur friends, organizing their stays in Itacaré and travels around Brazil. A room in the Barracuda hotel And when they decided to develop their own project—the one that would become Barracuda—they invited Ghiotto and Lima to do it with them. The Brazilian couple built bridges with the local government and community that allowed them to succeed where other developers failed. Now other would-be hoteliers come to Barracuda to see how it's done. But the partnership wasn't merely expeditious. The managers, owners, investors and supporters found that they had much in common: aesthetically, philosophically and creatively. Bahian and Swedish people both like a design that goes down to the essentials, a 'less is more' idea, says Ghiotto. 'It's like different languages to say the same thing. But our goal is to create a 'Barracuda language' that's a fusion of both cultures. 'Both like simplicity,' she continues. There's Swedish reserve and Bahian exuberance, but 'Barracuda is a perfect combination. It's warm but minimalistic. It's not so materialistic. There's space for contemplation or connection.' The restaurant There's also a purity and integrity of materials, even though Barracuda is full of Brazilian hardwoods instead of pale Scandi beech. 'It's all solid. There's nothing fake,' says Ghiotto. 'There's nothing that's meant to be something else. It's all very real.' That's true in the 11 rooms of Barracuda Boutique, the 17 suites of the more luxurious Barracuda hotel and the small but growing number of ultra-luxe villas. They worked with Brazilian architects and interior designers, and all the furniture is from local carpenters. It's also true in the style of genuine hospitality from the largely local staff—many of whom have worked here 10 years or longer—and the complete lack of fuss around fancy things and fancy people. They never talk about it, says Ghiotto, but some members of the Swedish royal family have posted on social media about their Barracuda stays. Other high-profile people check in from time to time, but they get to be low-profile here. The living room of a villa Originally, Barracuda was meant to be their private low-profile playground, a collection of villas spread around a 64-acre property. They emphasize that they've developed less than 10% of the land when 20% is allowed (and far more is often used in practice). Even when an ambitious planned expansion is completed, they'll still be using far less land than they could get away with. As a result, there's more biodiversity within the bounds of the property than in the rest of the region. (And this is just a sliver of Ghiotto's deep commitment to making things better in the community around her.) The hotel came about organically, when they decided they wanted to offer a gathering place, a restaurant, concierge-type services, a big shared swimming pool and a rainforest deck for yoga and fitness classes. (And Barracuda Boutique was a surprise of its own: Since the environmental permits for the main project took seven years to come through, they built it in the interim, so they wouldn't lose the opportunity to invest in 'the right kind of tourism.') Notably absent, though, is a spa. Having a dedicated area for wellness didn't make sense to Ghiotto, who says wellness is baked into everything they do. The rooms are plenty big for therapists to come in with portable massage tables. Sometimes they set them up on the large terraces, allowing for a soundtrack of crashing waves and birdsong. A villa At the main Barracuda hotel, the 17 suites integrate natural light and sea breezes. They're clad in gorgeous native wood, decorated with natural fibers such as dende palm straw, and spiced up with vivid green cushions on the terrace chairs. But the star of the show is the ocean right in front of each one. The views from the rooftop terrace are even better. Some of the rooms share the main building with the pool terrace and the restaurant, which goes heavy on the fresh catch that's brought in daily by native fishermen, and refined takes on local dishes. There are tapioca crepes for breakfast, various ceviches, and a DIY acarajé, the local snack of white bean fritters (not unlike falafel) that are sliced open and stuffed with dried shrimp, a paste of ground cashews with palm oil, and the tomato-cucumber-onion salad that Brazilians call vinaigrette. Once a week, there's a big barbecue party, where they grill enormous lobsters on the terrace. Along with the hotel, the Barracuda villas are bigger, more private sanctums, designed by architect Eduardo Leite to accommodate anywhere from 8 to 16 people. They're the investors' vacation homes as well, so each has its own personality and a sense of being lived-in and real (and a style that caught the eye of ArchDaily). The look was overseen by interior designer Janice Miguel, who mixed pieces by local carpenters with objects from indigenous tribes and furnishings from renowned designers like Sergio Rodrigues, Carlos Motta and Jader Almeida. Still, she says, her guiding principle was and is a purity and simplicity of forms that would maximize the views of the forest and the sea. Her home base in São Paulo is half a world away from the Nordic proponents of friluftsliv, but it's clear that she—like everyone involved with Barracuda—has mastered that art of living simply within nature.
Tahawul Tech
12-05-2025
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
Redington incorporates AWS Marketplace into their portfolio
Redington, a leading technology aggregator and innovation powerhouse across emerging markets, recently announced the launch of its AWS Marketplace as a Practice at GISEC Global, marking a major step in expanding its cloud-first portfolio. This initiative will enable Redington's vast channel ecosystem to unlock new growth opportunities by accessing, purchasing, and delivering third-party software solutions from the AWS Marketplace. As part of this practice, Redington has been selected by AWS under the Designated Seller of Record (DSOR) program, authorizing it to resell products from approved Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) on the AWS Marketplace. Through this initiative, Redington has been shortlisted to work with prominent global ISVs—including names like Palo Alto Networks, Barracuda, Cisco, Red Hat, and Qlik—offering a curated suite of solutions to meet diverse customer needs. With the AWS Marketplace Practice, Redington's channel partners gain seamless access to an extensive catalogue of third-party solutions, enabling them to: Simplify procurement: Easily purchase and deploy cloud-based solutions through a single platform. Expand portfolios: Offer customers a broad range of software solutions without the complexity of direct vendor contracts. Accelerate time to market: Leverage Redington's expertise, certifications, and DSOR status to quickly resell approved ISV offerings. Enhance profitability: Access special pricing, bundled offers, and incentives that strengthen margins and competitiveness. For customers, the AWS Marketplace Practice delivers immediate benefits — including access to cutting-edge solutions from global brands, faster procurement and time-to-market, competitive pricing, simplified purchasing, and trusted expert support from implementation to post-sales. 'Redington's AWS Marketplace Practice reflects our unwavering commitment to making cloud innovation accessible, scalable, and profitable for both partners and customers', said Nehal Sharma, Vice President, Cloud Solutions Group, Redington. 'With this launch, we are removing traditional barriers to cloud adoption by offering a seamless, centralised platform where partners can access, procure, and deploy cutting-edge solutions from leading global ISVs. For customers, it means faster innovation, greater cost efficiency, and trusted expertise. Ultimately, we are bridging the gap between global technology providers and regional businesses, empowering organisations of all sizes to accelerate their digital transformation journeys and stay competitive in an increasingly cloud-first world'. The AWS Marketplace Practice will be officially launched at GISEC Global, underlining Redington's leadership in cloud aggregation and its close collaboration with AWS to empower the channel ecosystem. Image Credit: Redington
