Latest news with #ChathamHouseRule
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CXOsync UK Unveils 2025 Executive Events Roadmap Across EMEA
LONDON, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CXOsync UK, a long-standing organiser of executive-level events, has unveiled its 2025 roadmap, reaffirming its commitment to delivering closed-door gatherings across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and the wider EMEA region. Known for crafting tailored experiences for senior leaders in IT, Finance, HR, and Marketing, the company has built a reputation on depth over volume. Every event is shaped to spark genuine dialogue — far removed from the noise and pace of traditional conferences. 'Our focus has always been simple: real value for real decision-makers,' said Sulai Saloojee, Executive Director at CXOsync UK. 'People don't come to our events to be lectured. They come to speak, listen, challenge, and walk away with something they didn't have before — whether that's insight, clarity, or connection.' All CXOsync UK events are by invitation only and held under the Chatham House Rule to promote open, candid discussion. Guests are carefully selected based on seniority, expertise, and relevance to the topic, ensuring that every conversation brings something meaningful to the table. The 2025 event series will explore timely topics such as decision-making in the age of AI, operational resilience in volatile markets, and the evolving demands of modern leadership. While themes evolve with the business climate, the format remains focused, discreet, and built around the people in the room. 'Whether it's a private dinner in London, a strategy roundtable in Dubai, or a focused dialogue in Frankfurt, our goal remains the same — to help leaders connect on the things that truly matter,' added Saloojee. About CXOsync UKCXOsync UK delivers executive events designed to foster honest conversation, strategic exchange, and trusted peer-to-peer engagement. With a presence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, the company provides a platform where decision-makers can explore shared challenges in an environment built for clarity and connection. Forward-Looking StatementThis press release contains forward-looking statements related to CXOsync UK's plans and future activities. Actual results may differ depending on market shifts and participant engagement. Media ContactSulai SaloojeeEmail: sulais@ +44 020 7459 4946
Business of Fashion
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business of Fashion
The New Growth Playbook in a Changing Beauty Market
NEW YORK — As a slowdown impacts even the industry's biggest conglomerates and key product categories, a new market reality for beauty is underway. This month, one of the three biggest beauty conglomerates, Shiseido, reported an 8.5 percent decrease in sales — with particularly steep losses at the prestige skincare brand Drunk Elephant. Meanwhile, e.l.f Beauty shares lost more than 20 percent of their value at the start of this year. Nonetheless, amid these headwinds lies immense opportunity for growth and transformation. According to research from investment bank TD Cowen, by 2030, Amazon's market share in beauty is expected to reach 15 percent, up from 10 percent in 2024 — second only to Walmart — while TikTok Shop continues to drive discovery and conversion. The shifting landscape presents new avenues for expansion: US retailers like Ulta Beauty are expanding their K-beauty offerings, and the body care market is enjoying a period of growth. Indeed, the global beauty and personal care market more broadly still remains a key spend priority for customers. Globally, it is projected to generate a revenue of more than $677 billion in 2025, according to Euromonitor. To explore these critical dynamics and emerging opportunities, BoF and Front Row gathered marketing leaders from Clinique, Chantecaille, Nars, Peter Thomas Roth, Victoria Beckham Beauty, Coty, Tom Ford Beauty and Mammoth Brands for an intimate breakfast roundtable at Spring Studio in New York. Hosted by e-commerce and marketing agency Front Row's chief revenue officer, Christopher Skinner, its executive vice president Katie Martin, and moderated by BoF's director of content strategy Alice Gividen, the discussion was conducted under the Chatham House Rule, allowing attendees to share freely and openly with their peers. 'At Front Row, we embrace the philosophy of connected commerce. The idea of omnichannel as separate, siloed strategies is falling apart. Today's consumer is simultaneously searching, scrolling, shopping, and converting across multiple platforms. We support this reality in everything we do to build brand equity and drive demand,' said Front Row's Skinner in his opening remarks. 'Brands must successfully connect across every channel to win. This new reality requires building teams in fundamentally different ways.' Below, BoF shares anonymised insights from the discussion. Front Row's executive vice president, Katie Martin, and chief revenue officer, Christopher Skinner, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Jennifer Jackson, Deputy General Manager, Global Marketing at Nars, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Julia Chen, Senior Director at Harry's, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Sandy Lemmerman, VP of Product Development at Peter Thomas Roth, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. BoF's Priya Rao at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Catie Cambria, VP of Marketing at Clinique, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Kate Langan, Vice President, Consumer Engagement - Digital & Communications at Nars Cosmetics, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Julia Frankenberger, CMO of Chantecaille, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Emily Coppock, Beauty Industry Consultant, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Front Row chief revenue officer, Christopher Skinner, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Jeffery Burge, VP Global Marketing at Peter Thomas Roth, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Andrea DiNunzio, General Manager, Luxury Skincare at Coty, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Andrew Jun, Vice President, Global Marketing, Make-up & Skincare at Tom Ford Beauty, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Lauren Edelman, CMO of Victoria Beckham Beauty, at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. BoF's Alice Gividen at the BoF x Front Row executive roundtable in New York in May 2025. Lean on your brand's DNA for strategic decision-making 'Getting back to basics in terms of what our brand truly means has been fundamental for our growth. Not everyone completely understands the brand, and that's okay,' said one guest in their opening remarks. 'We've been focused on defining where and how consumers can immediately recognise what is and isn't authentically us. That clarity guides everything from our social media, our creative and our product development, ensuring we're always in the right space to tell our story effectively, and with a strong point of view. 'Sometimes you must be comfortable not always following retailer directives. When something truly feels authentic to our brand identity and our internal team responds positively, that's meaningful validation,' another guest added. 'You have to gut-check decisions and assess if they truly feel right for both your brand and your partners. Taking a leap of faith can prove successful, and newer brands need support in learning how to maintain their vision.' As a closing comment, one guest shared business advice that she received once from former president and creative director of Jenna Lyons: 'She advised, 'Build an inner tube around what you do best and cherish it.' I found this so compelling — I immediately wrote it down and shared it with my entire team." Define your company's role within the broader beauty community 'Building community and achieving growth isn't about reinventing or repositioning the brand, but rather sharpening what already works and defining your role within the community,' said one guest. 'We owe it to our consumers to be crisp and clear in our messaging, effectively telling our legacy stories — getting back to the basics. This focused approach has proven quite successful for us over the past several months.' Another added, 'There are numerous roles you can play – are you the facilitator? The educator? The voice? Whichever you choose, the role must be genuinely connected to your brand's identity and remain authentic. While there's plenty of talk about best practices, what matters is determining what best practice means specifically for your brand. It takes considerable courage to be brave and maintain that conviction.' Front Row's Skinner agreed, 'What we're discovering across the board is that you must deeply understand each brand's unique challenges, history, customer base, segmentation, and sub-segmentations. From there, you can develop a distinct strategy tailored to that brand.' Consider a multi-channel retail strategy as table stakes 'When it comes to newer platforms like Amazon and TikTok Shop, our growth hasn't been explosive, but we're pleased with our decision to establish presence early. Someone had to take that first step,' one guest said. Another guest noted that 'traditional retail is building higher walls, while Amazon casts a wider net. Many brands hesitate to launch on Amazon, yet it's often already their number one channel through resellers — they're simply not capitalising on it. If you're not connecting across every channel, you aren't winning.' When resources are scarce, I've always believed in reserving a portion of our budget to enable these test-and-learn initiatives. Sometimes they scale successfully, sometimes they go sideways, but gaining these insights is crucial. Another guest agreed. 'Understanding this dynamic is key, and we believe in a test-and-learn philosophy. Should we enter TikTok Shop? Do we maintain a Facebook presence? Do we choose Amazon or partner with an established beauty retailer? These are all opportunities for controlled experimentation. When resources are scarce, I've always believed in reserving a portion of our budget to enable these test-and-learn initiatives. Sometimes they scale successfully, sometimes they go sideways, but gaining these insights is crucial.' Prioritise product efficacy for sustainable growth 'The reality is, few brands have the budget to create a category or establish an entirely new concept single-handedly. As such, building a product that may already exist but making sure it is done right is where you can stand out,' said one guest. Another added, 'We believe that our loyal customers look to us for efficacy. Our commitment is to deliver results consistently with every product launch. We also carefully time these innovations, so they are not so early that consumers won't understand them.' 'Our deep understanding of our customer guides our approach to product innovation. As we look at the long-term horizon for our brand, we're specifically addressing the evolving needs of this consumer in relation to longevity,' one attendee noted. 'We will see significant evolution in how we talk about longevity over the next five years,' said another guest. 'We might not even use the term 'longevity' then — it could be called something entirely different. But fundamentally, consumers are seeking a better, healthier, longer life, concerning not just internal well-being but also how they present aesthetically to family, loved ones, and their community.' Understand the challenges of viral success and plan for strategic conversion 'One of our products unexpectedly went viral, and transparently, it is not the product we would have strategically chosen as our primary customer acquisition vehicle for long-term brand growth,' noted one guest. 'While the viral product drives excellent acquisition, its replenishment rate isn't as strong as our core offerings. Our challenge is converting these new customers into loyal brand enthusiasts.' 'We spend considerable time strategising how to bring consumers into the brand through these viral moments, and then mapping what their next purchase should be. Where we want to guide them next, whether they discovered us through a major retailer or an online marketplace, is constantly being discussed,' said another guest. 'Of course our goal is for every product launch to become a massive global success. However, we won't continue investing in concepts that aren't resonating with consumers. Despite our size, we still embrace that 'fail early' mindset when needed,' said one guest in their closing remarks. This is a sponsored feature paid for by Front Row as part of a BoF partnership.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Resourcing Tomorrow 2025: Agenda Released
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - May 19, 2025) - Europe's largest mining event, Resourcing Tomorrow has released the first Agenda at a Glance ahead of its return to London on December 2nd - 4th, 2025. With geopolitical uncertainty, energy security concerns, and the transition to renewables at a crossroads, the mining sector is at the epicentre of the global economy with an opportunity. Building on last year's successful Breaking Out of the Echo Chamber theme, this year's event will continue to explore the challenges and opportunities driving the sector's transformation- from securing critical minerals and navigating global geopolitics to advancing sustainability and leveraging innovation. This first agenda once again sets the scene for an industry-wide dialogue that challenges conventional thinking and redefines mining's role in the future of energy and infrastructure. Key topics include Critical Minerals & Global Geopolitics; Unlocking Opportunities for a Sustainable and Secure Energy Future; Building Community Engagement in Mining; Permitting with Purpose: Streamlining for Sustainable Growth; and Transforming Decision-Making Processes with AI, Data, and Other Innovations. Together, these topics promise to tackle the prominent issues of today's evolving landscape. "Resourcing Tomorrow continues to drive bold dialogue and strategic action across the mining industry," said Nick Rastall, Portfolio Director of Resourcing Tomorrow. "With supply chains, sustainability, and industry collaboration yet again at the forefront, this year's event will unite leaders to shape the future of mining. By fostering innovation and meaningful partnerships, we aim to drive tangible progress across the sector." Bringing together over 2,000 professionals comprising mining executives, government representatives, investors, solution providers, and technology pioneers, Resourcing Tomorrow 2025 offers a platform for forward-thinking discussions that will shape the sector's future. New & Expanded Features at Resourcing Tomorrow: Leadership Roundtables- Exclusive, closed-door sessions under the Chatham House Rule, bringing senior industry leaders together to discuss key challenges and develop actionable solutions. Country & Regional Pavilions - Dedicated pavilions showcasing key mining projects, sustainability initiatives, and regional expertise, offering a deeper understanding of global mining opportunities. Government Roundtable at the London Stock Exchange - A prestigious gathering of leaders from 40+ nations, including 20 Ministers and top-tier executives, to discuss the critical role of minerals in shaping global policy frameworks. Returning Event Highlights: Mining Pitch Battles - Mines and Money's high-energy competition featuring four intense rounds, culminating in a Grand Final where mining companies pitch their projects to expert investors. Technology Pitch Battles - A dynamic showcase of three tech start-ups presenting their innovations to a panel of five investors. Women in Mining Lounge - A dedicated networking space fostering collaboration and discussion on diversity and inclusion within the mining industry. NextGen @ Resourcing Tomorrow [Expanded Student Programme] - offering daily conference sessions, interactive show floor experiences, and networking events that connect students with industry leaders. Join Us in London This December Resourcing Tomorrow 2025 is the catalyst for progress, bringing together industry leaders to ignite innovation, forge strategic partnerships, and shape the future of mining. To book a place to attend or exhibit at Resourcing Tomorrow, email connect@ or visit Dates: December 2nd - 4th, 2025Location: London, UK Media Contact: Jessica Mockler, Associate Marketing Director, Resourcing Tomorrow To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Opinion - Yes, Harvard had it coming — but Trump's ‘fix' is still unconstitutional
Two wrongs don't usually make a right. Yet in the standoff between Harvard University and the federal government, that's exactly where we find ourselves — trapped between Harvard's history of broken promises and the federal government's lawless threats. It didn't have to be this way. This slow-motion car-wreck has been occurring for decades. Our nation's oldest university has spent years systematically undermining the principles of free speech and academic freedom that it claims to cherish. Harvard has ranked dead last, two years in a row, in the College Free Speech Rankings published annually by my organization. Most recently, it placed 251st out of 251 surveyed universities, earning an 'Abysmal' rating for its campus speech climate. Yet as bad as Harvard's failures may be, the Trump administration's response is even worse. The administration has frozen billions of dollars of Harvard's federal funding in an effort to pressure the university into censoring disfavored views and surrendering its independence. That's unlawful and unconstitutional. Although Harvard isn't entitled to federal funding, it — like everyone else — is entitled to a government that follows the law. Federal anti-discrimination law does not permit Washington to unilaterally cancel funding, as the administration has done here. The First Amendment also bars the government from coercing private institutions into censorship. Courts have long held that the government cannot manipulate its funding to punish or silence ideas it dislikes. Yet that is precisely what's happening now. Taken together, the Trump administration's actions look less like oversight and more like an attempt at a hostile takeover. The federal government doesn't have that power — and in a free society, it never should. Worse, this brazen overreach risks undermining reform efforts already underway. Well aware of the institution's problems, Harvard's brain trust has recently demonstrated that it understands the first rule of holes — stop digging. Throughout 2024, Harvard took several promising steps. The school formally adopted a policy of institutional neutrality which committed the university to refrain from taking official stances on contested political and social issues. It launched the Civil Discourse Initiative to help 'foster an environment of curiosity, ambition, [and] mutual understanding.' In addition, the president and provost accepted a recommendation to adopt the Chatham House Rule, aiming to ensure that classroom discussions remain candid and insulated from consequences outside the classroom. These are the right kind of ideas. But they must be more than window dressing. The solution to higher education's crisis of public credibility lies not in federal mandates, but in institutional clarity. Colleges must reform themselves — voluntarily and meaningfully — to protect free expression and academic freedom. Harvard, and institutions like it, must demonstrate a renewed commitment to these principles, not because the Trump administration or any politician has told them to, but because it's the right thing to do for their campuses and for the country. Reestablishing that credibility will require Harvard and other universities to pursue real, lasting change. That means not just stronger written protections and student programming, but a visible and consistent protection of free speech for everyone, regardless of viewpoint. As my organization has long advocated, this means embracing strong free speech principles modeled after the Chicago Statement, reaffirming institutional neutrality on political and social issues unrelated to core operations, and eliminating policies and practices that silence or punish dissent. It also means ensuring that campus discipline is obviously fair, that peaceful protest is protected and illegal conduct not tolerated, and that no one is forced to affirm or reject politicized concepts such as 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' as a condition of admission or advancement. Institutions like Harvard must model and prioritize intellectual inquiry and the exchange of ideas, and they are uniquely equipped to do so. Similarly, there are legitimate avenues for federal higher education reform. But any conversation about federal intervention must start with a clear acknowledgment: Washington helped create this problem, it did not just stumble into the crisis. For decades, the federal government has imposed an ever-growing regulatory burden on colleges — distorting incentives, encouraging bureaucratic growth, and fueling the very censorial culture it now claims to oppose. From shifting definitions of harassment to pressure-laden Dear Colleague guidance, federal policy has too often pushed institutions toward speech-restrictive behavior. If we want to restore a culture of free expression on campus, federal action must begin with restraint and proceed with care. That means not just scaling back the excesses that helped chill speech in the first place, but also pursuing targeted reforms that protect student rights while respecting institutional autonomy. The government should follow proper procedures under Title VI to address discrimination. Congress should codify the Supreme Court's Davis standard to ensure that harassment claims cannot be weaponized and are limited to severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive conduct. It should also add religion as a protected class under Title VI to eliminate ambiguity over antisemitism and anti-Muslim discrimination while preserving key exceptions for religious institutions. These reforms would protect vulnerable students while safeguarding First Amendment rights. In the end, the real solutions lie with the institutions themselves, which must return to the core values of free speech, open debate, and academic freedom that once made our colleges the intellectual center of the world. Harvard and institutions nationwide face a choice: Continue down a path of censorship and growing distrust, or lead a revival of open dialogue, rigorous debate, and academic freedom. The choice — and the future of American higher education — is in their hands. Connor Murnane is campus advocacy chief of staff at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Yes, Harvard had it coming — but Trump's ‘fix' is still unconstitutional
Two wrongs don't usually make a right. Yet in the standoff between Harvard University and the federal government, that's exactly where we find ourselves — trapped between Harvard's history of broken promises and the federal government's lawless threats. It didn't have to be this way. This slow-motion car-wreck has been occurring for decades. Our nation's oldest university has spent years systematically undermining the principles of free speech and academic freedom that it claims to cherish. Harvard has ranked dead last, two years in a row, in the College Free Speech Rankings published annually by my organization. Most recently, it placed 251st out of 251 surveyed universities, earning an 'Abysmal' rating for its campus speech climate. Yet as bad as Harvard's failures may be, the Trump administration's response is even worse. The administration has frozen billions of dollars of Harvard's federal funding in an effort to pressure the university into censoring disfavored views and surrendering its independence. That's unlawful and unconstitutional. Although Harvard isn't entitled to federal funding, it — like everyone else — is entitled to a government that follows the law. Federal anti-discrimination law does not permit Washington to unilaterally cancel funding, as the administration has done here. The First Amendment also bars the government from coercing private institutions into censorship. Courts have long held that the government cannot manipulate its funding to punish or silence ideas it dislikes. Yet that is precisely what's happening now. Taken together, the Trump administration's actions look less like oversight and more like an attempt at a hostile takeover. The federal government doesn't have that power — and in a free society, it never should. Worse, this brazen overreach risks undermining reform efforts already underway. Well aware of the institution's problems, Harvard's brain trust has recently demonstrated that it understands the first rule of holes — stop digging. Throughout 2024, Harvard took several promising steps. The school formally adopted a policy of institutional neutrality which committed the university to refrain from taking official stances on contested political and social issues. It launched the Civil Discourse Initiative to help 'foster an environment of curiosity, ambition, [and] mutual understanding.' In addition, the president and provost accepted a recommendation to adopt the Chatham House Rule, aiming to ensure that classroom discussions remain candid and insulated from consequences outside the classroom. These are the right kind of ideas. But they must be more than window dressing. The solution to higher education's crisis of public credibility lies not in federal mandates, but in institutional clarity. Colleges must reform themselves — voluntarily and meaningfully — to protect free expression and academic freedom. Harvard, and institutions like it, must demonstrate a renewed commitment to these principles, not because the Trump administration or any politician has told them to, but because it's the right thing to do for their campuses and for the country. Reestablishing that credibility will require Harvard and other universities to pursue real, lasting change. That means not just stronger written protections and student programming, but a visible and consistent protection of free speech for everyone, regardless of viewpoint. As my organization has long advocated, this means embracing strong free speech principles modeled after the Chicago Statement, reaffirming institutional neutrality on political and social issues unrelated to core operations, and eliminating policies and practices that silence or punish dissent. It also means ensuring that campus discipline is obviously fair, that peaceful protest is protected and illegal conduct not tolerated, and that no one is forced to affirm or reject politicized concepts such as 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' as a condition of admission or advancement. Institutions like Harvard must model and prioritize intellectual inquiry and the exchange of ideas, and they are uniquely equipped to do so. Similarly, there are legitimate avenues for federal higher education reform. But any conversation about federal intervention must start with a clear acknowledgment: Washington helped create this problem, it did not just stumble into the crisis. For decades, the federal government has imposed an ever-growing regulatory burden on colleges — distorting incentives, encouraging bureaucratic growth, and fueling the very censorial culture it now claims to oppose. From shifting definitions of harassment to pressure-laden Dear Colleague guidance, federal policy has too often pushed institutions toward speech-restrictive behavior. If we want to restore a culture of free expression on campus, federal action must begin with restraint and proceed with care. That means not just scaling back the excesses that helped chill speech in the first place, but also pursuing targeted reforms that protect student rights while respecting institutional autonomy. The government should follow proper procedures under Title VI to address discrimination. Congress should codify the Supreme Court's Davis standard to ensure that harassment claims cannot be weaponized and are limited to severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive conduct. It should also add religion as a protected class under Title VI to eliminate ambiguity over antisemitism and anti-Muslim discrimination while preserving key exceptions for religious institutions. These reforms would protect vulnerable students while safeguarding First Amendment rights. In the end, the real solutions lie with the institutions themselves, which must return to the core values of free speech, open debate, and academic freedom that once made our colleges the intellectual center of the world. Harvard and institutions nationwide face a choice: Continue down a path of censorship and growing distrust, or lead a revival of open dialogue, rigorous debate, and academic freedom. The choice — and the future of American higher education — is in their hands. Connor Murnane is campus advocacy chief of staff at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
