Latest news with #Hammoud
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Melvindale police corporal alleges racism, religious bias in suit targeting department
A Muslim police officer alleges in a new lawsuit that supervisors and colleagues at the Melvindale Police Department targeted him because of his religion and ethnicity, leaving crosses and a Christian Bible in his work mailbox and trying to get him to quit the force. Corporal Hassan Hammoud also alleges in the lawsuit, filed May 29 in Wayne County Circuit Court, that racism is widespread in the police department and officers talk about "going hunting" when policing parts of the city closest to Detroit, a majority-Black city. Hammoud, who was born in Lebanon and joined the department in 2021, alleges members of the department used racial slurs to refer to Black people and would informally use a code number — "04" — to reference harassment of Black residents. The city of Melvindale and the Melvindale Police Department are named as defendants in the lawsuit. Melvindale Police Chief Robert Kennaley and Melvindale Corporation Counsel Lawrence Coogan did not immediately respond to telephone and email messages left May 29. Hammoud is still employed at the department, according to the lawsuit, but says he has been on administrative leave since January "due to mental health issues caused by the working conditions that made the terms of his employment intolerable." The suit alleges that Hammoud was subjected to unspecified racial harassment from a colleague in 2021 and complained to Kennaley, who at that time was still a sergeant. Hammoud alleges that two corporals made unspecified racist comments in his presence, one of them over the course of several years. Hammoud says in the lawsuit he confronted one of the corporals about racist remarks but was afraid of losing his job if he complained to supervisors. The suit says he did make repeated complaints to Kennaley and a lieutenant about discriminatory treatment. More: Amid surveillance concerns, Dearborn approves $720K for police access to real-time videos Hammoud alleges he found in his police mailbox: A photograph of a nude girl in September 2024; A wooden Christian cross the day after he found the photograph; A job application for a pizza restaurant, with a note saying, "Go," in October 2024; and A Christian Bible and cross the day after he found the job application form. 'This lawsuit reveals a deeply disturbing culture of racism and religious bigotry that not only isolates and punished Corp. Hammoud because of his religion and race, but also directs that bias outward toward the communities the department is sworn to protect," Hammoud's Detroit attorney, Jonathan Marko, said in a news release. "The City of Melvindale has allowed a system of discrimination to flourish unchecked — and our client is stepping forward to ensure accountability." Melvindale man's planned terrorist attack at Warren military base is thwarted, feds say The suit alleges Kennaley failed to act on his complaints, told him to stop writing up fellow officers for alleged racist language and conduct, and retaliated against him for continuing to complain. The suit alleges racist conduct by at least two specific officers but neither those officers nor Kennaley are named as defendants in the lawsuit. The suit alleges violations of Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act through unequal treatment, a hostile work environment, and retaliation. It seeks unspecified monetary damages. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Melvindale officer alleges police racism, religious bias in lawsuit
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud kicks off reelection campaign: The city is 'thriving'
Speaking to hundreds of supporters in a new park, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud kicked off his reelection campaign by touting his administration's accomplishments, saying the city is thriving with development while keeping taxes low. "I am most proud of being a Dearborn resident," Hammoud, 35, told the crowd Thursday, May 15, at Peace Park West, which opened last year. "There's nothing I'm more proud of. I think Dearborn is the greatest city, and we have the greatest story." The park that Hammoud spoke at, located in the western part of the city, is one of three being built with a $29 million grant, an example of the city's accomplishments, he said. Hammoud has often mentioned public health and the environment as key issues for him. Dearborn has about 110,000 residents and one of the youngest populations in the country, according to census data. "Three and a half years ago, this was two acres of rubble and debris," Hammoud said, referring to Peace Park West, which features a plaza and greenery. "And now this is ... demonstrating the resilience of the infrastructure that we're putting out." He also touted $30 million in investments along Warren Avenue in east Dearborn and developments in the south end of Dearborn. Much of his five-minute talk focused on business development and investments. "We have a thriving business community, not only in west Dearborn, but also in east Dearborn," the mayor said. Unlike other cities, Dearborn depends on its residents and local small businesses to develop, Hammoud said. "Other cities lean on billionaires from out of state to come in and redevelop their parcels," Hammoud said. "We lean on one another. That is unique to the Dearborn story." More: Expectant mothers in Dearborn to get $4,500, mayor announces in State of the City Hammoud said "there's nothing that we love more than locals as the ones who are leading in the investments." Hammoud, a former State House representative, was elected in 2021 amid anger among residents over the city's poor response to flooding and other infrastructure issues. Over the past two years, Hammoud has gained national recognition for his outspoken support of Palestinians. He leads a city where 55% of the residents have Arab ancestry, the highest percentage among all cities in the U.S. But Hammoud did not talk about foreign policy issues at the campaign event, focusing on local matters. "We have the lowest tax millage rate since 2010 with hopefully more relief to come in the next five to six years," Hammoud said. He also stressed unity and the importance of diversity. "This is one Dearborn, one community, and we got to be unified in that respect," he said." If you look to your left and look to your right, you realize that Dearborn is as diverse and beautiful as it's ever been, and it's growing in diversity each and every single day." The mayor's remarks were not as extensive as those he made in April during his State of the City address. The kickoff a more casual event, with vendors offering free pizza, coffee and ice cream as people strolled and chatted before and after his brief remarks. Hammoud posed for photos with attendees, chatting with them during the 90-minute gathering near the downtown area of west Dearborn. More: Clerk: For first time in city's history, Dearborn won't have a primary election Hammoud faces a challenge from Nagi Almudhegi, 50, an IT manager backed by Republican leaders who became known in 2022 after speaking out against LGBTQ+ books in Dearborn public schools. Almudhegi launched his campaign in February. The two candidates are expected to compete against each other in November since there won't be an August primary due to a lack of candidates. Hammoud has faced criticism from some conservatives for his earlier support of LGBTQ+ rights. In remarks at a Dearborn mosque in February, Hammoud sought to clarify a statement he released in 2022 in support of the LGBTQ+ community, saying he doesn't endorse any lifestyle that may conflict with his family values, but added that "what you do in your own household is between you and Allah (God)." Republicans won in the heavily-Arab precincts of Dearborn in the November presidential election, especially in the south end. Hammoud is a Democrat, but did not endorse anyone in the presidential election. Almudhegi, born in Yemen, has some support among the Yemeni American community, who are trying to gain political power in the city. But several Yemeni American leaders attended Hammoud's event, taking photos with him and saying they strongly endorse him. "I've been living in the south end for 50 years," said Mohamed Saeed Abdulla, executive director of the Yemeni American Association. "No one cared for the south end like (Mayor) Abdullah Hammoud. Nobody. They bring new programs. ... They spend millions." Hammoud has fought polluters in the south end and announced a plan to bring green landscapes and parks to the heavily industrial area that sits near the Ford Rouge plant. Abdulla said "you have to give (Hammoud) a chance to continue." "Mayor Hammoud has done an unbelievable job for Dearborn," said Wali Altahif. "We've been waiting for a mayor for all of Dearborn residents. ... He is full of energy, he listens, he's an independent thinker." The campaign event was attended by a number of city and elected officials, including City Council President Michael Sareini, who's also running for reelection. Sareini said Hammoud has done a solid job in managing the city's budgets. Hammoud came into office after voters rejected a millage that would have raised $16 million. "And we didn't lose one officer on the street or one fireman," Sareini said. "The mayor has been able to centralize a lot of cost restructuring ... with his experience as a State Rep. and getting grant dollars, the last count is over $150 million (in) grants to the city. So he's done a tremendous job. I love his vision ... I'm very pleased with the direction of the city and where we're at right now and where we're going." Also on the ballot this year are two candidates running for city clerk, including incumbent Clerk George Darany, and 13 candidates running for 7 council seats. The mayor's base annual salary as of 2024 was $168,775; the clerk's salary was $108,018; council president was at $19,620, and other members of city council earn $16,333 a year, with $100 stipend per meeting, according to a report by the local officials compensation commission. Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@ or X @nwarikoo This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud kicks off reelection campaign
Campaign ME
12-05-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
NEP Group appoints Chief Commercial Officer for Middle East and Asia
Media services provider NEP Group, which specialises in live sports and entertainment worldwide, has appointed Mohammad Hammoud as its first Chief Commercial Officer for its Middle East and Asia business. Based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Hammoud's career spans more than 20 years in the media and advertising industry. He brings a wealth of experience in strategy as well as commercial and transformation leadership to his new role. Hammoud will report to Martin Stewart, who is serving as interim regional president in addition to his role as NEP Group CEO, and also will report to Mike Werteen, NEP's Global CCO. Commenting on the appointment, Stewart said, 'I'm very pleased that Mohammad is joining our team at a time of opportunity in the region and for NEP as we continue to expand our service offerings. His market insights and experience in building strategic, high-performing sales teams will be invaluable as we look to grow our footprint and reach in Singapore, India, the Middle East and all of Asia. I'm excited to see Mohammad leading our commercial efforts.' Prior to joining NEP, Hammoud served as Vice President of Commercial and Strategic Advisor for Rotana Media Services in Riyadh where he advised the executive team on market trends and a range of topics and initiatives including investment strategies, tender responses, revenue diversification, digital transformation, sales optimization, regulatory issues and risk management. Before his most recent role, he worked as a sales manager in the PR & advertising industry in Jeddah. Commenting on his new role, Hammoud said, 'I am thrilled to join the NEP team as CCO to continue building on the company's momentum and growth. It's an exciting time for us to expand our reach and to introduce our customers to a full range of customer-driven, innovative solutions, for any size or type of production. I couldn't be happier, and I am eager to begin meeting with colleagues and customers starting next week in Dubai.' Hammoud's first priorities will be to meet with customers and company staff across NEP's locations in UAE, KSA, India and Singapore. He also will join the NEP team at CABSAT 2025 in Dubai (13-15 May, Stand PD52), the industry show promoting the future of media and entertainment in the Middle East and Asia. At CABSAT, NEP senior staff including Mohammad Hammoud and Chief Technology Officer Jean Claude Rahme, among others, will be present to meet with strategic partners. The company will also highlight its outside broadcast (OB) fleet supporting the region, including its brand-new OB facility, which will be available to tour.
Broadcast Pro
08-05-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Mohammad Hammoud joins NEP Group as first CCO for Middle East and Asia
The key hire is another step in NEP's strategic investment in the region to bring more production solutions to customers. NEP Group, a global leader in media services for live sports and entertainment, has announced a significant step in its expansion across the Middle East and Asia by appointing seasoned media executive Mohammad Hammoud as its first Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for the region. Hammoud will assume his new role on May 12 and will report directly to Martin Stewart, NEP Group CEO and interim regional president, as well as to Global CCO Mike Werteen. Hammoud will be based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and brings over two decades of experience in media and advertising to the position. Most recently, he served as Vice President Commercial & Strategic Advisor for Rotana Media Services, where he provided key guidance to the executive team on investment strategies, digital transformation, revenue growth and market positioning. His earlier career includes work in PR and advertising sales management in Jeddah, further strengthening his regional expertise. As CCO, Hammoud's immediate focus will be on engaging with clients and NEP staff across its key locations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, India and Singapore. His first major public appearance in the role will take place at CABSAT 2025 in Dubai, a premier industry event scheduled for May 13–15, where he will join other NEP leaders at Stand PD52. At CABSAT, Hammoud will be joined by NEP's Chief Technology Officer Jean Claude Rahme and other senior executives to connect with strategic partners and showcase the company's capabilities. Among the highlights will be NEP's state-of-the-art outside broadcast (OB) fleet, including a new OB facility open for touring during the event. Speaking about his new role, Mohammad Hammoud said: 'I am thrilled to join the NEP team as CCO to continue building on the company's momentum and growth. It's an exciting time for us to expand our reach and to introduce our customers to a full range of customer-driven, innovative solutions, for any size or type of production. I couldn't be happier, and I am eager to begin meeting with colleagues and customers starting next week in Dubai.' Martin Stewart added: 'I'm very pleased that Mohammad is joining our team at a time of opportunity in the region and for NEP as we continue to expand our service offerings. His market insights and experience in building strategic, high-performing sales teams will be invaluable as we look to grow our footprint and reach in Singapore, India, the Middle East and all of Asia. I'm excited to see Mohammad leading our commercial efforts.'
Fast Company
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fast Company
Why it's so hard to picture a Rivian in black or white
When the electric car startup Rivian was set to release its first vehicle in late 2021, the company made the unconventional choice. Instead of a more conventional neutral tone, it manufactured a significant amount of its initial production run in a custom color the company called Launch Green. It was a decision that ran counter to almost every color trend and automotive industry sales report, and one that's come to shape the way the company builds out one of the most unique color palettes in the car business. 'Everybody buys black, white, or gray. Pretty much every single brand, they're going to have that. And it doesn't matter if you're in the U.S., you're in China, you're in Europe, that's what it is,' says Jeff Hammoud, Rivian's chief design officer. 'Those are the ones that people order. But they're not the ones that create the most buzz or excitement.' Launch Green, marketed as a limited run for the company's R1T truck, bucked the trends and rose near the top of color rankings among Rivian fans and buyers. The Rivian forum on Reddit had such a heated debate over Launch Green's merit that its moderator pinned a note to the top of the comments thread stating that it had been reported by some users for 'incorrectly' placing Launch Green in second place. 'I understand that many of you feel personally victimized by Launch Green not being #1. I encourage you to take a break from the internet or talk to a loved one for support,' the note read. Though the company doesn't break down its sales figures publicly, Launch Green was immediately popular. Despite being a limited run, customers still ask for it nearly five years later. Colors that look good dirty Considering the approach validated, the company has since put an uncommon amount of effort into its color palette, not only creating unique custom colors but also making those colors an extension of Rivian's adventure-centric, California-inspired brand. From L.A. Silver to El Cap Granite to Red Canyon to Storm Blue, Rivian's paint options purposely lean into an outdoorsy theme. The company just announced another limited edition paint and trim package, California Dune, a pale sand color that evokes off-roading in the desert. 'We wanted something that like looked crisp and clean and premium,' Hammoud says. 'If it's dirty you can't really tell. It's not this car that you feel like you constantly have to clean, like a black car.' Rivian does offer its vehicles in black—'Midnight' in the company's parlance—but only reluctantly. Hammoud says Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe doesn't like black, which he finds to be 'not an optimistic color' and one that's not exactly on brand. 'But,' Hammoud says, 'customers love it.' For some, Rivian's colors may just look like slightly different versions of a blue or red that any other car company might use. But according to Hammoud, Rivian's colors have been carefully developed to reflect a spirit of adventure, while also being bespoke to the brand. 'We want it to have that warmth that our brand has, and also something that invites you to get it dirty,' he says. That approach to color has become so ingrained in the brand's approach that Rivian hired its own in-house paint specialist, enabling it to develop new color options faster. Even so, adding new colors to the palette—there have been 12 so far—requires a significant investment of time and coordination with suppliers. 'The fascias, the mirrors, the door handles, parts of the liftgates, none of those are actually painted at our plant,' Hammoud says. 'So we have to work with all these different suppliers to essentially take that same color and make sure it matches identical.' Adding a new color can take years, but Hammoud says that limited color runs can happen much faster, since the company's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, can swap a color into the production line for a short time before returning to a more standard color. Bringing a new color like California Dune into the lineup for a limited run is another way for the company to generate some brand buzz. 'It's a fun and I wouldn't say easy but a light lift for us to be able to go and add freshness to the vehicle by offering a new color,' Hammoud says. Rivian is also careful about when to take a color out of the lineup. One discontinued color, Compass Yellow, had consistently high Net Promoter Scores, a measure of how likely a customer is to recommend a product to others. 'People were the most passionate about that color and Red Canyon, which are really low take rates for us,' Hammoud says. Though the yellow was dropped from the lineup, the red is still available. These color choices are partly driven by sales figures and customer demand, but Hammoud says the company's overall approach to color is more closely tied to the adventurous image it's trying to create with its off-road-ready truck and SUV models. The company pays attention to color trends in the automotive world, but isn't concerned with simply keeping pace with competitors. 'Everything we do from a color standpoint is influenced by the types of products that we think align with our brand, align with our customers. And a lot of that starts from outdoor adventure gear, footwear, backpacks,' Hammoud says. This extends to other sides of Rivian design, like the brand's distinctive headlights, which were inspired by a rock climbing carabiner. But Hammoud says color may be one of the most important elements of Rivian's vehicles. 'Color is a big part of purchase consideration for people,' he says. Ultimately the cars are products, and the company is trying to sell them. Color, he argues, helps make the cars more distinctive, which leads to more customer interest, and maybe a foothold in a crowded marketplace. 'Finding inspiration from outside of automotive is a big part of it,' Hammoud says. 'If you don't do that, you're just going to feel like you're every other car brand.'
