Latest news with #Hasson
CNBC
18-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Israel's stock market outperforms Middle East counterparts despite multi-front wars
Israel's stock market is at a record high and has seen the greatest gains of any country in the Middle East over the 22 months of war that began on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has been waging multi-front wars, sustaining the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of troops that would ordinarily be part of the workforce, it's currently facing charges of war crimes in international courts, all while grappling with a large protest movement and political turmoil at home. Despite this, its economic landscape remains buoyant – lifted by significant foreign investment and more recently by renewed investor confidence following its 12-day conflict with Iran. Initially dropping as much as 23% in the month following the October Hamas attack and Israel's declaration of war, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange had rebounded to and exceeded pre-war levels by the first quarter of 2024. As of July 17, the TASE is up over 200% from its Oct. 2023 low. The country's GDP for the last quarter of 2023 shrank nearly 20%, following a deep contraction in private consumption and investment triggered by the war. The full year nonetheless finished with modest growth of 2%, and a further 1% GDP growth in 2024, driven mainly by government spending. In June of this year, the OECD forecast 4.9% growth in economic activity for Israel in 2026. "In 2024, about 161,000 new trading accounts were opened in the Israeli capital market," a July report published on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange website stated. That figure represents a threefold jump in the number of accounts opened compared to 2023. The report added that the first half of 2025 saw a further 87,000 new trading accounts opened, some 33,000 of which were in investment houses. "The year 2023 was characterized by considerable uncertainty… However, already in 2024, a reversal of the trend could be identified: the public expanded its involvement in the capital market, opened trading accounts, and took advantage of the low price levels in TASE's indices to enter the local capital market, which also supported the high trading volumes," Hadar Romano, head of data at TASE, wrote in the report. Avi Hasson, CEO of Israel's Startup Nation Central, credited a number of factors for boosting investor confidence in Israel. "As a result of what has been happening in the past 22 months, global investors look at the Middle East now, and specifically at Israel, and say… 'The risks confronting Israel's security and economy are actually going down'," Hasson told CNBC's Access Middle East. In the last year, Israel has managed to significantly degrade the capabilities of its adversaries, particularly Lebanon's Hezbollah, and its June conflict with Iran – with the help of the U.S. – was widely seen as having dealt a significant blow to Tehran's abilities to harm the Jewish state. When investors "try to look at the fundamentals of the Israeli economy, and more specifically, the tech market, its dynamism, its capabilities, the baby boom, new company creation," Hasson said, "global investors and global companies are taking notice, when they try to imagine the Middle East. Not necessarily how it is today, but rather in the months and years to come." Israel's tech sector is to thank for much of the country's economic success. High-tech products and services make up 20% of Israel's GDP and 56% of its international exports, Hasson said, thanks in part to the government investing heavily into research and development. Since the start of the war, its defense sector has gained further attention from foreign countries, even in the Arab world – one visible example being the robust presence of Israeli defense firms at Abu Dhabi's IDEX defense exhibition in February of this year. Foreign investment has also played a major part in the boost to Israel's stock market and real estate sector. In May of this year alone, foreign investors bought approximately 2.5 billion shekels ($743 million) in TASE shares, according to Israeli news outlet Ynet. Since the start of 2025, it reported, total foreign acquisitions have reached roughly 9.1 billion shekels, or $2.7 billion. And according to Israel's central bank, outstanding liabilities to foreign investors "increased by approximately $27.5 billion (about 5.2 percent) in the fourth quarter, to about $554 billion at the end of the quarter." That increase, the bank said, "was primarily due to a combination of an increase in the prices of Israeli securities held by nonresidents and the continued flow of net investments in Israel by nonresidents." The Israeli shekel, meanwhile, has gained nearly 7% against the U.S. dollar following the Israel-Iran conflict in June, while S&P Global Market Intelligence expects price inflation in the country to fall within the central bank's target rate by the third quarter 2025, likely paving the way for further monetary easing.
Business Wire
16-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Gabriel Hasson Joins ICR as Global Head of Governance & Shareholder Advisory
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ICR, a leading strategic communications and advisory firm, today announced the appointment of Gabriel Hasson as Global Head of Governance & Shareholder Advisory. In this role, he will lead the firm's team advising company management and Boards of Directors across the full spectrum of strategic governance matters, including investment fund stewardship engagement, ESG and bylaw policy strategy and disclosure, shareholder activism, and proxy contest advisory. Hasson joins ICR's New York office from BlackRock's Investment Stewardship team, where he served as Director for six years, managing a portfolio exceeding $400B across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. His oversight spanned the pharmaceuticals, healthcare, life sciences, and consumer sectors, and he notably built and led BlackRock's stewardship strategy, establishing the firm's governance footprint across seven Latin American countries. During his tenure, he engaged extensively with Boards and C-suite leaders, emerging as a recognized thought leader in governance, sustainability, and investment stewardship—authoring numerous articles and participating in nearly 200 speaking events and media interviews. A former M&A attorney advising global corporations on complex cross-border transactions, Hasson also held senior roles at Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Deloitte, where he advised federal governments and Fortune 500 clients on shareholder engagement, governance reform, and ESG integration. 'Gabe brings a truly distinctive combination of global experience, market insight, and leadership in governance and shareholder advisory—at a time when boards face mounting pressures to navigate capital markets with confidence,' said Tom Ryan, Founder and CEO of ICR. 'Proactive shareholder engagement has become essential to strengthening governance, enhancing transparency, and building trust with the market. His credibility with institutional investors, deep understanding of stewardship priorities, and sophisticated approach to complex situations will enhance ICR's ability to deliver value to clients across industries and market caps, building upon our leadership position as strategic advisors.' 'ICR stands out as a strategic partner that deeply understands investor behavior and how to shape effective communication in both proactive and high-stakes contexts. I have long recognized ICR as a clear leader in the strategic communications and advisory business,' added Hasson. 'I'm excited to join this talented and committed team, and I look forward to helping clients strengthen their governance practices, build trust, and respond with agility in today's evolving landscape.' Hasson earned his law degree from Universidad Panamericana, as well as a certificate in U.S. Law from The George Washington Law School. He holds a master's in international public policy from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, and a Certificate in Corporate Finance from Cornell University. ICR was recently ranked the #3 U.S. advisor on shareholder activism in the Bloomberg League Tables, and recognized among the best PR & communications firms for crisis and litigation advisory by Chambers and Partners, the world's leading provider of legal rankings and insights. About ICR Established in 1998, ICR partners with public and private companies to execute strategic communications and advisory programs and manage complex transactions and corporate events to enhance long-term enterprise value and corporate reputation. The firm's highly differentiated service model, which pairs capital markets veterans with senior communications professionals, brings deep industry knowledge and investor relationships to hundreds of clients across more than 20 sectors. With more than 400 team members, ICR is one of the largest and most experienced independent communications and advisory firms, maintaining offices in New York, Connecticut, Boston, Baltimore, San Jose, London, and Beijing. Learn more at Follow us on LinkedIn and on X at @ICRPR.
Scientific American
06-07-2025
- Science
- Scientific American
Science Jigsaw: Sunday, July 6, 2025
Emma R. Hasson is a PhD candidate in mathematics at the City University of New York Graduate Center with expertise in math education and communication. Hasson is also a 2025 AAAS Mass Media Fellow at Scientific American.
Business Journals
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Reimagining workplaces: 5 trends driving employee engagement
JLL's Senior Vice President of Workplace Strategy Lauren Hasson shares her expertise on office optimization trends that are future-proofing office environments throughout Boston and across the Northeast. In a recent conversation, she revealed five key insights that are transforming how companies maximize employee engagement and collaborative potential. As employees now establish routine in-office presence three to four days a week, Hasson observes a pivotal shift in workplace priorities—moving beyond mere attendance to creating optimized spaces that deliver lasting value for in-person collaboration. Her insights provide essential strategic direction for organizations seeking to future-proof their workspaces while enhancing the employee experience in 2025 and beyond. What are the key amenities Boston employees are looking for in their office today? According to JLL's latest Building Amenities Outlook report, which compiled data from Class A buildings across the country, employees primarily care about three key amenities: fitness facilities, food options, and meeting spaces. Having the ability to quickly grab something healthy for lunch, squeeze in a workout, and access flexible, easy-to-book meeting spaces at the building level forms the most important trifecta of amenities that Class A and trophy tenants prioritize. For meeting spaces specifically, modularity is the word of the moment. Companies are seeking spaces that can expand or contract to accommodate different sized groups, with technology and furniture optimized with that same design ethos. It's not necessarily about having one size of meeting room, but rather about incorporating movable walls, flexible furniture, and thoughtfully placed technology that makes these spaces versatile and functional. Have you seen more employees coming into the office because of these amenities? Amenities that drive performance and efficiency in the work day can help motivate people to commute, but they are not a silver bullet. What we've learned post-pandemic is that the most compelling amenity is other people. Spending time with immediate team members, leaders, and colleagues on adjacent teams is what creates a cultural stickiness that keeps people coming back. It's about feeling that sense of belonging and community when they come to the office. The built environment needs to support community and belonging, but the environment itself isn't the primary driver of a compelling office experience—people are. This is why structured hybrid policies have been so successful. Anchor days ensure you see the people who energize you. How do you predict the conversation around working in the office will evolve in 2025 and beyond? The conversation has already shifted from 'How do we get people back?' to 'How do we optimize our in-office days together?' Most employees in the Northeast are back three to four days a week with regularity. This evolution is exciting because it means anyone focused on employee engagement, HR, or developing teams and leaders has an important role in ensuring we're maximizing the potential of our employees during in-office time. Companies are starting to invest in management coaching for leaders to support a new delegation of how and when work happens. How are companies adjusting design and furnishing within their workplaces? There tend to be clear patterns by industry. Several recent financial services and law firm build-outs in the Northeast prioritized dedicated, window-line private offices (usually 10x12), and interior workstations (6×6 or 6×8 configurations). These more traditional industries haven't seen tremendous transformation in their individual space allocation approaches. Tech companies continue to push the envelope more than other industries in terms of rentable square footage per employee, space sharing concepts, and how someone moves through an office building throughout the day. There's more curiosity and an appetite for experimentation in creative industries like tech and consumer products. How can companies create that much-needed flexibility, while still developing a long-term real estate strategy? Designing for flexibility involves three key pillars. First, work with your broker on flexible lease terms that include expansion rights. Second, thoughtfully design your space to maximize adaptability—for example, ensuring power is available everywhere so an area that starts as a lounge setting on day one can become a pod of four workstations in year three if needed. The third pillar is investing in flexible infrastructure, such as modular walls or demountable glass fronts. These elements allow spaces to evolve over time without major construction. JLL research also shows high demand for two specific space types when employees return regularly: phone rooms for single-user focused work and larger multipurpose rooms accommodating 15-25 people. Ensuring adequate quantities of these spaces helps support regular attendance and team anchor days.
Rhyl Journal
13-05-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
Meghan says best entrepreneurs are ‘not afraid to get their hands dirty'
Meghan, who launched her own As Ever brand, spoke about the need to get 'messy' and the pressures of starting her business, and admitted: 'I don't have time to cook every day.' The duchess, in the latest episode of her Confessions Of A Female Founder podcast, chatted to Heather Hasson, who set up the billion-dollar firm FIGS which sells stylish medical scrubs. A post shared by Lemonada Media (@lemonadamedia) Meghan described her busy life establishing her own company: 'As I've been building As Ever, oh let me tell you, it is just a constant state of recalibration. 'There's joy in that but we are always in motion. If you're a founder yourself, you know exactly what I mean, because we're moving at work speed, problem solving, filling gaps in real time, scratching a million tiny, tiny things off of your to do list, but not in that fun way like a lotto ticket.' She recounted having to switch gears to think about the bigger picture, adding: 'But I guess that's where the magic is, right? Because it can get messy, and the best founders are not afraid to get their hands dirty. A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) 'And I don't mean play dirty. I mean when it's 'clean up on aisle five time', you are the first person there with a mop.' Meghan, who demonstrated how to plate up Chinese takeaway food 'beautifully' as well as making spaghetti, honey cake and salt-baked fish on her Netflix show With Love, Meghan, described not having time to cook each day. She told Hasson: 'I see vegetables and I see takeout because I don't have time to cook every day. 'And I go, all right, but how do I still make this flattering and beautiful and present well, and something that people… find appetising?' A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) The duchess compared her gesture to Hasson, who was inspired to transform uncomfortable and unflattering healthcare clothes, and whose firm became the first company co-founded by a female duo to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021. Meghan said: 'And, for you, you go, hold on this is something that you're doing every day, you're wearing this uniform every day, you're eating every day. 'How do we elevate that in a way that you feel really good about what you're doing, and you feel proud about what you're wearing, and you're able to have some functionality with it? In some ways they're actually a different version of the same thing.' Hasson replied: 'No, I totally agree. I think when you take something that's so simple in your everyday life and you elevate it, and you make it elegant, I think that's what makes it so special.' Meghan also sympathised with Hasson, who described facing a 'terrible, terrible lawsuit'. The duchess replied 'Oh gosh'. Meghan's husband the Duke of Sussex has become known for his numerous legal battles, with Harry most recently losing a Court of Appeal challenge against the Home Office over his security when in the UK. Hasson recalled being 'personally sued' by a 'Goliath' company who was also taking action against her firm, adding: 'It was like 'are you gonna lose everything?' And you can, yes, you can.' Meghan questioned whether Hasson felt 'more resilient' after winning the case and suggested every entrepreneur faced 'battles or criticism or scrutiny or legal'. 'Do you feel more resilient after having gone through that? Because I will say, you won. You fought that fight and you won,' the duchess said. A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) 'So, in some ways coming out of that, because I think every entrepreneur, in ways big or small, are going to deal with things that feel like battles or criticism or scrutiny or legal or what have you, and how do you stay the course through that?' The duchess previously won her own High Court case in a privacy and copyright claim against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over articles that reproduced parts of a 'personal and private' letter she wrote to her father Thomas Markle.
