Latest news with #Nex
Mint
4 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Billionaire Spencer Hires Schroders Veteran to Manage His Wealth
(Bloomberg) -- UK billionaire Michael Spencer has hired a Schroders Plc veteran to lead his family office, expanding the investing capabilities of the firm managing one of Britain's biggest fortunes. Simon Brazier, 50, who previously worked at Schroders for more than a decade, becomes chief executive officer from Aug. 18 of the Nex Group founder's personal investment firm, known as IPGL, according to a statement. The British native, a longtime fund manager, replaces Seth Johnson, a 57 year-old former Nex executive who stepped into the CEO role at IPGL after a predecessor departed within six months of joining in 2023 due to personal reasons. Brazier, Johnson and Spencer will initially work together in a transition period at IPGL, which disclosed net assets of £995.2 million ($1.4 billion) in its latest annual accounts and has stakes in companies including wine-maker Chapel Down Group Plc and cybersecurity firm Glasswall. Why Billionaires Have Family Offices and What They Do: QuickTake The leadership shakeup shows how Spencer is hiring outside the finance empire he built over the past four decades to take charge of a firm that ranks among London's biggest family offices, controlling stakes in more than a dozen companies worldwide. IPGL's leaders have often worked before with Spencer, who made his fortune through ICAP Plc — NEX's predecessor company — and turned it into the world's biggest broker of deals between banks. Brazier is 'a natural leader with deep investment insight, sound judgement, and a strong ethical compass,' Spencer, 70, said. 'He brings a long-term view and a proven ability to lead teams and generate value.' The family office's finance chief, Karina Curtis, previously worked at ICAP, where former CEO Samantha Wren similarly spent almost a decade of her career in senior roles. Piers Davison, a former JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. banker who advised on some of Spencer's biggest transactions in the past, also became a non-executive director of IPGL in late 2024. Outgoing CEO Johnson has worked with the UK billionaire for more than three decades. Spencer, a former Conservative Party treasurer, sold Nex to CME Group Inc. in 2018 in a deal that valued the UK firm at £3.9 billion. Brazier, a University of Durham Economics and French graduate, started working at Schroders in the late 1990s and later helped lead the firm's UK equity funds, according to his LinkedIn profile. He moved to Threadneedle Investments in 2009, where he served as head of UK equities and oversaw a roughly £2 billion fund before Investec Plc's asset-management arm at the time recruited him for a similar role about a decade ago, his most recent money-management position. --With assistance from Andrea Felsted. More stories like this are available on
Business Wire
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Zumba Fitness Party Launches Exclusively on Nex Playground, Bringing the Ultimate At-Home Dance Studio Experience to Living Rooms Everywhere
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nex, maker of Nex Playground, the active play system that gets families moving year-round, in collaboration with Zumba ®, the global dance-fitness phenomenon, today launched Zumba Fitness Party –a first-of-its-kind family-friendly fitness experience that combines immersive motion tracking with simple setup, real-time gamified feedback, and live scoring–to make physical fitness enjoyable, accessible, and engaging for people of all ages and abilities. Zumba Fitness Party is everything we dreamed of when we first launched Nex Playground–movement, connection, and joy all rolled into one. Share Combining Nex's advanced AI-powered motion tracking with Zumba's signature rhythms and easy-to-follow choreography, Zumba Fitness Party transforms traditional workouts into high-energy dance sessions that are as fun as they are effective. Zumba Fitness Party marks Nex Playground's first IP-partnered fitness experience designed specifically for parents, proving that Nex Playground goes beyond kids' games to become a true active lifestyle choice for families who want to weave movement into their daily routines. Zumba Fitness Party is included exclusively with Play Pass–the subscription that unlocks the full Nex Playground experience. ' Zumba Fitness Party is everything we dreamed of when we first launched Nex Playground–movement, connection, and joy all rolled into one,' said David Lee, co-founder and CEO of Nex. 'We wanted to build something that makes people forget they're working out, and instead feel like they're at the best dance party of their lives. Whether you're a longtime Zumba fan or a total beginner, this experience delivers the energy of the studio right to your home.' Zumba Fitness Party debuts with a robust lineup of 10 classes of varying lengths –including sessions just under an hour, shorter classes under 30 minutes, and tutorials designed to help you learn and perfect your moves and scores. Users can experience Zumba workouts across a wide variety of dance styles, music genres, and difficulty levels. Players will follow the moves as shown by the instructor on screen and receive live feedback on the screen. At the end of each class, users will obtain a score based on how closely their movements resemble the instructor's, along with a breakdown of calories burned, allowing dancers to reach their fitness goals without leaving their living room! Zumba Fitness Party features include: Star Power on Screen: Users can train with a lineup of iconic celebrity Zumba instructors, including Beto Perez, Mauricio Camargo, Gina Wonder, Kass Martin, Dahrio Wonder, and Rony Grateraut. Real-Time Engagement: Gamified feedback and live scoring keep users immersed and motivated throughout each class. Built-in Progression: The experience evolves with each session, offering unlockable songs, dance genres, and moves that reward continued play. Replay and Refine: Players can revisit their favorite tracks and work toward higher scores, with precise feedback on every move to support skill-building and mastery. Play Together, Compete Together: The multiplayer mode brings a dose of friendly competition, allowing families and friends to dance side-by-side and compare performance in real time. Frequent Updates: Zumba Fitness Party offers a steady rollout of new workouts, routines, and music, allowing users to experience one new workout per month. 'With Zumba Fitness Party, we're redefining what it means to move together at home,' said Carolina Moraes, Chief Marketing Officer of Zumba. 'This experience makes our format more accessible than ever before for parents and families. We're excited to reach new audiences where they are and show more people that fitness can feel like a celebration.' Zumba beginners and enthusiasts alike can play Zumba Fitness Party exclusively on Nex Playground with a Play Pass. Families interested in purchasing Nex Playground can find the active play system on Amazon as well as in Best Buy®, Target®, Walmart®, and Sam's Club® online and select retail stores nationwide. Store availability can be found at About Nex Nex is on a mission to help families rediscover the joy of movement. Created by parents for parents, Nex combines technology and play to deliver fun, social, and interactive experiences powered by natural body motion, encouraging kids and adults to move more, play more, and have fun together. Nex Playground, the company's award-winning active play system, is purpose-built to get families moving year-round, with safety and privacy as core considerations in its intentional design. It is certified kidSAFE+ COPPA compliant and built to support healthy, active play for all ages and abilities. Nex Playground features a growing library of 40+ experiences, including motion and dance games, fitness and educational experiences, and Nex Originals. Content includes collaborations with partners like Hasbro, Sesame Workshop, and NBCUniversal. Nex has been recognized by Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, TIME's Best Inventions, and Parents' Best Entertainment System for Families, and has earned Red Dot, IDEA, and Core77 international design awards. To learn more, visit or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook. About Zumba Fitness, LLC Founded in 2001, Zumba is the largest branded dance fitness company in the world – reporting more than 15 million weekly participants, in 200,000 locations, across 185 countries. Zumba ® blends world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography for an effective workout that empowers participants to become their best selves - mind, body and soul. In addition to its original Zumba program, the company offers 10 Zumba specialty classes – from aquatic-based to those specifically designed for active older adults and children. In 2016, Zumba launched its first non-dance, HIIT workout STRONG Nation ®, where music acts as the main motivator. In 2023, Zumba launched CIRCL Mobility ®, a revolutionary new program designed to unlock the body's full potential through flexibility, breathwork, and mobility exercises. The Zumba ® lifestyle is rounded out by the company's many consumer product offerings, including video games, VR +MR experiences, original music, activewear and footwear, and interactive Fitness-Concert™ events. For more information about Zumba's programs and products, or to find a live class, visit Follow us on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
Business Wire
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Cookie Monster ' s Cookie Factory Opens for Play on Nex Playground
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nex, maker of Nex Playground, the active play system that gets families moving year-round, in collaboration with Sesame Workshop, the global nonprofit behind Sesame Street, today launched their sweetest learning experience yet: Cookie Monster ' s Cookie Factory. Now baking exclusively on Nex Playground, this delicious and playful puzzle adventure engages children's minds, bodies, and senses through play. Access is included with Play Pass, the subscription that unlocks the full Nex Playground experience. 'From Elmo to Grover to Cookie Monster, these games with Nex combine joyful movement with purposeful learning,' said Tina Moglia, Sesame Workshop Supervising Producer, Digital Production. Share In Cookie Monster's Cookie Factory, players will use their bodies to control factory widgets such as sliders, conveyor belts, claws, springs, and fans to transport and sort cookies from a source pipe to destination boxes. Different widgets utilize different body motions, including jumping, squatting, moving arms, and tilting shoulders. 'From Elmo to Grover to Cookie Monster, these games with Nex combine joyful movement with purposeful learning,' said Tina Moglia, Sesame Workshop Supervising Producer, Digital Production. ' Cookie Monster ' s Cookie Factory is a sweet finale that shows how educational play can be just as fun and active as it is meaningful.' What's cookin' in Cookie Monster ' s Cookie Factory? Family Gaming: With multi-player capabilities up to four players, parents can join their children ages 4+ to work together to solve sweet puzzles and help Cookie Monster keep the nummie, nummie treats under control! Early Childhood Skills: In this fun-filled puzzle adventure, players take on cookie-themed challenges focused on sorting, cooperation, and hand-eye coordination. Leveled Progression: With 30 unique levels that require different widgets and body movements, Cookie Monster's Cookie Factory offers a multitude of new challenges and skills to keep children engaged and active. Each level offers up to four stars, but only one is required to move to the next level–because Cookie Monster believes in extra credit (especially when cookies are involved)! Cookie Monster Commentary: Enjoy Cookie Monster's laugh-out-loud narration and classic one-liners as players play through the cookie chaos. The launch marks the fourth and final game in the multi-title collaboration between Nex and Sesame Workshop. Cookie Monster ' s Cookie Factory joins Elmo Says, Elmo & Abby ' s Magical Letter Hunt, and Move & Groove with Grover to create an educational and active play experience that supports key areas of early childhood development in gross motor, early literacy, communication, and now, with Cookie Monster, problem-solving skills. 'From the beginning, our collaboration with Sesame Workshop has centered around one goal: to support whole-child development through joyful, active learning experiences,' said Dr. Emily Greenwald, Chief Pediatric Advisor, Nex Playground. 'Across all four titles, we've intentionally focused on early childhood skills–gross motor, early literacy, communication, and now, with Cookie Monster's Cookie Factory, puzzle-solving. This final game is a perfect example of how movement-based learning can spark cognitive growth and giggles at the same time.' Cookie Monster fans can play Cookie Monster ' s Cookie Factory, along with the entire suite of Sesame Street games, exclusively on Nex Playground with a Play Pass. Families interested in purchasing Nex Playground can find the active play system on Amazon as well as in Best Buy®, Target® and Walmart® online and select retail stores nationwide. Store availability can be found at About Nex Nex is on a mission to help families rediscover the joy of movement. Created by parents for parents, Nex combines technology and play to deliver fun, social, and interactive experiences powered by natural body motion, encouraging kids and adults to move more, play more, and have fun together. Nex Playground, the company's award-winning active play system, is purpose-built to get families moving year-round, with safety and privacy as core considerations in its intentional design. It is certified kidSAFE+ COPPA compliant and built to support healthy, active play for all ages and abilities. Nex Playground features a growing library of 40+ experiences, including motion and dance games, fitness and educational experiences, and Nex Originals. Content includes collaborations with partners like Hasbro, Sesame Workshop, and NBCUniversal. Nex has been recognized by Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, TIME's Best Inventions, and Parents' Best Entertainment System for Families, and has earned Red Dot, IDEA, and Core77 international design awards. To learn more, visit or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook.
Business Wire
04-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Nex and Zumba Announce Partnership to Bring Fitness Fun from the Studio to the Living Room
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nex, the leading motion technology and entertainment company, today announced a partnership with Zumba ®, the global dance-fitness phenomenon, that will make physical fitness enjoyable, accessible and engaging for people of all ages and abilities. This partnership will allow us to expand the Zumba experience beyond the studio, making it more accessible and engaging for families. Share Launching this August on Nex Playground, the active play system that gets families moving, Nex and Zumba will be introducing a first-of-its-kind fitness experience that combines immersive motion tracking with gamified scoring and progression. Developed with Zumba's globally recognized brand and content, this title will bring the studio experience to living rooms everywhere as a part of the ongoing partnership between the brands. This partnership highlights that Nex's breakout product, Nex Playground, goes beyond kids' games to become a true lifestyle choice, weaving active play into families' daily routine. 'Our partnership with Zumba is all about bringing their world-class dance-fitness experience into living rooms everywhere,' said David Lee, co-founder and CEO of Nex. 'This collaboration is about more than just exercise–it's about creating joyful, shared moments that get the whole family moving together. At Nex, we're always developing new experiences with our full community in mind–because healthy screentime isn't just for kids, it's for everyone.' 'This partnership will allow us to expand the Zumba experience beyond the studio, making it more accessible and engaging for families,' said Carolina Moraes, Chief Marketing Officer of Zumba. 'At Zumba, we want to make exercise feel less like a chore and more like a fun, social activity. By combining our infectious rhythms and easy-to-follow choreography with Nex's innovative motion technology, we're transforming how people of all ages experience fitness and fun at home!' The new fitness experience, available exclusively on Nex Playground, will let users unlock new songs, styles, and dance moves while progressing through increasingly challenging routines. By combining Zumba's engaging content with Nex Playground's advanced AI motion tracking technology, this partnership will offer the best at-home Zumba ® experience yet. With Nex's focus on simple setup, reliable tracking, and real-time gamified feedback and scoring, Zumba ® on Nex Playground will turn users' workouts into a high-energy dance party, all the while giving them credit for every step and every move. Nex Playground is a controller-free console designed for families with young kids, making active, communal play more accessible and engaging than ever. Fully motion-powered gameplay means body movements are used rather than controllers, getting players to get off the couch and making physical activity fun for all ages. Additionally, Nex Playground is kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, with no internet connectivity, online interactions, ads, and in-game purchases, making it a standout family gaming option. All data stays local to the device, and the system comes with a built-in camera cover, highlighting Nex's commitment to privacy and safety. The company just met a major milestone of selling over 200,000 units, and Nex Playground is gaining serious traction as a top choice for family gaming. Families interested in purchasing Nex Playground can find the console on Amazon as well as in Best Buy ®, Target ® and Walmart ® online and select retail stores nationwide. Store availability can be found at About Nex Nex is helping families reconnect with the joy of movement through fun, social, and interactive content that's accessible to all ages. Its award-winning Nex Playground active play system launched in December 2023, is designed in California, manufactured by Skyworth, a leader in home entertainment, and is powered by an Amlogic premium AI chip. With Nex Playground, cutting-edge AI and computer vision technologies are used to merge digital and physical worlds, immersing players in the experience using their natural body movement. Games range from original sports and fitness titles to educational games and titles in collaboration with Hasbro, Sesame Workshop, Fruit Ninja, and more. Since its founding, Nex has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, TIME's Best Inventions, Parents' Best Entertainment System for Families, and has received RedDot, IDEA, and Core77 international design awards. Nex Playground is also kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, highlighting the company's firm stance on privacy and safety for kids and families. To learn more, visit or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook. About Zumba Fitness, LLC Founded in 2001, Zumba is the largest branded dance fitness company in the world – reporting more than 15 million weekly participants, in 200,000 locations, across 185 countries. Zumba ® blends world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography for an effective workout that empowers participants to become their best selves – mind, body and soul. In addition to its original Zumba program, the company offers 10 Zumba specialty classes – from aquatic-based to those specifically designed for active older adults and children. In 2016, Zumba launched its first non-dance, HIIT workout STRONG Nation ®, where music acts as the main motivator. In 2023, Zumba launched CIRCL Mobility ®, a revolutionary new program designed to unlock the body's full potential through flexibility, breathwork, and mobility exercises. The Zumba ® lifestyle is rounded out by the company's many consumer product offerings, including video games, VR +MR experiences, original music, activewear and footwear, and interactive Fitness-Concert™ events. For more information about Zumba's programs and products, or to find a live class, visit Follow us on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nex Playground Announces Summer of Fun Game Lineup Featuring New Games With Zumba and Sesame Workshop
Six new motion games continue Nex's mission to provide healthy, affordable, and accessible play solutions for kids to move more and bond with friends and family SAN FRANCISCO, June 04, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nex, the leading motion technology and entertainment company, today announced its Summer 2025 game lineup for Nex Playground, the active play system that gets families moving together. Headlining the slate are two standout partnerships: a delicious and playful puzzle adventure starring Sesame Street's Cookie Monster and a high-energy fitness experience created in collaboration with Zumba®. Together with four additional titles spanning sports, fantasy, and trivia, the lineup builds on Nex Playground's growing catalog of motion games that promote healthy, joyful, and communal active play for everyone in the family. With school out and warmer weather coming, kids and families will enjoy having a variety of indoor activities they can play all summer long. Nex Playground is keeping kids moving this summer with a fresh lineup of games: Sesame Street's Cookie Monster's Cookie Factory – Join Cookie Monster in a fun-filled puzzle adventure. Players take on cookie-themed challenges focused on sorting, pattern recognition, and hand-eye coordination. Team up and work together to solve sweet puzzles and help Cookie Monster keep the nummie, nummie treats under control! Zumba – A first-of-its-kind Zumba® experience that combines immersive motion tracking with gamified scoring and progression. Unlock new songs, styles, and dance moves while progressing through increasingly challenging routines. Developed in collaboration with Zumba's globally renowned brand, this innovative title brings the energy and excitement of the studio straight to your living room. Brainy Inc. – Step into the fast-paced world of a factory floor, where you play as a robot in the final stages of assembly. Before earning your place outside the factory, you'll face a series of challenging tests packed with brain teasers and tricky questions. Outsmart the competition, rack up points, and prove your brilliance to claim the title of the smartest robot at Brainy Inc! Mingle – A vibrant matching game from Cookiecrayon, the creators of Nex Playground's Aeon Guard. Featuring quirky characters and a relaxing pace, the game brings a laid-back charm to the summer lineup. Homerun Heroes: Starstrikers – A third-person baseball batting game. Players swing to strike home runs, smash targets, and unlock a variety of costumes and bats to win the ultimate title of Starstrikers. This game features both 1v1 and 2v2 player modes, so no one's sitting on the bench. Sword Slash Adventure – A storybook-inspired action game where players dive into a whimsical, magical world, battling a variety of monsters to unlock new worlds and engage in boss battles. An evolution of Nex Labs' original Sword Slash title, this expanded adventure includes new boss battles and equipment upgrades. "We're looking forward to expanding Nex Playground's game library with this summer's diverse and creative lineup," said David Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Nex. "From educational puzzles and trivia challenges to sports titles and our first-ever Zumba experience, Nex Playground has the ideal lineup to help keep kids and families stay active throughout the summer. We're committed to building games that resonate with our community, and will continue to build our platform to focus on entertainment that is accessible to the whole family." Nex Playground is a controller-free console designed for families with young kids, making active, communal play more accessible and engaging than ever. Fully motion-powered gameplay means body movements are used rather than controllers, getting players to get off the couch and making physical activity fun for all ages. Additionally, Nex Playground is kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, with no internet connectivity, online interactions, ads, and in-game purchases, making it a standout family gaming option. All data stays local to the device, and the system comes with a built-in camera cover, highlighting Nex's commitment to privacy and safety. After a strong first year at retail in 2024 selling over 200,000 units to date, Nex Playground is gaining serious traction as a top choice for family gaming. Families interested in purchasing Nex Playground can find the console on Amazon as well as in Best Buy®, Target® and Walmart® online and select retail stores nationwide. Store availability can be found at The new summer games will be progressively released on Nex Playground starting this July and will be included in the Play Pass content subscription bundle for families, which is sold separately and can easily be added anytime. To learn more about Nex Playground, visit About NexNex is helping families reconnect with the joy of movement through fun, social, and interactive content that's accessible to all ages. Its award-winning Nex Playground active play system launched in December 2023, is designed in California, manufactured by Skyworth, a leader in home entertainment, and is powered by an Amlogic premium AI chip. With Nex Playground, cutting-edge AI and computer vision technologies are used to merge digital and physical worlds, immersing players in the experience using their natural body movement. Games range from original sports and fitness titles, to educational games and titles in collaboration with Hasbro, Sesame Workshop, Fruit Ninja and more. Since its founding, Nex has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, TIME's Best Inventions, Parents' Best Entertainment System for Families, and has received RedDot, IDEA, and Core77 international design awards. Nex Playground is also kidSAFE+ COPPA certified, highlighting the company's firm stance on privacy and safety for kids and families. To learn more, visit or follow the company on Instagram and Facebook. View source version on Contacts BerlinRosen for Nexnex@
