Latest news with #Seattle-based
Fashion Network
14 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Nordstrom names Kelly Dilts new CFO
Nordstrom Inc. announced on Thursday the appointment of Kelly Dilts to the role of chief financial officer, effective August 29. Dilts succeeds Cathy Smith, who joined Starbucks as its new finance chief. In her new role, Dilts will oversee all core financial functions, as well as real estate, store development, and strategic sourcing at the Seattle-based luxury department store chain. "I'm honored to join Nordstrom at such a pivotal moment in the company's evolution," said Dilts. "Nordstrom is a company with a strong legacy, a clear sense of purpose, and a deep commitment to its customers, employees, and brand partners. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to build on that foundation—focusing on financial discipline, operational excellence, and sustainable long-term growth." The financial expert joins Nordstrom from Dollar General, where she has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer since 2023. Prior to that, she served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Francesca's Holding Corporation from 2016 to 2019 and senior vice president of finance and investor relations for Tailored Brands. "After a thorough search, we're excited to welcome Kelly to the Nordstrom team," said Erik Nordstrom, co-CEO of Nordstrom, Inc. "She brings three decades of financial leadership experience and a proven track record of driving strong results at large-scale omnichannel retailers. We're confident she'll help us strengthen our business, execute on our priorities, and continue delivering for our customers." In its most recent trading update in March, Nordstrom reported fourth-quarter comparable sales growth of 4.7%, compared with an estimate of 1.25%, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Fashion Network
14 hours ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Nordstrom names Kelly Dilts new CFO
Inc. announced on Thursday the appointment of Kelly Dilts to the role of chief financial officer, effective August 29. Dilts succeeds Cathy Smith, who joined Starbucks as its new finance chief. In her new role, Dilts will oversee all core financial functions, as well as real estate, store development, and strategic sourcing at the Seattle-based luxury department store chain. "I'm honored to join Nordstrom at such a pivotal moment in the company's evolution," said Dilts. "Nordstrom is a company with a strong legacy, a clear sense of purpose, and a deep commitment to its customers, employees, and brand partners. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to build on that foundation—focusing on financial discipline, operational excellence, and sustainable long-term growth." The financial expert joins Nordstrom from Dollar General, where she has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer since 2023. Prior to that, she served as executive vice president and chief financial officer for Francesca's Holding Corporation from 2016 to 2019 and senior vice president of finance and investor relations for Tailored Brands. "After a thorough search, we're excited to welcome Kelly to the Nordstrom team," said Erik Nordstrom, co-CEO of Nordstrom, Inc. "She brings three decades of financial leadership experience and a proven track record of driving strong results at large-scale omnichannel retailers. We're confident she'll help us strengthen our business, execute on our priorities, and continue delivering for our customers." In its most recent trading update in March, Nordstrom reported fourth-quarter comparable sales growth of 4.7%, compared with an estimate of 1.25%, according to data compiled by LSEG.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ex-Waymo engineers launch Bedrock Robotics with $80M to automate construction
Bedrock Robotics, an autonomous vehicle technology startup founded by veterans of Waymo and Segment, has been operating quietly for more than a year. Now, it's breaking cover with an $80 million funding round from investors Eclipse and 8VC. Bedrock Robotics is focused on developing a self-driving kit that can be retrofitted to construction and other worksite vehicles, according to the company. The announcement confirms some of TechCrunch's reporting in May. Bedrock is 'upgrading existing fleets with sensors, compute, and intelligence that understands project goals, adapts to changing conditions, and executes work around the clock,' according to a blog post written by co-founder and CEO Boris Sofman. Sofman previously led Waymo's now shuttered self-driving trucks program. But he's perhaps best known for his role as co-founder and CEO of Anki Robotics, which made the popular Cozmo consumer robot, and shut down in 2019. Other co-founders include Waymo veterans Kevin Peterson, who is now CTO, Ajay Gummalla, who is a VP of engineering, and Tom Eliaz, who previously worked at Segment and Twilio, is also a VP of engineering. The company could not be reached for comment. TechCrunch will update this article with new details once Bedrock responds. Bedrock is the latest company to steer engineers who are adept at robotics, autonomy, and AI toward the off-road environment. Several autonomous vehicle startups have popped up in recent years with an aim to apply their self-driving systems to off-road environments, like construction, mining, industrial sites, and even defense. Earlier this week, Pronto, a San Francisco-based startup that has developed a self-driving system designed for haulage trucks and other off-road vehicles used at construction and mining sites, acquired competitor SafeAI. Other startups that play in the fragmented and broad sector of off-road autonomy include Kodiak Robotics, Polymath Robotics, Seattle-based Overland AI, New Brunswick, Canada-based Potential, and more established companies like Forterra. Bedrock said it's focused on construction sites and is testing in Arkansas, Arizona, Texas, and California with four corporations: Sundt Construction, Zachry Construction Corporation, Champion Site Prep Inc., and Capitol Aggregates Inc.
Politico
3 days ago
- Health
- Politico
HIV prevention gets an AI upgrade
WORLD VIEW Artificial intelligence chatbots could help with the introduction of a twice-yearly shot that can help prevent HIV, experts said at the International AIDS Society conference on HIV science in Rwanda on Monday. How so: Chatbots that answer people's questions on sex, health and other issues; help them self-test and interpret results and then connect them with health providers for prevention and treatment options are being tested in countries like South Africa to increase HIV prevention and treatment. 'We see these tools as demand-generation engines,' said Sarah Morris, chief product officer at Audere, a Seattle-based digital health company that's been involved in creating and testing such chatbots. Why it matters: 'They can help people in a private safe space with counseling, help them understand why testing or [pre-exposure prophylaxis] might be right for them, and we're hoping that this lays a really nice glide path for [lenacapavir] introduction,' she said referring to Gilead's HIV prevention shot just approved by the FDA. HIV experts believe the drug will be transformative in decreasing the number of new HIV infections if made available at scale globally. AI companions aren't judgmental and don't gossip, but they can provide access to confidential advice and support, said Shawn Malone, HIV/AIDS project director at the global health nonprofit PSI, who's worked on another chatbot in South Africa. Malone stressed that the AI tool 'is in no way meant to replace face-to-face care,' but 'we are hoping that we can take some pressure off providers so that they can use the very limited time they have in a way that's most meaningful, that's most impactful.' WELCOME TO FUTURE PULSE This is where we explore the ideas and innovators shaping health care. Ancient Greek philosopher Plato would see AI as 'intriguing and persuasive – but misleading, and far from the truth,' said former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, Euronews reports. Share any thoughts, news, tips and feedback with Danny Nguyen at dnguyen@ Carmen Paun at cpaun@ Ruth Reader at rreader@ or Erin Schumaker at eschumaker@ Want to share a tip securely? Message us on Signal: Dannyn516.70, CarmenP.82, RuthReader.02 or ErinSchumaker.01. WORKFORCE President Donald Trump's Federal Trade Commission is considering whether to defend a Biden-era rule that would ban employers from requiring workers to sign agreements that would bar or restrict them from quitting and joining rivals. President Joe Biden's FTC approved the rule in 2024, but before it could go into effect, courts blocked it on the grounds that the agency had overstepped its authority. On Thursday, the deadline to decide whether to back the rule, the FTC requested a 60-day extension. Earlier that week, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) urged the Trump administration to stand behind the rule. 'I would love for the Trump administration to defend the rule,' Murphy said during a livestream on social platform X last week. 'It's a pro-worker rule, it's a pro-startup, pro-entrepreneurship rule, and just because it has Biden's fingerprints on it shouldn't mean it's not worth pursuing.' Washington watch: With Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.),Murphy has introduced bipartisan legislation to limit the use of noncompete agreements except in certain circumstances. 'We'll continue to pursue our bipartisan legislation,' Murphy said. 'If we want to do something about wages in this country, we've got to stop this gimmick.' Why it matters for doctors and hospitals: Hospital administrators have said they rely on such contracts to protect their businesses from cutthroat competition for talent. Both the American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals are among the hospital groups that have lobbied for an exemption. Doctors would benefit from a noncompete ban: A large share of them — 45 percent in group practices and likely many more in other areas of medicine — are bound by the contract provisions. In the states: While a handful of states have laws that limit noncompete agreements, Florida is taking a different approach by expanding them. This spring, state legislators passed the CHOICE Act, which permits agreements of up to four years instead of two. Kevin Paule, an attorney who handles noncompete agreements and business divorce cases at the Florida-based law firm Hill Ward Henderson, described the law as unusual, but noted it's not an across-the-board extension since it applies only to workers with an income above a certain threshold. It also includes a carveout for licensed health care providers. 'In some respects, there's a limiting component of this, but it definitely draws out the period that somebody would have to sit on the sidelines,' Paule told Erin. 'This gives employers a lot more teeth to put in their employment agreements if they want to.' What's next: Since Florida doesn't have a pocket veto, the CHOICE Act became law on July 1 without GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis signing the bill. Nationally, the FTC's new deadline to decide whether to back the noncompetes rule is Sept. 8.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Why Starbucks wants its leaders in Seattle or Toronto and what it means for US remote work
Starbucks mandates relocation for corporate leaders as US remote work policies tighten. (AI Image) Starbucks has announced a significant change to its remote work policy for corporate employees, requiring many of its people leaders to be based in either Seattle or Toronto within 12 months. The Seattle-based company is increasing the number of days corporate employees must work in the office from three to four days a week starting early October, signalling a shift away from remote working arrangements. Brian Niccol, Starbucks chairman and CEO, addressed employees in a letter posted on Monday, stating the company's intention to reestablish its in-office culture. Niccol wrote, "We do our best work when we're together. We share ideas more effectively, creatively solve hard problems, and move much faster," as quoted by the Associated Press. The move comes amid wider changes in the US workplace, where several major employers have been calling employees back to company sites. Detailed requirements for corporate leaders Starbucks' new policy specifically requires all corporate "people leaders" to relocate to either Seattle or Toronto within the next year. This expands on a previous February mandate that only required vice presidents to move to these cities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Individual employees reporting to these leaders will not be required to relocate, but all future hiring and lateral moves will require employees to be based in one of these two locations. The company has approximately 16,000 corporate support employees worldwide, including roles such as coffee roasters and warehouse staff, though Starbucks spokeswoman Lori Torgerson did not provide exact figures for how many corporate employees currently work remotely or as "people leaders," as reported by the Associated Press. Niccol himself was initially exempt from relocation when he was hired last August, with Starbucks offering support for an office near his Newport Beach, California home and use of a corporate jet to commute to Seattle. However, he has since purchased a home in Seattle and regularly works from the company's headquarters, Torgerson added. Implications for US remote work trends The Starbucks decision reflects a broader trend in the US corporate sector, where companies including Amazon, AT&T, and the federal government have tightened remote work policies, often requiring employees to return to the office five days a week. These moves come as many workers, having grown accustomed to working from home during the Covid-19 pandemic, face a shift back to in-person work. Employees affected by the new Starbucks policy who choose not to relocate will be eligible for a one-time voluntary exit programme that includes a cash payment, the company confirmed. This signals a clear stance on prioritising in-office collaboration and presence, as Starbucks aims to foster faster decision-making and greater creativity within its teams. The company's updated remote work policy for corporate staff and relocation requirements for leaders may influence workplace norms across the US, highlighting ongoing debates about the future of work and the balance between remote flexibility and in-person collaboration. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
