Latest news with #Sebastien
Business Wire
07-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Wisk Appoints Sebastien Vigneron as New CEO, Brian Yutko Transitions to Leadership Role Within Boeing
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wisk Aero, a leading Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company and wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, today announced the appointment of Sebastien Vigneron as its new Chief Executive Officer. Sebastien, who previously served as Wisk's Senior Vice President of Engineering and Programs, will succeed Brian Yutko, who is transitioning to a leadership role within Boeing's Commercial Airplanes Division (BCA). Wisk Appoints Sebastien Vigneron as New CEO, Brian Yutko Transitions to Leadership Role Within Boeing Share Sebastien Vigneron brings a wealth of experience and deep understanding of Wisk's technology and strategic direction to his role as CEO. Previously at Wisk, Sebastien drove Product Development of the company's Generation 6 aircraft, including the Autonomy and Airspace Integration technologies. He also oversaw the Hardware & Software Engineering, Simulation, Systems Test, Flight Test, and Program Management teams. Sebastien's appointment comes at a significant time for Wisk, as the company prepares to fly its Gen 6 aircraft and progress on its certification path. His background and intimate knowledge of new aircraft development are key to accelerating Wisk's path towards commercialization. 'Having been deeply involved in our journey over the last four years, I'm incredibly honored to lead Wisk into this next chapter as we bring our Gen 6 aircraft to market,' said Sebastien Vigneron. 'This is a truly exciting time for the company and AAM as a whole. I look forward to guiding our talented team through this critical stage and leveraging the enhanced collaboration with Boeing to bring safe, autonomous flight to everyday life.' Brian Yutko will become Vice President of Product Development at Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA). In this role, Brian will provide strategic oversight and support to Wisk. 'Leading Wisk as CEO and being a part of the incredible progress our team has made on our Gen 6 product has been a true privilege,' said Brian Yutko. 'I'm honored to join the storied Product Development team at Boeing at this important time in history, and to connect the pioneering technologies and bold spirit of innovation we've cultivated at Wisk. Sebastien is an incredible leader, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him and the Wisk team as we fly Gen 6, progress our certification program, and enter service.' A wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing, Wisk will continue to operate as is and lead the path forward on bringing the first autonomous, passenger-carrying aircraft to market in the U.S. Sebastien Vigneron brings over 20 years of experience in new aircraft development to his role as CEO. Before joining Wisk in 2021, Sebastien was Vice President of Product Development Engineering and Chief Engineer at Virgin Hyperloop where he led the development of the Hyperloop system, a new mode of transportation from requirements capture through design, build, and test. He also held leadership and technical roles at Bombardier and Dassault Aviation, developing type-certified aircraft from initial concept through flight testing and certification. He has a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from École Polytechnique in France and a Master's degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Stanford University. About Wisk Wisk is an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company dedicated to creating a future for air travel that elevates people, communities, and aviation. Wisk is developing the first autonomous, passenger-carrying electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi in the U.S. Wisk is a wholly owned Boeing subsidiary headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with locations around the world. With over a decade of experience and over 1750+ test flights, Wisk is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably. Learn more about Wisk here.
New York Times
31-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
When Clocks Became Playful
The first time Arnaud Nicolas disassembled a watch, he was just 7 years old. 'My grandfather gave me a mechanical watch for my birthday and the first thing I did was take it apart to see how it worked,' said Mr. Nicolas, the chief executive and creative director of the Swiss luxury clockmaker L'Epée 1839. 'Two days later he found me in my room trying to put it back together.' Mr. Nicolas went on to become an aerospace engineer, working for Arianespace, a French company that builds rocket launchers for the European Space Agency and others. 'From an intellectual point of view it was a dream job,' he said, 'but it was missing something from my heart.' The quest for that elusive component led him back to his childhood fascination with the mechanics of timekeeping in 2009, when he and his business partner, Sebastien Merillat, bought Swiza, a Swiss knife manufacturer, which owned the L'Epée brand. 'It all started with a conversation in a bar,' Mr. Nicolas recalled. 'I was sitting with Sebastien and we were talking about our shared love of watchmaking and clocks, and the conversation turned to L'Epée. We talked about what a shame it was that the company was on the verge of collapse, and all that know-how would be lost. 'After a brief silence between us, Sebastien said, 'Are you thinking what I'm thinking?' I looked at him, and said, 'Yes, we cannot let that happen.' He told me, 'OK, let's buy it.' I said, 'Yes, we should do that.' A month later, we had made it happen, and I was managing the company.' His goal from the beginning was to elevate the decorative clock from its traditional roots to the level of art form. 'When I took over, L'Epée was only manufacturing carriage clocks, which are beautiful, but traditional,' he said. 'I thought there was a market for more design-focused, trendy objects, something more playful.' 'I was approaching this not as a watchmaker, but as a scientist,' he continued. 'I wanted to harness the basic science behind these movements and use them to express my creativity. I was starting from a blank page.' The latest, to be introduced this week during the watch fairs in Geneva, is a cylindrical reinterpretation of the cuckoo clock, a 99-piece limited edition priced at $85,000 each. A cuckoo-looking bird trills the hours from the cylinder's upper part, while four automatons appear at the bottom. They are meant to echo the monkeys who hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil — although Mr. Nicolas has added a 'do no evil,' too. During an interview in February, however, he had not yet decided whether the automatons would be monkeys, dogs or birds. While Mr. Nicolas declined to disclose how many clocks the company makes each year, he has over the years produced a series of kinetic timekeeping objects that look an awful lot like high-end toys: classic cars with tiny functional engines (the Time Fast II, $46,555); spaceships with propellers that power the movements (the Albatross, $142,800) and, in a recent collaboration with Louis Vuitton, a hot-air balloon with a base made of miniature Louis Vuitton trunks (the Montgolfière Aéro, $26,500). 'Our clocks are all reinterpretations of objects or life-forms that exist,' he said. 'Whether it's a car, a boat, an aircraft or a jellyfish. The idea is to express a message by evoking a reaction, whether it's inspiring or shocking.' In June 2024, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton bought Swiza from the men, acquiring L'Epée in the purchase. While Mr. Nicolas has continued to run L'Epée and its 90 employees, it now is part of LVMH Watches, which includes Hublot, TAG Heuer and other brands. LVMH does not disclose financial information on individual brands, but its watch and jewelry division reported revenues of 10.6 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in 2024, a 3 percent decrease from 2023 totals. Here, Mr. Nicolas talks about the sale, the most complex clock L'Epée has made, and what he wants to see on every wedding registry list. The interview has been edited and condensed. Why did you sell L'Epée to LVMH? Clocks are booming right now. We had more orders than we could fill, and LVMH wanted to increase the volume of what we were producing in collaboration with their brands. I had to tell them it wasn't possible. My partner and I were very successful at running the company, but we were also the limiting factor of the company because we didn't have the funds to expand it properly. What has changed? In terms of the direction of the company, nothing will change. What I was afraid of at first is that most of the C.E.O.s in big groups are just people who are not deciding but executing what the people have decided for them. But at LVMH, the point is the entrepreneurship. I was told by Mr. Bernard Arnault: 'We're not going to step in your business. If you need us, we'll be there. You just have to ask. But don't expect that we'll take over. You remain at the head and we'll be there if you need anything. You have a problem, we have solutions." What help have they provided? We have added a new production building to our previous two, which has helped us to streamline production and clear up certain bottlenecks. The plan is to eventually have everything under the same roof. In terms of distribution we are working with very nice partners. We have 108 points of sale [where their products are sold] in the world right now; I don't want to jack it up to 200. I want it to remain something we can control, with volume that we can control. But we will increase our exposure by working more with other brands who have different networks, and look beyond the watch market to other markets, including the art market. Art aficionados really like our objects and we think there is a huge potential there. I was at Singapore Art Week in January and people were queuing up to enter our booth. People were fascinated, saying, 'It's art but it's also a clock. Wow, we didn't expect that. We didn't know it existed.' You said 20 percent of L'Epée's production is dedicated to collaborations. Will you maintain that ratio? It will be more like the opposite of that — 80 percent collaborations. The brand L'Epée will remain very niche and exclusive, but we will expand on the manufacturing side to work with other brands, both from the LVMH group and outside the group. This will expand our reach because every brand has its own audience. What was the most challenging piece the company has created? I would say it was the Time Fast II, because of all the detail. It was inspired by a real racing car from the 1960s, and has a timekeeping movement plus an automaton that works like a V-8 engine, with pistons going up and down. There is a key on the dashboard, which you turn to start the engine. What is your goal for L'Epée? My goal is to bring back the clock as an important household item. Fifty years ago, clocks were one of the main objects inside the home; one of the most expensive objects, but also one of the most desirable. It was on almost every wedding list. My idea is to bring the table clock back to that position of prominence.
CBS News
13-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Long Island man is first in New York history to be cured of sickle cell anemia
A patient on Long Island is the first in New York to be cured of sickle cell anemia, doctors say. They credit state-of-the-art genetic treatment. Medical history made at Cohen Children's Medical Center For 21 years, Sebastien Beauzile suffered chronic pain from debilitating sickle cell anemia. "Sickle cell was like a blockade for me, but now it's just like a wall that I just jumped over," he said. He is now making medical history in New York state. "The cliche 'the future is here' is actually true in this case," said Dr. Charles Schleien, with Cohen Children's Medical Center. "We feel blessed to be able to offer, be the first ones to be able to offer this," Dr. Jonathan Fish added. Groundbreaking Lyfgenia treatment used Beauzile's own bone marrow in IV transfusions to create normal red blood cells. "When we could use Sebastien's own stem cells to do this therapy, we were delighted," Dr. Banu Aygun said. "Sickle cell disease was described in modern medicine in 1910, and here we are over 100 years later, and this is the first cure you are seeing," Dr. Jeffrey Lipton said. "I feel unstoppable" In the United States, sickle cell amenia most commonly affects people of African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern descent. Cohen Children's Medical Center hopes to target those communities with this life-altering therapy. "To the Med 4 team, the hematology team, the transplant team, you guys have really changed my life," Beauzile said. "Sebastien been coming to this hospital since he was 2 months old. There is not enough words to show you how grateful I am," said Magda Lamour, Beauzile's mother. Beauzile will soon be able to travel, work out and focus on his education. He hopes to work in the medical world. "Amazing, and I can't wait to get back to my day-to-day life because now I feel unstoppable," Beauzile said.
Associated Press
20-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
GrandTech Cloud (Singapore)'s 'Pizza Blitz' Campaign – To Introduce 'A Friend to Startups' to Singapore's Startup Scene
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 February 2025 - GrandTech Cloud Services (GCS) announced their Singapore entry with a 'Pizza Blitz' campaign, delivering 300 pizzas to over 200 startups, influencers, and VC's across Singapore this week. This initiative aims to introduce GCS's business and the vision of 'F2SU' (A Friend to Startups), a dedicated platform designed to support startup growth. Innovative Marketing Strategy to Empower Startups In today's highly competitive startup landscape, establishing a strong brand presence and market influence is essential. Recognizing this, GCS has adopted a creative and startup-friendly approach with the 'Pizza Blitz' campaign—leveraging one of the world's most beloved foods to break through traditional marketing conventions. This campaign creates a warm and engaging first impression for GCS and F2SU within Singapore's dynamic startup ecosystem. More than just a promotional effort, 'Pizza Blitz' is a strategic outreach initiative designed to foster engagement and collaboration within the startup community. Through this campaign, GCS aims to showcase how F2SU can help startups connect with essential resources, accelerate market expansion and growth, and optimize cloud costs. 'We're not just sending pizzas; we're sending a message about F2SU,' says Sebastien Khoo, Head of GTM, Singapore at GCS. 'We want Singapore's startups, influencers, and VCs to know about F2SU and how it can help them thrive. 'Startup founders face countless challenges every day, and we want to provide them with real, actionable solutions—delivered in a way that's both engaging, practical and impactful.' From Pizza to Possibilities: Showcasing F2SU's Value Proposition The reason behind choosing pizzas over other types of food is that pizza is a practical meal on its own containing all the necessary ingredients to make a balanced meal, similar to GCS' fuss-free and practical solutions offered. 'It's fuss-free and can be consumed while working, which is the typical start-up culture of non-stop hustling. Therefore, each pizza delivery is more than just a meal—it's a reflection of GCS's commitment to the startup community', says Sebastien. To show appreciation for every recipient, the GCS team has handwritten over 300 personalized cards, each included in the pizza boxes alongside detailed information about the core benefits of F2SU. Through this initiative, GCS is not only sparking interest in F2SU within Singapore's startup scene but also inviting startups to experience its real-world value. This campaign serves as a gateway to deeper discussions on how F2SU can drive tangible business success. Redefining Traditional Business Approaches with Authentic, Impactful Engagement Rather than relying on conventional business meetings or standard marketing promotions, GCS has chosen a direct, effective, and personal approach to engaging with the startup community—using pizza as a bridge to foster meaningful conversations. 'Huge thanks to GCS for the unexpected pizza drop-off - it was both thoughtful and delicious! There's something about sharing a few slices that helps everyone relax and jump into more candid and fruitful discussions on how our we can mutually thrive with our ecosystem partners', says Hoo Yuanyang, CEO of Paywho. GCS envisions 'Pizza Blitz' not as a one-time promotional effort, but as the beginning of long-term collaborations and business growth opportunities. Moving forward, GCS will continue to expand F2SU's presence across Singapore and the broader Asia-Pacific region, helping more startups establish themselves in the global market and achieve sustained growth. More than just a pizza giveaway, 'Pizza Blitz' is a sincere invitation from GCS to Singapore's startup ecosystem—a call to explore new possibilities for success through collaboration, innovation, and fruitful strategic partnerships. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About GrandTech Cloud Services Established in 2017 and headquartered in Taiwan, GrandTech Cloud Services (TPEx: 7747, GCS) has expanded its presence across Asia in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesiaand Japan. True to its mission of being 'A Friend to Startups,' GCS is dedicated to nurturing the global new economy and supporting startups on their growth journeys. The company aspires to become the premier cloud service provider that deeply understands the unique needs of startups. Pioneering cloud service operator positioning emphasizes the cloud aggregation and sharing business model, and powered by its proprietary FinOps platform ARMIN, GCS enables startups to optimize cloud resources and costs across multiple cloud environments. With its customer- centric approach, GCS considers the success of its startup partners as its primary corporate objective.
Zawya
20-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
GrandTech Cloud (Singapore)'s "Pizza Blitz" Campaign – To Introduce "A Friend to Startups" to Singapore's Startup Scene
SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 20 February 2025 - GrandTech Cloud Services (GCS) announced their Singapore entry with a "Pizza Blitz" campaign, delivering 300 pizzas to over 200 startups, influencers, and VC's across Singapore this week. This initiative aims to introduce GCS's business and the vision of "F2SU" (A Friend to Startups), a dedicated platform designed to support startup growth. Innovative Marketing Strategy to Empower Startups In today's highly competitive startup landscape, establishing a strong brand presence and market influence is essential. Recognizing this, GCS has adopted a creative and startup-friendly approach with the "Pizza Blitz" campaign—leveraging one of the world's most beloved foods to break through traditional marketing conventions. This campaign creates a warm and engaging first impression for GCS and F2SU within Singapore's dynamic startup ecosystem. More than just a promotional effort, "Pizza Blitz" is a strategic outreach initiative designed to foster engagement and collaboration within the startup community. Through this campaign, GCS aims to showcase how F2SU can help startups connect with essential resources, accelerate market expansion and growth, and optimize cloud costs. "We're not just sending pizzas; we're sending a message about F2SU," says Sebastien Khoo, Head of GTM, Singapore at GCS. "We want Singapore's startups, influencers, and VCs to know about F2SU and how it can help them thrive. "Startup founders face countless challenges every day, and we want to provide them with real, actionable solutions—delivered in a way that's both engaging, practical and impactful." From Pizza to Possibilities: Showcasing F2SU's Value Proposition The reason behind choosing pizzas over other types of food is that pizza is a practical meal on its own containing all the necessary ingredients to make a balanced meal, similar to GCS' fuss-free and practical solutions offered. "It's fuss-free and can be consumed while working, which is the typical start-up culture of non-stop hustling. Therefore, each pizza delivery is more than just a meal—it's a reflection of GCS's commitment to the startup community", says Sebastien. To show appreciation for every recipient, the GCS team has handwritten over 300 personalized cards, each included in the pizza boxes alongside detailed information about the core benefits of F2SU. Through this initiative, GCS is not only sparking interest in F2SU within Singapore's startup scene but also inviting startups to experience its real-world value. This campaign serves as a gateway to deeper discussions on how F2SU can drive tangible business success. Redefining Traditional Business Approaches with Authentic, Impactful Engagement Rather than relying on conventional business meetings or standard marketing promotions, GCS has chosen a direct, effective, and personal approach to engaging with the startup community—using pizza as a bridge to foster meaningful conversations. "Huge thanks to GCS for the unexpected pizza drop-off - it was both thoughtful and delicious! There's something about sharing a few slices that helps everyone relax and jump into more candid and fruitful discussions on how our we can mutually thrive with our ecosystem partners", says Hoo Yuanyang, CEO of Paywho. GCS envisions "Pizza Blitz" not as a one-time promotional effort, but as the beginning of long-term collaborations and business growth opportunities. Moving forward, GCS will continue to expand F2SU's presence across Singapore and the broader Asia-Pacific region, helping more startups establish themselves in the global market and achieve sustained growth. More than just a pizza giveaway, "Pizza Blitz" is a sincere invitation from GCS to Singapore's startup ecosystem—a call to explore new possibilities for success through collaboration, innovation, and fruitful strategic partnerships. Hashtag: #startup #cloudtechnology #businessowners #digitaltransformation The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About GrandTech Cloud Services Established in 2017 and headquartered in Taiwan, GrandTech Cloud Services (TPEx: 7747, GCS) has expanded its presence across Asia in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesiaand Japan. True to its mission of being "A Friend to Startups," GCS is dedicated to nurturing the global new economy and supporting startups on their growth journeys. The company aspires to become the premier cloud service provider that deeply understands the unique needs of startups. Pioneering cloud service operator positioning emphasizes the cloud aggregation and sharing business model, and powered by its proprietary FinOps platform ARMIN, GCS enables startups to optimize cloud resources and costs across multiple cloud environments. With its customer- centric approach, GCS considers the success of its startup partners as its primary corporate objective. GrandTech Cloud Services
