Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Visa Direct Taps Stablecoins to Unlock Faster Funding for Businesses

Cross-border payments get a long overdue upgrade through Visa Direct’s new stablecoin prefunding option.

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The way businesses fund cross-border payments is about to get faster, smarter and more flexible. At SIBOS 2025, Visa announced it will launch a stablecoin prefunding pilot through Visa Direct, giving businesses a new way to move money globally – unlocking liquidity and modernizing treasury operations for the digital-first economy.

For decades, moving money across borders has depended on slow, costly systems that tie up capital in advance. With this pilot, Visa Direct is testing stablecoins as a new funding source. The goal: reduce friction, unlock faster access to liquidity and give financial institutions more flexibility in how they manage global payouts.

“Cross-border payments have been stuck in outdated systems for far too long,” said Chris Newkirk, President, Commercial & Money Movement Solutions, Visa. “Visa Direct’s new stablecoins integration lays the groundwork for money to move instantly across the world, giving businesses more choice in how they pay.”

Why it matters

  • Liquidity unlockedStablecoin prefunding frees businesses from parking large fiat balances in advance, keeping capital working while still ensuring payouts are covered.
  • Modernized treasuryInstitutions can move money in minutes instead of days, making liquidity management more dynamic and responsive.
  • Predictability: Stablecoins provide a consistent settlement layer, reducing exposure to local currency volatility and stabilizing treasury operations.

How the pilot works

  • Stablecoin pre-funding: Businesses pre-fund Visa Direct with stablecoins instead of fiat to cover payouts. Visa treats those stablecoins as “money in the bank,” making funds available for payout.
  • Who it’s for: Banks, remitters and financial institutions that need faster, more flexible ways to manage liquidity across borders.
  • Availability: Visa is working with select partners that meet the pilot criteria. We plan to expand the pilot in 2026.

The Visa Direct stablecoin pilot builds on Visa’s broader commitment to building the future of money movement: one that is faster, more flexible and designed for the digital-first world. By combining the scale and trust of Visa’s global network with the programmability of blockchain and by partnering with leading payment providers on prefunding use cases, Visa is helping modernize cross-border payments for businesses, financial institutions and consumers worldwide.

FAQ

Q: What is Visa Direct?
Visa Direct is Visa’s real-time payments platform, enabling fast, secure payouts worldwide.

Q: What’s new about this pilot?
This is the first time Visa Direct is utilizing stablecoins. Instead of only using fiat, businesses can now prefund Visa Direct with stablecoins.

Q: Do recipients still get traditional money?
Yes. Recipients can always be paid in their local currency.

Q: Why now?
Cross-border rails were built decades ago and stablecoins can provide the necessary upgrade to make payments faster, cheaper and programmable.

Q: Who benefits?
Banks, remitters and businesses with high volume cross-border payouts that require faster, more efficient liquidity management.

Q: What’s next?
The initial pilot is expected to move into limited availability by April 2026.

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250930875370/en/



Contacts

Media Contacts
Jackie Dresch - jdresch@visa.com
Conor Febos – cfebos@visa.com


GoWit Builds the Largest Commerce and Retail Media Ecosystem in EMEA

(BUSINESS WIRE)--GoWit, a global AdTech leader in omnichannel Retail Media, announced the launch of GoWit Commerce Media, a unified advertising platform connecting retailers, brands, and agencies. Replacing fragmented solutions, GoWit unites 7,000+ brands and agencies with leading retailers in more than 20 markets, creating the largest advertising network in EMEA. With Commerce Media projected to reach $220B by 2027, the platform provides advertisers and media owners with the scale, standardization, and simplicity they urgently need.

Breaking Industry Barriers

Retail Media is booming, yet adoption is slowed by fragmentation, high costs, and measurement gaps. According to IAB Europe, advertisers cite network fragmentation (51%) and lack of standardization (53%) as their biggest hurdles, while retailers point to operational setup (54%) and costs (40%).

GoWit solves these challenges by consolidating solutions into a single platform, simplifying operations, unlocking budgets, and driving measurable performance.

Powering Growth Through Partnerships

Partnerships are at the core of GoWit Commerce and Retail Media, where demand, technology, and ad operations merge into one connected ecosystem. Collaborations with Heureka Group, CarrefourSA, Beymen, Kingfisher (Koçtaş), Raneen, Mumzworld, and Toters Delivery bring unmatched scale across Europe and MENA. Technology and sales partnerships with Tooplay, The Trade Desk DSP, Akinon, Spike E-Media, Goldbach, and Craftware add advanced programmatic, local reach, and expertise.

  • In Switzerland, Marc Meghji, BDM at Goldbach Group AG, added: “It’s truly reassuring to know we can count on such a competent and helpful partnership for our Swiss Retail Media journey.”
  • “GoWit is the cornerstone powering Spike’s vision to elevate Commerce and Retail Media across the Middle East,” added Rami Taibah of Spike E-Media.

Unified Platform for Retailers, Brands, Agencies

GoWit’s AI-driven advertising hub enables:

  • Retailers to integrate in minutes, activate omnichannel ads (display, sponsored listings, video, off-site, in-store), and tap into advertiser demand.
  • Brands & Agencies to run multi-retailer campaigns with self-service tools for segmentation, automated bidding, and real-time reporting.

“The future of advertising belongs to those who connect commerce with data and context,” said Emrah Adsan, CEO of GoWit. “By creating the largest ecosystem in EMEA, we help every player transform data into scalable media opportunities.”

About GoWit

GoWit is the leading AdTech company building EMEA’s largest Commerce and Retail Media Network. Its platform combines best-in-class technology, ad operations, and demand to maximize monetization and relevancy.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929777651/en/



Contacts

 

GoWit
Begench Soyunov
+905416333166
begench@gowit.com


Kioxia and Sandisk Announce Beginning of Operation of Fab2 at Kitakami Plant, Japan to Meet the Market Demand Driven by AI

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kioxia Corporation, a subsidiary of Kioxia Holdings Corporation (TOKYO: 285A) and Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today announced the start of operation at the Fab2 (K2), a state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication facility, at the Kitakami Plant in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Fab2 has the capability to produce eighth-generation, 218-layer 3D flash memory, featuring the companies’ revolutionary CBA (CMOS directly Bonded to Array) technology, and future advanced 3D flash memory nodes to meet growing demand for storage driven by AI. Production capacity at Fab2 will ramp up in stages over time, in line with market trends, with meaningful output expected to begin in the first half of 2026.

The Fab2 facility has an earthquake-absorbing architectural structure and a design that utilizes state-of-the-art energy saving manufacturing equipment. The facility uses artificial intelligence for enhanced production efficiencies and employs a space-efficient facility design that enlarges the space available for manufacturing equipment in its clean rooms. A portion of investment for Fab2 is subsidized by the Japanese government according to the plan approved in February 2024.

“We are pleased to start operations of our new Fab2 facility at Kitakami Plant,” said Koichiro Shibayama, President and CEO of Kioxia Iwate Corporation, which operates the Kitakami Plant. “The eighth and further generation 3D flash memory products produced at Fab2 will offer new value for rapidly emerging AI market. We will continue to leverage our partnership and economies of scale to produce advanced flash memory products and achieve organic corporate growth. Kioxia will continue to contribute to the advancement of the semiconductor industry and the development of local and domestic economies.”

Maitreyee Mahajani, Senior Vice President of Flash Front End Operations at Sandisk said, “As AI advances, it is poised to transform industries, redefine careers, and reshape daily life in ways we’re just beginning to imagine. Flash memory is at the very center of this transformation, unlocking the speed, efficiency and scalability needed for this next wave of innovations. We are proud of our long-standing partnership with Kioxia and the scale it provides to enable our customers to fully harness AI opportunities.”

Kioxia and Sandisk have shared a successful joint venture partnership for over 20 years and will continue to maximize synergies and competitiveness through joint development of 3D flash memory, and making capital investments according to market trends.

About Kioxia

Kioxia is a world leader in memory solutions, dedicated to the development, production and sale of flash memory and solid-state drives (SSDs). In April 2017, its predecessor Toshiba Memory was spun off from Toshiba Corporation, the company that invented NAND flash memory in 1987. Kioxia is committed to uplifting the world with “memory” by offering products, services and systems that create choice for customers and memory-based value for society. Kioxia's innovative 3D flash memory technology, BiCS FLASH™, is shaping the future of storage in high-density applications, including advanced smartphones, PCs, automotive systems, data centers and generative AI systems.

About Sandisk

Sandisk (Nasdaq: SNDK) delivers innovative Flash solutions and advanced memory technologies that meet people and businesses at the intersection of their aspirations and the moment, enabling them to keep moving and pushing possibility forward. Follow Sandisk on InstagramFacebookXLinkedIn, and YouTube. Join TeamSandisk on Instagram.

©2025 Sandisk Corporation or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Sandisk and the Sandisk logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sandisk Corporation or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries. All other marks the property of their respective owners.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250929169960/en/



Contacts

 

Kioxia Contacts:
Investors: kioxia-ir@kioxia.com
Media: kioxia-hd-pr@kioxia.com

Sandisk Contacts:
Investors: investors@sandisk.com
Media: mediainquiries@sandisk.com


Survey Reveals Robust Public Support for Better Alternatives to Help Reduce Smoking

 Eight in 10 adults agree that adult smokers should have access to smoke-free options, while 76% worry that decisions are based on ideology rather than science and facts


(BUSINESS WIRE) -- A new international survey conducted by Povaddo and commissioned by Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM) reveals strong global support for smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes and growing worries about how public health decisions are made.


The survey found that 78% of respondents agree that adult smokers in all countries should have access to better alternatives to continued smoking. Approximately three-quarters (74%) believe that encouraging people who smoke to switch to these products can help improve public health.


Alarmingly, current policies in many countries stand in the way of allowing legal-age adults to switch to scientifically substantiated better alternatives. Approximately three-quarters of respondents (76%) expressed concern that decisions are being made based on ideology rather than science and facts. Almost 8 in 10 (78%) would like their governments to first consider the science behind smoke-free alternatives—and how these products have reduced smoking rates in other countries—before imposing restrictions. This sentiment is particularly strong in countries where all or some of these products are banned, including Argentina (83%), Brazil (82%) and India (94%).


“Progress matters. Countries that embrace smoke-free products have seen declines in cigarette sales and smoking rates,” said Jacek Olczak, Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris International. “There is strong demand globally for governments to adopt fact-based policies that keep pace with innovation and deliver better outcomes for society.”


Key findings


Around three-quarters of the survey respondents (76%) are very or somewhat concerned that decisions are being made based on ideology instead of science and facts.


Nearly 9 in 10 (87%) say it is very or somewhat important for governments to make public health decisions based on science instead of ideology.


Six in 10 (58%) agree it is wrong for governments to ban or severely restrict the sale of less harmful alternatives while cigarette sales remain legal. Agreement in countries that have banned all or some smoke-free products stands at: Argentina (61%), Brazil (61%), and India (73%).


Six in 10 (61%) also agree it is a public health failure that 29% of the global adult population lives in a country where all or some smoke-free alternatives are banned.


Four in five (80%) believe public health organizations have a responsibility to share all available evidence on smoke-free alternatives rather than selectively citing data.


Just over three-quarters (77%) of respondents outside Sweden think their country should follow Sweden’s approach to smoke-free alternatives.


More than 8 in 10 (82%) legal-age smokers in countries where all or some smoke-free products are banned would like the opportunity to buy them legally.


Today, more than 190 million smokers1 in more than 20 countries—nearly one in five globally—have no legal access to a range of smoke-free products, even though cigarettes—the most harmful way to consume nicotine—remain widely available. In many of these countries declines in smoking rates have stagnated despite advertising bans, high excise taxes, plain packaging, and a complete flavor ban on cigarettes.


Find out more here: https://www.pmi.com/progressmatters


About the Study


Povaddo fielded the survey among adults aged 21 and older between September 11 and 17, 2025, in 9 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The sample size was 9,040 (approximately 1,000 per country).


Philip Morris International: A Global Smoke-Free Champion


Philip Morris International is a leading international consumer goods company, actively delivering a smoke-free future and evolving its portfolio for the long term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company’s current product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, nicotine pouch, and e-vapor products. As of June 30, 2025, our smoke-free products were available for sale in 97 markets, and PMI estimates they were used by over 41 million legal-age consumers around the world, many of whom have moved away from cigarettes or significantly reduced their consumption. The smoke-free business accounted for 41% of PMI’s first-half 2025 total net revenues. Since 2008, PMI has invested over $14 billion to develop, scientifically substantiate, and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes. This includes the building of world-class scientific assessment capabilities, notably in the areas of pre-clinical systems toxicology, clinical and behavioral research, as well as post-market studies. Following a robust science-based review, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the marketing of Swedish Match’s General snus and ZYN nicotine pouches, and versions of PMI’s IQOS devices and consumables—the first-ever such authorizations in their respective categories. Versions of IQOS devices and consumables and General snus also obtained the first-ever Modified Risk Tobacco Product authorizations from the FDA. With a strong foundation and significant expertise in life sciences, PMI has a long-term ambition to expand into wellness and healthcare areas and aims to enhance life through the delivery of seamless health experiences. References to “PMI,” “we,” “our,” and “us” mean Philip Morris International Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com and www.pmiscience.com.


___________________________

1 WHO Global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000 – 2030 9789240088283-eng.pdf


 


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250925818926/en/



Permalink

https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/2509202549272


Contacts

David Fraser

Philip Morris International

T. +41 (0)58 242 4500

E. david.fraser@pmi.com

Regnology Announces 32nd Annual RegTech Convention on 17-20 November

 Convention theme “Straight-Through-Reporting (STR): Entering a New Era of Regulatory Intelligence” ambitions to define the future of financial regulation


 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regnology, a global leading software provider of regulatory reporting and supervisory technology solutions, is proud to announce the 32nd Annual RegTech Convention, set to take place from November 17–19, 2025 in Frankfurt, Germany and in Zürich, Switzerland on November 20. The hybrid event will convene more than 2,000 participants from over 120 countries for four days of knowledge sharing and keynotes across 40+ sessions.


This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250925695598/en/


This year’s theme, “Straight-Through-Reporting (STR): Entering a New Era of Regulatory Intelligence” will examine how STR – which draws inspiration from Straight-Through Processing (STP) in capital markets – can transform regulatory operations into a more data-driven, seamless and collaborative framework. Discussions will span timely topics such as crypto reporting, AI, granular data, Basel IV (CRR3), CARF/DAC8 — with dedicated SupTech, RegTech, and Tax programs.


Headlining the agenda are keynotes from Tomas Sedlacek, international economy expert and author, who will open with a perspective on the state of financial regulatory reporting—examining geopolitical dynamics and systemic pressures. Jan Hendrik Schmidt, senior adviser and head of the Artificial Intelligence Hub at the ECB’s Horizontal Supervision Directorate, will share insights on the evolution of data from a compliance byproduct to strategic infrastructure.


The conference will also feature a distinguished lineup of 60+ speakers from major financial authorities, supervisory bodies, financial and technology firms, including senior representatives from the ECB, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB), European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), the Central Bank of Ireland, Commerzbank, FlatexDEGIRO, and Firebrand Research— with many more to be announced.


As in previous years, the convention offers a global platform for exchange between regulators and the regulated community. This year, it expands with 2 new regional editions in New York and Singapore, in addition to local community events across London, Paris, Warsaw, Geneva, Zurich and Bellinzona.


Rob Mackay, CEO of Regnology, said: “Straight-Through-Reporting (STR) has the potential to be as transformative for regulation as STP was for capital market. This convention will unite financial regulators, supervisors, and financial institutions to chart the course toward more connected, streamlined and resilient reporting frameworks — unlocking a new era of regulatory intelligence.”


The RegTech Convention is free to attend for regulatory authorities and financial institutions, with both in-person and virtual attendance options. The full event will be live-streamed and accessible on-demand following the convention.


To view the full agenda and register, please visit: https://www.regtech-convention.com/en/register/?utm_campaign=2025_RegTech%20Convention&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pr


About Regnology


Regnology is a leading technology firm on a mission to enhance efficiency, transparency, and stability in the financial markets. Regnology has a focus on regulatory reporting with thousands of financial institutions and corporates of all sizes, and close to 100 regulators and tax authorities as clients. Regnology connects regulators and regulated financial institutions across the world through purpose-built solutions and common standards, bringing greater data quality and cost savings to all. With over 1,200 employees in 25 countries and a fast, flexible, and future-proof platform, clients can quickly implement and derive value from Regnology’s solutions and rely on us to easily keep pace with ongoing regulatory changes. Regnology was formed in 2021 when BearingPoint RegTech, a former business unit of BearingPoint Group, joined forces with Vizor Software, a global leader in regulatory and supervisory technology.


For more information about Regnology, connect with us on LinkedIn and X.

Visit our website: www.regnology.net.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250925695598/en/



Permalink

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Contacts

 

Press Contact

Mireille Adebiyi – Chief Marketing Officer, Regnology

mireille.adebiyi@regnology.net


 

WHOOP Launches Clinician-Reviewed Advanced Labs, Unlocking a Comprehensive View of Human Health

 Over 350,000 members have joined the waitlist since May, underscoring the excitement for one product that can pair blood biomarkers with 24/7 wearable data


 


(BUSINESS WIRE)--WHOOP, the human performance company, today announced the launch of WHOOP Advanced Labs, a groundbreaking new feature that combines blood testing with continuous wearable data to deliver a complete picture of health. Members can upload past bloodwork results or schedule the company’s curated Advanced Labs panel, which tests an extensive set of biomarkers.


Since previewing the feature in May, more than 350,000 current WHOOP members have signed up for the waitlist, reflecting massive demand for deeper insights into human health. Starting today, members in the United States will begin gaining access, with a global rollout to follow. This announcement is the next step for WHOOP in its mission of adding one billion healthy years to people’s lives.


“WHOOP Advanced Labs bridges two worlds: lab diagnostics and 24/7 continuous monitoring,” said Will Ahmed, Founder and CEO of WHOOP. “For the first time, our members can see how their blood biomarkers and daily behaviors connect in real time. This is all part of our path to becoming a health operating system that helps our members live better and longer.”


Expert Perspectives


WHOOP developed this product in conjunction with the WHOOP Medical Advisory Board, made up of renowned doctors, researchers, and medical professionals, including Dr. Hazel Wallace, Dr. Robin Berzin, Dr. Eric Verdin and Dr. Dan Henderson.


“Bloodwork can sometimes leave people with more questions than answers,” said Dr. Hazel Wallace (MBBCh, BSc, MSc), nutritionist, author, and founder of The Food Medic. “WHOOP Advanced Labs helps bridge that gap by putting health insights directly into the hands of the individual, where habits can make a powerful difference.”


Speaking about the launch, endurance athlete, author, and podcaster Rich Roll said: “As someone who regularly gets bloodwork done, WHOOP Advanced Labs is revolutionary in helping people connect the reality of their health with themselves, and with their healthcare practitioners. To be able to see what’s on the horizon, well in advance of a problem becoming too advanced that it’s too late to deal with; I think that is fantastic.”


Proactive Health Made Personal with AI


WHOOP Advanced Labs creates a continuous feedback loop where periodic blood tests inform daily coaching in real time. Core benefits of WHOOP Advanced Labs include:


Testing of the most-impactful biomarkers that affect your health

Clinician-reviewed results provide expert context and personalized recommendations

AI-powered coaching provides daily guidance and insights

Progress tracking shows how lifestyle adjustments influence biomarkers over time

How WHOOP Advanced Labs Works


WHOOP Advanced Labs gives members two powerful ways to bring these biomarkers into the WHOOP experience:


Upload Any Pre-Existing Bloodwork

Members can now upload results from any lab provider directly into the WHOOP app at no additional cost. This makes it easy to centralize all results, track long-term trends, and connect them with continuous WHOOP data on sleep, training, recovery, and lifestyle.

 

Book Comprehensive Testing through the WHOOP app

For an even deeper experience, members can subscribe to WHOOP Advanced Labs and schedule curated blood tests directly through the WHOOP app, powered by Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) across the United States. Results are automatically synced to the WHOOP app and reviewed by a clinician who provides expert context. Subscription options include: one test for $199, two tests per year for $349, or four tests per year for $599, with additional tests available at discounted rates. Tests are reviewed and ordered by a licensed healthcare provider.

In both cases, WHOOP does what no traditional blood test can: connecting biomarker results with 24/7 physiological data to reveal how your habits and behaviors directly impact your health.


Helping Unlock One Billion Healthy Years


Earlier this year, WHOOP announced its long-term goal to add One Billion Healthy Years to people’s lives as part of its mission to unlock human performance and healthspan. Healthspan refers to the number of years someone lives in good health, free from chronic disease, functional decline, and preventable limitations. Each week, WHOOP calculates the net change in its members’ lives using the app's Healthspan feature, helping members understand how daily behaviors are adding or subtracting from their long-term healthspan. WHOOP Advanced Labs will further accelerate this work by creating a powerful feedback loop between clinical biomarkers and continuous wearable data; by testing and tracking biomarkers, providing clinician-reviewed results, and delivering performance insights. This integration of blood testing, daily monitoring, and coaching drives actionable outcomes, ultimately helping members extend both their healthspan and quality of life, and bringing WHOOP closer to its mission of unlocking One Billion Healthy Years.


PRESS KIT


Launch assets, including images and product shots, are available here.


About WHOOP


WHOOP, the human performance company, empowers people to unlock their potential and live longer, healthier lives. The WHOOP membership delivers world-class wearable technology, personalized coaching, and actionable insights across recovery, sleep, training, and health. WHOOP wearable devices, including WHOOP 5.0 and WHOOP MG, feature groundbreaking innovations such as cardiovascular health screening (including an FDA-cleared ECG), Healthspan to measure Pace of Aging and WHOOP Age, and the first-of-its-kind wearable Blood Pressure Insights.


Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Boston, WHOOP has raised more than $400 million in venture capital and ships to 56 markets worldwide. The WHOOP app is available in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. WHOOP is sold through leading retailers including Amazon in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, and the GCC; Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods in the U.S., Flipkart in India, and Virgin Megastore and Noon in the GCC.


To learn more or start a one-month free trial, visit whoop.com and connect with WHOOP on Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.


 


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250930178710/en/



Permalink

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Contacts

Taylor Georgeson

Jack Taylor PR

whoop@jacktaylorpr.com

Cicero & Bernay Marks 20 Years with an Identity Built for Tomorrow

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Tuesday, 30. September 2025

C&B steps into its next chapter, Empowered by Facts, combining innovation, intelligence, and a human touch to guide what comes next

 

Cicero & Bernay (C&B), a communication advisory redefining how brands connect strategy, design, and digital intelligence, celebrates 20 years with a renewed role built for today’s fast-changing business environment.

This evolution goes beyond a new look. It establishes C&B as a partner where facts create foresight, and creativity turns it into influence. With every discipline connected under one approach, the consultancy moves forward as: Empowered by Facts.   

Ahmad Itani, CEO and Founder of C&B, said, “Our new identity is a declaration of who we are today. For years, we let the facts speak. Now, they give us the perspective to look ahead and act as true strategic advisors. We guide when it matters most, giving clients the freedom to focus on ambition while knowing we see the bigger picture.”

For 20 years, C&B has earned the trust of partners across 35 markets, achieving measurable outcomes and cultivating relationships that last decades. Its work consistently translates visibility into influence—understood, trusted, and sustained.

Itani added, “Our strength lies in recognising where communication is headed and helping brands move with it. Technology and innovation open new possibilities, but it’s how we apply them that makes the difference.”

Tariq Al Sharabi, Managing Director of C&B, noted, “This next phase is about momentum and a clear course for the future. As advisors, we bring together scale and cultural fluency, speed and substance, technology and human care. What defines us is not just what we deliver, but how closely we stand beside our clients.”

Founded in 2005, C&B has always balanced global insight with local fluency across industries, including government, real estate, finance, automotive, retail, and more. Today, the advisory is doubling down on evidence-based tools and exploring new approaches to narrative design.

Through its annual ESG Report, which has engaged leaders across the GCC and advanced regional dialogue on responsible business, C&B continues to prepare organisations for what lies ahead and to reinforce governance with confidence.

Permalink
https://www.aetoswire.com/en/news/cb09302025e

Contacts

Anjali Rajvardhan
Senior Account Manager – Cicero & Bernay
anjali@cbpr.me
+971 56 988 3612