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Oliver Wyman research quantifies gaps, reiterates gender diversity as business imperative, and outlines approach for faster action

London - Friday, December 5th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) - What stops women from getting to the top in financial services firms? Global management consulting firm Oliver Wyman looked at the 150 largest financial services companies and interviewed over 60 senior women (and some men) from across the sector and surveyed over 1,000 current and potential financial services employees internationally during the third quarter of 2014. The answers in their Women in Financial Services report are surprising.

There has been progress in the boardroom:

    Female representation at board level has increased by two thirds over the last 10 years
    20% of board members are now women

But there’s a long way to go in the executive leadership ranks:

    Over one ... Read more »

BONN, Germany & MOSCOW - Thursday, December 4th 2014 [ME NewsWire]
(BUSINESS WIRE) - Deutsche Telekom unit International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS) has signed an agreement with the VimpelCom Group to provide it and its affiliates with high-quality signaling services using an advanced modular system. ICSS won the deal with the VimpelCom Group following a competitive bid process.
While the general signaling agreement fixes the commercial details of the deal, VimpelCom’s 14 operating companies will enjoy the flexibility of a tailored service set. The companies are present in Russia, Italy, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Algeria, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. They will choose from a “menu” of signaling products and features according to their local needs. This novel toolkit approach benefits ICSS’s clients, since it ensures outstanding service efficiency and allows a prompter beginn ... Read more »

ME NewsWire/Business Wire

SHENZHEN, China - Thursday, December 4th 2014

ZTE Corporation today announced that the Patent Re-examination Board of the State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China has invalidated the 200680036107.5 patent asserted by Vringo Inc. and its subsidiaries, after the reexamination board accepted ZTE’s arguments that the requisite requirements for technology inventiveness were not satisfied by the rights holder.

The 200680036107.5 patent, related to a method of wireless communications, was deemed completely invalid, according to the Patent Re-examination Board’s ruling that was received by ZTE today.

In September, the Patent Re-examination Board invalidated the CN00812876.6 patent asserted by Vringo, after ruling that it lacked an inventive element. The reexamination board is reviewing applications by ZTE to invalidate more than 20 other patents claimed by Vringo.

ZTE is committed ... Read more »

AFS’ CPG Customers Gain Full Support in Asia Pacific

PHOENIX - Thursday, December 4th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Today, AFS Technologies Inc. announced it has completed the acquisition of The POP Company (TPC), the premier provider of cloud-based sales force automation and retail execution solutions with customers in Asia, Australia , New Zealand and Russia.

“This acquisition of TPC and its impressive roster of CPG clients represents a strategic expansion for AFS Technologies in Asia,” said Kurien Jacob, CEO of AFS Technologies. He added, “It will provide additional functionality to AFS Mobile Solutions, rated as one of the best in the world today. TPC offers a premier route optimization solution in the market today, which will be added to AFS capabilities.”

TPC provides AFS with a cost-effective Asian operating center located in Singapore and Shanghai, China. Maarten Buitelaar and Yüan Li Chen, current owners ... Read more »

After Defeating the “Police Operations” with Five Goals to One
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Monday, December 1st 2014 [ME NewsWire]

The Capital Police Directorate team won the third Seven-a-side Football Championship for the 2014-2015 season of the Capital Police Director’s Cup, by defeating the Directorate General of Police Operations team 5 – 1, in the match that was held Sunday evening at Zayed Sports City Stadium.

Capital Police Directorate’s player, Yousef Akyudh, was awarded the title of Top Scorer for scoring 12 goals;  Nasser Al Habsi, of Capital Police Directorate’ team was awarded the title of Best Goal Keeper; Al Khalidiya Police Station team won the Ideal Team award; and Captain Hamed Al Dir’e won the Ideal Administrator title.

The final match, which coincided with the celebrations of the 43rd national day of the UAE, was attended by Colonel Rashid Mubarak Al Mesmari, Deputy Director of the ... Read more »

 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Monday, December 1st 2014 [ME NewsWire]

In celebration of the UAE 43rd National Day, leaders from the Ministry of Interior extended the warmest congratulations and best wishes to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates; General HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; Crown Princes; Deputy Rulers; Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; the people of the UAE and its honored guests. They also reiterated their covenant and loyalty to the higher leadership in its quest to maintain the precious national gains and ensure that the UAE remains an oasis of security and safety.

Al Sha’far: A ... Read more »

MILLIS, Mass - Wednesday, December 3rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]
(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kanguru is pleased to announce its achievement of Common Criteria Certification (EAL2+) for secure, hardware encrypted USB flash drives with global remote management, placing Kanguru Defender® at the forefront in USB data security.
 “Achieving Common Criteria together with our FIPS 140-2 Certifications propels Kanguru’s secure USB solutions to a whole new level,” says Kanguru’s CEO, Don Brown, “It demonstrates Kanguru’s commitment to excellence and its pledge to deliver the best in trusted USB data security solutions for our global clients.”
Common Criteria is an international information security accreditation process mutually recognized by 27 different member nations through the CCRA (Common Criteria Recognition Agreement), and has a much wider review process of overall product design, lifecycle support, and functionality than FIPS 140-2 ... Read more »

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C - Friday, December 5th 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Quintiles today announced that the company was awarded “Best Contract Research Organization” at the annual SCRIP Awards for the third year in-a-row. This is the company’s fourth award received in this category in the last five years. The SCRIP Awards acknowledge excellence in the biopharmaceutical industry, based on judging by an independent panel of 12 life sciences experts.

“Our judges felt Quintiles was a worthy winner of the Best Contract Research Organization trophy for the third year in a row,” said Mike Ward, global director of content for IBI Pharma News & Datamonitor Healthcare. “In the qualifying year, Quintiles once again demonstrated a series of performance milestones in its quest to improve its customers' probability of success. Among its many accomplishments, Quintiles signed a series of transformational partnerships and la ... Read more »

DUBLIN - Wednesday, December 3rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- SMBC Aviation Capital, the world’s third largest aircraft lessor, announces that it has been assigned a BBB+ corporate credit rating by Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) and a BBB long-term issuer default rating by Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”).

BBB+ is now the highest rating that S&P currently has on an aircraft lessor, and both agencies cited a range of positive factors behind their assessments of SMBC Aviation Capital. These included the strategic importance of the company to its shareholders, its diversified customer base, consistent profitability, stable funding costs, active aircraft trading strategy, and high quality, young fleet.

Commenting on the news, Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital, said: “We are very pleased to have received such resounding endorsements of the strength of our business from both S&P and Fitch. The ratings a ... Read more »

Symphony Platform to Enable Secure Directory of Vetted Identities for Financial Services

PALO ALTO, Calif. - Wednesday, December 3rd 2014 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Symphony Communication Services LLC, a secure communication and workflow technology company, announced that it is acquiring technology assets developed by Collaboration Services, the open messaging network from Markit. In October, Symphony was formed by a group of the world's leading financial institutions. This acquisition represents the company's first major transaction since its founding.

With technology acquired from Markit, Symphony will provide a secure directory for managing contacts across the financial services industry. Symphony will populate the directory with vetted contacts from firms and users validated by network participants, allowing for enhanced identity management. Further streamlining communication and improving productivity, the directory will make it simple to lo ... Read more »