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Crowe LLP names Mike Edwards new managing principal of its consulting business

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Edwards will lead the firm’s consulting practice to help clients navigate the business environment, seize market opportunities, and innovate.

CHICAGO, Feb. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Crowe LLP, a public accounting, consulting and technology firm today announced the hiring of Mike Edwards as the next managing principal of its Consulting practice. Edwards, who officially joined Crowe in mid-January, will assume the leadership role April 1. Edwards will lead the Consulting practice, which consists of 150 partners and 2,000 professionals, reporting to Crowe CEO Mark Baer.

Crowe LLP names Mike Edwards new managing principal of its consulting business

“Our Consulting and Advisory offerings continue to drive tremendous growth, and we’ve built a strong team of professionals offering market-leading solutions and unrivaled client service. We’re proud to add a leader of Mike’s caliber, who brings significant global experience and a values-based approach to client service and team leadership. He makes our firm even stronger as we drive additional growth and scale to meet market demand,” said Baer. “Everything we do is centered on delivering value for our clients and our people, and Mike is an excellent business and cultural fit. We’re very proud of the trust we’ve earned with our clients over our 80-plus year history, and a dynamic leader like Mike is a great addition to our leadership team as we continuously evolve and enhance our offerings and capabilities to ensure Crowe is well positioned to best serve our current and future clients.”

Throughout his career, Edwards has established himself as a strong people and client leader, with a deep commitment to development, growth, and exceptional service. He brings a strong background in leadership, people development, account management, strategy development, digital enablement, innovative delivery, and organizational design.

Edwards joins Crowe from EY, where he began his career and most recently served as Americas, Consumer Industry Supply Chain Leader. In addition to his work with EY, he also served as a senior leader of supply chain improvement with General Mills. Edwards received his BBA from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Indiana University.

“I am thrilled to join Crowe, a firm with an impeccable reputation built on culture and values,” said Edwards. “Every interaction I’ve had with people in the firm has demonstrated that the reputation they’ve earned is well founded and very real. We know the needs of our clients and our people are ever evolving, and our firm is committed to continuously redefining value, innovating, and providing an unrivaled people and client experience. I am excited to work with my new Crowe colleagues as we continue to build on the great success the firm has had and the momentum we have in the market.”

About Crowe 
Crowe LLP is a public accounting, consulting, and technology firm that uses its deep industry expertise to provide audit services to public and private entities. The firm and its subsidiaries also help clients make smart decisions that lead to lasting value with its tax, advisory and consulting services, helping businesses uncover hidden opportunities in the market – no matter what challenges the markets present. Crowe is recognized by many organizations as one of the best places to work in the U.S. As an independent member of Crowe Global, one of the largest global accounting networks in the world, Crowe serves clients worldwide. The network consists of more than 200 independent accounting and advisory services firms in more than 130 countries around the world.

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SOURCE Crowe LLP

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Bank Alfalah Acquires Strategic Stake in UAE Fintech Jingle Pay

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DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bank Alfalah, a leading commercial bank in Pakistan with a network of over 1,000 branches, has announced its acquisition of a 9.9% equity stake in Jingle Pay, one of the fastest growing fintechs in the MENAP region. The Bank’s fintech investment underscores its commitment to driving digital transformation and fostering financial inclusion across key markets.

Jingle Pay has redefined the fintech space with its proprietary AI-powered tech stack already processing over 2 million transactions and facilitating over $1 billion in international money transfers in 2024, saving customers over $6 million in fees. Jingle Pay was recently awarded the top global fintech for remittances into Pakistan.

Jingle Pay has solidified its position as a high-growth fintech leader in the MENAP region, supported by prestigious investors, including MoneyGram, G42-backed Applied AI, and prominent U.S. venture capital firms known for backing global fintech giants like N26 and PayPal, Jingle Pay continues to disrupt the industry. Bank Alfalah’s equity investment and appointment to Jingle Pay’s Board signal a robust partnership aimed at driving growth and innovation. This collaboration leverages Bank Alfalah’s extensive infrastructure to amplify Jingle Pay’s impact on cross-border payments and digital banking, advancing its ambitious vision for the MENAP region.

Jingle Pay provides innovative services, including multi-currency accounts, instant money transfers via the world’s first remittance marketplace, card payments, and last-mile payouts across 150+ corridors in 99+ currencies. Additionally, its Remittance-as-a-Service solution enables banks, FinTech’s, and non-financial institutions to facilitate seamless international money transfers.

Jingle Pay plans to launch its digital banking services in Pakistan in Q1 2025 as a branchless banking mobile app targeting to bring seamless and inclusive financial services to the country’s largely unbanked population. Jingle Pay will leverage Bank Alfalah’s infrastructure to bring seamless banking solutions to millions of customers. The partnership will create synergies in cross-border payments strengthened by shareholder MoneyGram.

As Pakistan’s 5th largest remittance partner, Jingle Pay plays a crucial role in driving global financial flows that contribute significantly to the country’s GDP. Establishing local presence in Pakistan will strengthen its partnership and cross-border capabilities, further cementing Jingle Pay’s position as a leader in the remittance ecosystem.

Leadership Remarks

Farooq A. Khan, Group Head – Corporate, Investment Banking and International Business of Bank Alfalah, emphasized: “This acquisition is a milestone in our journey to lead the digital banking revolution. By combining Jingle Pay’s innovative platform with Bank Alfalah’s resources, we aim to redefine cross-border financial services and deliver exceptional value to millions of users.”

Amir Fardghassemi, Founder and CEO of Jingle Pay, said: “Partnering with Bank Alfalah empowers us to scale our vision of inclusive finance. Together, we aim to enrich the digital economy and create transformative cross-border financial solutions.”

The collaboration also enhances Bank Alfalah’s role in the global Payments ecosystem, strengthening its position as a leader in cross-border financial flows and delivering unparalleled value to customers in the MENAP and beyond.

About Bank Alfalah

Bank Alfalah is a leading commercial bank in Pakistan, with over 1,000 branches across 200 cities and an international presence in the UAE, Bahrain, and Afghanistan. Its heritage and prominence extend over 25 successful years, highlighted by achievements that reflect exponential growth in the country’s financial sector.

The Bank offers various products and services to private-sector institutions and governments, including corporate and investment banking, consumer banking, securities brokerage, commercial, small and medium enterprises, agricultural, Islamic, and asset financing.

The Bank has established itself as a premier digital bank by introducing various features on its banking app, such as Alfamall, Buy Now Pay Later, and Term Deposit Receipts. It has also launched Pakistan’s first digital lifestyle branch. 

About Jingle Pay

Jingle Pay, a UAE born fintech, is the MENAP region’s leading and fastest-growing fintech, specializing in cross-border money transfers licensed by Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). Jingle Pay operates in the UAE, Bahrain, and Pakistan, offering cutting-edge financial services. Backed by global financial institutions like MoneyGram, Bank Alfalah, top-tier U.S. and international venture capital firms that have backed PayPal and N26, as well as G42 backed, Applied AI.

The company provides a wide array of solutions, including Remittance-as-a-Service for financial institutions, enabling seamless global payouts across 150+ corridors and 99+ currencies. Additionally, Jingle Pay operates a B2C app for retail customers, facilitating card payments and international money transfers focused on driving financial inclusion and leveraging AI to redefine cross border payments.

CONTACT: Jingle Pay, Media@jinglepay.com, +971 4 547 7778

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2594862/Jingle_Pay.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bank-alfalah-acquires-strategic-stake-in-uae-fintech-jingle-pay-302347236.html

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Better Business Bureau Serving the Tri-Counties Warns Homeowners About Donation Scams Following Southern California Fires

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BBB Offers Recommendations for Donating to Southern California Wildfire Requests, Warning to Beware of Click-Bait and Phishing Scams, Bogus Crowdfunding Requests

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Better Business Bureau Serving the Tri-Counties issues warning to businesses and consumers tied to donation scams following Southern California Fires. As reported, strong winds fueling a fast-moving fire in Southern California has caused more than 100,000 people to evacuate their homes. For those seeking to help those in need, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to give thoughtfully.

For those seeking to help those in need, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips to give thoughtfully.

Tips for Donating to Southern California Wildfire Relief Efforts

Make Sure the Charity Is Trustworthy: Before giving, search for the charity’s report on Give.org to find out if the charity meets the BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e., a BBB Accredited Charity). While disaster fundraising has not yet fully emerged for this tragedy, donors might check with the following BBB Accredited Charities to help start their selection of organizations offering help: American Red Cross, Direct Relief, GlobalGiving and Salvation Army.

Look for Specific Fire Relief Activities in Appeals: Be wary of relief appeals that have vague program descriptions and do not explain what activities your support will assist.

Watch Out for Click-Bait and Phishing Scams: Online giving scams tend to pop up after a disaster to take advantage of public sympathy. Don’t click on email, text, or social media links promising to connect you to a familiar charity. Instead, go directly to the charity’s website on your own.

Review Crowdfunding Requests: Some crowdfunding sites take precautions in carefully screening, vetting, and managing postings after a disaster or tragedy. Others might not. If unsure, review the procedures described on the site and also find out about transaction fees and other specifics.

Verify Charity Registration: About 40 of the 50 states require charities to annually register. Check with your state’s office of the attorney general or secretary of state’s office.

Understand the Phases of Disaster Relief: Most disasters go through three periods of activity: rescue, relief, and recovery. Each phase involves different activities and support. You can familiarize yourself with each phase on our Supporting Disaster Relief and Preparedness page.

Better Business Bureau Serving the Tri-Counties intends for this advice to help donors to give with confidence while avoiding questionable efforts.

For more information
To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker.
To learn how to protect yourself, go to “10 Steps to Avoid Scams.”

Media Contact

Frank Tortorici, Marketing Maven, (908) 875-8908, frank@marketingmaven.com, https://marketingmaven.com/ 

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SOURCE Better Business Bureau

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Pollo AI Launches Consistent Character Video to Maintain Consistency of Characters, Objects, or Scenes in Generated Videos

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SINGAPORE, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Pollo AI  continues to raise the bar in AI video generation with the addition of its latest feature: Consistent Character Video, which can transform still images into high quality AI videos, while maintaining consistency of characters, objects, or scenes throughout every frame.

Users can upload one or up to three images of a subject to the tool – it could be a person’s face, for example, or image(s) of an inanimate object, like an appliance or piece of clothing, or image(s) of specific scenes. The AI video generator will then use the image(s) as the reference point(s) when generating its video content, ensuring that the original visuals are accurately and consistently portrayed.

This way, users can make multiple videos while keeping the same consistent subjects. They can make themselves the star of numerous clips, for example, or incorporate real-life items into their video creations. While other elements of the videos may change, the core subjects you choose will always remain consistent.

The uses for this are numerous. Brands, for example, could upload images of their latest products and then make various AI-generated videos featuring those products in a range of settings and scenarios. Or creators could make entire feature-length films by generating multiple short-form AI videos with the same consistent subjects in different scenes.

You could even upload an image of a famous landmark or monument, and instruct the tool to use that throughout your video creations. This makes it so much easier to create sequences or series of videos with the same consistent background, environment, or setting – a feat that many AI video generators have historically struggled with.

It’s a huge leap forward for AI video technology. Before the Consistent Character Video Generator, many users had expressed frustration when it came to trying to keep the same characters and subjects in multiple AI-generated videos. But with this new tool, that challenge has been solved.

What’s more, the Consistent Character Video Generator is backed up by Pollo AI’s advanced algorithms and powerful technology. Thanks to that, it’s able to make some of the most visually impressive AI videos, with cinematic levels of quality, fluid motion, realistic physics, and other desirable characteristics.

Plus, just like other AI videos generated with Pollo AI, the user has total control over various aspects, such as the aspect ratio, the length of the video, the resolution, and the camera movement. With this bold new addition, Pollo AI continues to assert itself as one of the leading and most innovative names in the AI video sphere.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pollo-ai-launches-consistent-character-video-to-maintain-consistency-of-characters-objects-or-scenes-in-generated-videos-302347735.html

SOURCE Pollo AI

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