Technology

QuintessenceLabs Appoints Andrew (Andy) Penn AO as Special Adviser

Published

2 years ago

February 13, 2024

Expands global advisory team to further market leadership in enabling advanced encryption

CANBERRA, Australia and SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — QuintessenceLabs, a pioneer and leader in enterprise-scale encryption orchestration, is proud to announce today that highly respected industry veteran Andy Penn has joined the company’s global advisory team as Special Adviser. The addition of Mr Penn, alongside other appointments, brings heightened expertise that will contribute to furthering our market leadership in the increasingly critical domain of advanced encryption solutions.

Andy has had an extensive career spanning over four decades across three industries – telecommunications and technology, financial services, and shipping. He was formerly the CEO of Telstra and before that the CEO of AXA Asia Pacific Holdings. He was also Chairman of the Australian Government’s Cyber Security Expert Advisory Board and a member of the Expert Advisory Panel for the Victorian State Electricity Commission.

“We are delighted to have the benefit of Andy’s deep experience and expertise from his many years leading two of Australia’s largest companies and his extensive Government policy work,” said QuintessenceLabs Founder and CEO, Dr Vikram Sharma. “Andy has deep experience in critical technologies and cybersecurity and in applying this practically both across business and government agencies and his insights will further our mission to enable advanced encryption capabilities, including quantum-resilient solutions, for our customers.”

Andy is a Member of the Advisory Board of REDSPICE a major program of the Australian Signal’s Directorate (ASD) to expand the range and sophistication of Australia’s intelligence, offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, a Member of the Quad Investors Network of the American Frontier Fund, and a Member of the Council of Trustees of the National Gallery of Victoria. He is also a non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Coles Group.

“I am very pleased to be supporting the QuintessenceLabs team as they have developed unique capabilities in quantum key generation, crypto-agile key management, and quantum key distribution,” said Penn. “Encryption is a key resource in managing and mitigating the cybersecurity risks that we face as individuals, companies, and nations.”

“Existing approaches to encryption management are becoming increasingly vulnerable as the technologies available to malicious actors become more sophisticated and powerful and quantum will take this to a whole new level. From all my work in cybersecurity, it is clear that encryption management has fallen way behind where it needs to be and we need to act urgently. QuintessenceLabs is at the forefront of helping solve this problem,” said Penn.

Also joining the QuintessenceLabs team as US Federal Adviser, is Bob Gourley, co-founder of OODA LLC. Bob is a seasoned enterprise technologist with expertise in cybersecurity, corporate governance, and strategy, having held leadership roles in U.S. defense and intelligence, including as former CTO for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).

At OODA LLC, Bob leverages a global network to promote the use of advanced technologies in enterprises. Gourley, with significant experience as both a client and consultant, will guide QuintessenceLabs in building key strategic partnerships in North America.

Leading experts agree that enterprise-scale encryption is one of the critical pillars of a robust cybersecurity strategy for most organizations. QuintessenceLabs is primed to deliver global leadership in supporting customers to implement enterprise-scale encryption and achieve a quantum-resilient cybersecurity posture in a complex cyber threat environment. These appointments affirm our commitment to excellence and reflect our dedication to assembling a team of industry leaders and visionaries.

For more information visit: www.quintessencelabs.com/leadership.

About QuintessenceLabs

QuintessenceLabs is a global leader in post-quantum cybersecurity. The company offers a suite of solutions and services ranging from qStream, the world’s fastest quantum random number generator to qOptica a continuously variable quantum key distribution system which are underpinned by the Trusted Security Foundation (TSF), the industry’s most secure encryption key management platform. The company is currently working with governments and organizations worldwide to secure sensitive information today and into a post-quantum computing future. For more information, visit www.quintessencelabs.com or connect on LinkedIn.

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Technology

1-800Accountant Launches Tax Savings Services Designed for 1099 Workers

Published

58 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

New offering helps independent contractors structure their business to reduce their tax burden from day one

NEW YORK, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 1-800Accountant, the nation’s leading virtual accounting firm for small businesses, announced the launch of a new service offering built specifically for 1099 workers and independent contractors. The service helps freelancers and self-employed professionals work with an accountant to select the right business setup for their income, with a focus on reducing taxes from the start.

Growth Is Outpacing Tax Readiness

Independent contractor work has grown significantly in recent years. 1-800Accountant’s client data shows sharp year-over-year growth across contractor-heavy industries, with Consulting up 17%, Construction up 10%, and Service-sector clients growing more than 200% compared to 2024. Despite this growth, many contractors continue to overpay their taxes because they operate without a formal business structure in place or the right tax election.

The gap is particularly visible in industries like Healthcare, Engineering, and Legal, where LLC adoption among 1-800Accountant clients sits at 81%, 72%, and 71%, respectively, well below the 90%-plus rates seen in higher-adoption industries like Construction and Real Estate. 1-800Accountant’s new business tax optimization service closes that gap by matching contractors with the right business type while ensuring their business is set up correctly before they file their first return.

“Independent contractors continue to be one of the fastest-growing segments of the American workforce, and they are also among the most underserved when it comes to strategic tax planning,” said Mike Savage, Founder and CEO of 1-800Accountant. “That lack of planning means that most 1099 workers don’t realize how much they’re leaving on the table. This service changes that. We’re giving contractors access to the same strategic advantages that established businesses have, ensuring the right business setup from the beginning.”

Tax Strategy Built In from Day One

These services walk clients through a structured process that includes accountant-recommended business types, registering with the appropriate state agencies, and coordinating with an accountant to ensure alignment between the structure and the client’s specific tax situation. 1-800Accountant integrates business setup for 1099 earners into a broader tax strategy tailored around each contractor’s income level, filing status, and long-term goals.

“What sets us apart is the tax strategy layer,” said Ryan Teeples, Chief of Strategy at 1-800Accountant. “What contractors and gig workers actually need are professionals to help them understand which tax setup makes the most sense for their income, their industry, and where they want their business to go. Then, we do the work to save on both their business and personal taxes. That’s what we’re delivering here.”

The service is available now to new and existing 1-800Accountant clients. Pricing starts at $19 per month (plus any government filing fees) and includes business setup evaluation, tax return preparation and filing, state registration, federal registration, simple-to-use AI bookkeeping software, and a consultation with a tax expert for onboarding and explanation of their individual tax situation.

About 1-800Accountant

1-800Accountant is the nation’s leading virtual accounting firm for small businesses and independent contractors. With a team of credentialed accountants and tax professionals, 1-800Accountant provides bookkeeping, tax preparation, tax planning, and advisory services to clients across all 50 states. The firm is committed to making professional accounting accessible and affordable for business owners at every stage.

Contact: Wyatt Johnson
Content Manager, 1-800Accountant
920-807-9159 | media@1800accountant.com

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SOURCE 1-800Accountant

Technology

9fin launches in APAC to expand global credit coverage

Published

58 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

With APAC playing a bigger role in increasingly complex global credit markets, 9fin brings the news, data and AI tools professionals need to navigate volatility

HONG KONG, April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 9fin, the AI-native information platform for global debt markets, has formally launched in the Asia Pacific region, giving credit professionals access to cutting-edge news, data and analysis across private and public bonds and loans.

As the 9fin team continues to grow quickly across APAC from its initial base in Hong Kong, it is supporting firms locally by providing proprietary credit intelligence, comprehensive data, and AI-powered workflow tools, all within one unified platform.

The launch comes as the tussle between public and private markets intensifies in APAC, making it more important than ever for banks, asset managers, advisors, and law firms to have visibility across the full credit landscape. While bond issuance has dropped amid geopolitical disruption, private credit activity remains robust as borrowers seek alternative financing options.

By combining deal intelligence from local sources with its extensive global credit database and AI tools, the 9fin platform gives users a comprehensive view across fragmented markets. The APAC platform includes coverage of more than 1,800 issuers and 16,000 instruments, with issuance history dating back to 2003 following 9fin’s acquisition of Bond Radar, in March 2025.

9fin is already used by more than 300 institutions globally, including KKR, Apollo, BNP Paribas, and Kirkland & Ellis. The company’s APAC buildout — supported by its $170 million Series C fundraise in March 2026 — marks the next phase of its global expansion.

Steven Hunter, CEO and co-founder at 9fin, commented: “APAC is a complex region and is becoming even more so as private markets expand and geopolitical volatility increases. The region needs a faster, smarter platform covering the full picture across bonds, loans, private credit and distressed. That’s exactly what 9fin provides. With our full platform now live in APAC, we’re giving our users the clarity to make informed decisions, faster.”

9fin’s APAC launch follows its expansion across the US, Europe, and Latin America, with CEEMEA to follow.

About 9fin

9fin is the AI-native platform for global debt markets. Founded by former J.P. Morgan banker Steven Hunter and Deutsche Bank engineer Hussam EL-Sheikh, the company combines data, analytics, and AI-powered workflows in a single platform, helping clients work smarter and faster to outperform their peers.

The company is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Hong Kong, and Belfast and with teams across Latin America and Asia. For more information, visit 9fin.com.

Media contacts
Jessica Simpkin
jessica.simpkin@9fin.com
Shree Dhond/Katie Nerantzis
Dukas Linden Public Relations | 9fin@dlpr.com

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Technology

Trimble First Quarter Earnings Call and Webcast

Published

58 minutes ago

April 22, 2026

WESTMINSTER, Colo., April 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) will hold a conference call on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 8 a.m. ET to review its first quarter 2026 results. The call will be broadcast live on the web at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/544327873. Analysts who wish to dial into the call may do so by first registering at https://events.q4inc.com/analyst/544327873?pwd=s5ilhwSm. Upon registration, dial-in details will be sent via email to the registrant.

About Trimble

Trimble is a global technology company that connects the physical and digital worlds, transforming the ways work gets done. With relentless innovation in precise positioning, modeling and data analytics, Trimble enables essential industries including construction, geospatial and transportation. Whether it is helping customers build and maintain infrastructure, design and construct buildings, optimize global supply chains or map the world, Trimble is at the forefront, driving productivity and progress. For more information about Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB), visit: www.trimble.com.

FTRMB

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SOURCE Trimble