Members of Thunes’ Direct Global Network can now send real-time payments to bank accounts in New Zealand, further strengthening the company’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

BANGKOK, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thunes, the Smart Superhighway to move money around the world, today announced the expansion of its Direct Global Network with the launch of direct, real-time Pay-to-Bank services into New Zealand.

This expansion enhances Thunes’ cross-border payment capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, providing Members of the Thunes Direct Global Network with faster and more transparent payment solutions for both consumer and business transactions. With this launch, users can easily transfer NZD directly to New Zealand bank accounts. Transactions can be made either through a direct API integration to Thunes or by leveraging existing Swift connectivity.

New Zealand is increasingly focused on upgrading its financial infrastructure to support real-time digital trade and the burgeoning gig economy. As the nation transitions to a next-generation payments ecosystem, real-time transactions are forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 21.3% through 2027.

Eugene Chua, Head of Network, APAC, at Thunes, said: “At Thunes, we’re dismantling the legacy friction that creates barriers to the global digital economy. Asia Pacific is where the Thunes story began, so we are especially pleased to be strengthening our reach in a high-growth market like New Zealand. Geography should never hinder ambition, and we are proud to be the engine driving financial connectivity, providing the infrastructure that supports and empowers businesses and individuals to benefit from international money movement and participate more fully in the global economy.”

With this expansion, Thunes reinforces its position as a leading provider of real-time cross-border payments. Its Direct Global Network leverages Thunes’ in-house SmartX Treasury System for AI-driven forecasting and real-time liquidity management, and its Fortress Compliance Platform, which benefits from over 50 licences worldwide. This ensures every payment is executed with the highest levels of security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Thunes will be attending Money20/20 Asia in Bangkok from April 21-23, 2026, located at booth 6005. Schedule a meeting here.

For more information about Thunes, visit: https://www.thunes.com/

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Independent agency ranks No. 2 in client satisfaction among integrated marketing agencies and is one of only nine agencies included in both integrated marketing and media rankings

SHANGHAI, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — iNSPIRE Media & Communications announced that it received 14 No. 1 rankings in the newly released Agency Scope China 2025/2026 report, jointly published by R3 China and SCOPEN. According to the study, this is the highest number of first-place rankings achieved by a single company since the report was launched.

Overall, iNSPIRE ranked among the top three in 27 of 45 key client satisfaction indicators, representing 60% of all metrics evaluated. Among the 32 scaled agencies included in the integrated marketing agency ranking, iNSPIRE ranked No. 2 overall in client satisfaction, with its Net Promoter Score (NPS) significantly above the industry average. SCOPEN Founder and CEO César Vacchiano and Principal Frédéric Messina recently visited iNSPIRE Media & Communications and presented the awards in person.

R3 China is an independent global marketing consultancy, and SCOPEN is an international research and consulting firm with more than 30 years of experience in the communications, marketing, and creative industries. Agency Scope, one of SCOPEN’s flagship research frameworks, was launched in China in 2006 and has become one of the leading third-party studies of China’s marketing and communications landscape. The 2025/2026 edition was conducted over four months and analyzed 959 agency-client relationships managed by 288 marketers across 212 well-known brands.

The report shows that since 2022, the overall NPS of scaled integrated marketing agencies in China has remained in negative territory, reflecting rising expectations from brands for stronger collaboration, greater efficiency, and clearer business value from agency partners. Against this backdrop, iNSPIRE achieved 100% client satisfaction, with zero stated intention among existing clients to terminate cooperation.

Notably, among the 32 scaled integrated marketing agencies and 33 scaled media agencies covered in this edition, only nine companies appeared in both rankings. iNSPIRE Media & Communications was one of them. For an independent agency, recognition across both integrated marketing and media services remains relatively rare, underscoring iNSPIRE’s ability to connect strategy, media, content, and data within one operating model.

“This recognition reflects the trust our clients place in us and the strength of our integrated model,” said Gordon Zhang, CEO of iNSPIRE Media & Communications. “We remain focused on helping clients achieve effective growth through more connected strategy, media, content, and technology.”

Founded in 2016, iNSPIRE Media & Communications has built capabilities across brand strategy, media planning and buying, social media and influencer marketing, creative and content, programmatic media, data-driven operations and e-commerce operations. In 2025, INSPIRE Group generated more than RMB 1 billion in total billing and more than RMB 200 million in e-commerce sales GMV. The company said it will continue to work with Innatech, its AI technology affiliate, to further improve marketing effectiveness and ROI through innovation in media, content, data, and AIGC.

About iNSPIRE Media & Communications

iNSPIRE Media & Communications is an integrated marketing communications and media agency with over 160 industry experts, serving more than 20 high-quality international and Chinese brands. With offices in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Hong Kong, we help brands capitalize on the latest cultural phenomena, behavioral trends, and technological innovations through fully integrated communication strategies, full-funnel media planning and operations, creative and content development, social media, AI marketing technology, and e-commerce—driving long-term brand and business growth.

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SOURCE iNSPIRE Media & Communications

SINGAPORE, April 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — With momentum building rapidly, NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show Asia Pacific (NRF 2026 APAC), co-organised by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Comexposium Singapore, is bringing together the region’s most influential retail leaders, innovators and decision-makers in Singapore, June 2 – 4, 2026.

Expected to welcome over 13,000 retail professionals from more than 80 countries, the most prestigious retail event in APAC will convene senior executives from over 2,500 leading retail brands, including DFI Retail Group, Sephora, FamilyMart, Dyson, Central Retail and Unilever. As APAC continues to define the future of global retail, NRF 2026 APAC offers an unmatched platform for collaboration, insights, and business transformation.

Global retail leaders strengthen conference line-up

The conference continues to elevate its world-class agenda with newly confirmed speakers from Olive Young, Gill Capital (H&M) and Woolworths Group, further strengthening an already stellar line-up of global retail voices.

“NRF 2026 APAC is a powerful platform that brings together the ideas, talent, and innovation shaping the future of retail,” said Anish Melwani, former Chairman and CEO of LVMH North America. “At LVMH, we saw innovation as essential to elevating customer experience while preserving the craftsmanship at the heart of our brands. I look forward to engaging with industry leaders across APAC, exchanging perspectives and helping drive the next wave of retail transformation in the region.”

“NRF 2026 APAC is where the future of retail comes to life. It’s an incredible opportunity to connect with industry leaders, discover breakthrough technologies, and reimagine how we serve our customers in a rapidly evolving landscape,” said Matthew Shay, President and CEO, National Retail Federation. “Since the inaugural APAC edition, we have seen a phenomenal growth in brand representation, from 1,200 retail brands in 2024 to 2,200 brands in 2025, an 83% increase. As demand for innovation and next-generation retail solutions grows, we expect continued momentum in brand participation this year.”

A bigger, more immersive expo experience

This year’s expo floor expands across two full levels, reflecting surging demand and industry participation. With 80% of exhibition space already sold, over 300 leading solution providers including Relex, Vusion and Google will showcase the technologies redefining retail.

Retailers can access the expo floor free of charge, offering a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the innovations driving “The Next Now” of retail.

NRF APAC Innovators Showcase returns – 35% bigger

The NRF APAC Innovators Showcase is a key highlight of NRF 2026 APAC, and is significantly expanded this year, featuring 35 cutting-edge companies – a 35% increase from last year.

The curated showcase spotlights breakthrough technologies transforming retail across APAC and beyond, including:

Rokt – Leveraging first-party data and machine learning to optimise ecommerce checkout experiences and unlock incremental revenue at the “transaction moment”JohnSmith.ai – Delivering AI-powered brand ambassadors for always-on, real-time live commerce with consistent brand engagementCookiy AI – Enabling AI-moderated consumer research through voice agents, generating instant, actionable insights for retail teams

Together, these innovators reflect a broader shift toward AI-driven, data-centric and experience-led retail ecosystems.

Secure your spot at APAC’s premier retail event

To support international participation amid rising travel costs, NRF 2026 APAC is offering a US$200 travel rebate for eligible Retailer and Industry Partner All-Access Pass holders.

The All-Access Pass unlocks:

Entry to over 70 content sessions including major keynotes, breakouts, and Exhibitor Big IdeasExclusive networking opportunities with global retail leadersFull three-day access to the expo floor

More details and terms are available at: https://nrfbigshowapac.nrf.com/

About NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show Asia Pacific

Retail’s most important event in Asia Pacific takes place in Singapore from June 2 – 4, 2026. The Asia Pacific edition brings together retail industry leaders from across the region to collaborate on a Pan Asia Pacific stage, home of the world’s fastest growing markets. Retail professionals can gain inspiration from top retail leaders over a three-day conference and an all-encompassing Expo featuring the latest retail solutions, as well as experience the latest innovations and breakthrough technologies available in the market.

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