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Kantar Honors over 140 Brand Architects of the World’s Most Valuable Brands at Inaugural Brand Gala

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Unveils how brands that forge a strong sense of connection drive brand growth at 5X market penetration with special guests from Diageo, Mastercard, and PepsiCo

NEW YORK, June 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Kantar, the world’s leading marketing data and analytics business and an indispensable brand partner to the world’s top companies, including 96 of the world’s 100 biggest advertisers, celebrated the world’s top brands and brand architects at the Kantar Brand Gala, held last night at Cipriani 25 Broadway.

The event featured insights from some of the world’s most valuable brands including Diageo, Mastercard, and Pepsi, who topped Kantar’s flagship Global BrandZ – the world’s most detailed consumer brand equity ranking linked to financial outcomes.

Wayne Levings, CEO Kantar NA and Global Chief Client Officer, unveiled Kantar’s key drivers for shareholder growth in disruptive and unstable times.

“There’s more competition and pressure put on brands now than ever before. Being indispensable partners to the world’s most beloved brands for well over 50 years, we know what works and what doesn’t, and the key to success is connection,” stated Levings. “Connection is both a bastion against disruption and a lightning rod for growing shareholder value. Our Blueprint for Brand Growth provides a proven formula on how brands create effective, resilient connection regardless of disruption or challenge.”

Kantar’s Blueprint for Brand Growth shows that brands who can create a strong sense of connection are more Meaningfully Different to consumers. Being Meaningfully Different results in 5x higher market penetration today as well as a sustained advantage for over two years, according to historical trends derived from 6.5 billion data points. Kantar found that in 2024 brands that scored high on these metrics grew +19% ahead of expectations.

The Brand Gala showcased leaders who discussed their brand success story and how these learnings continue to drive impact through market disruptions:

Predispose More People
Ed Pilkington, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, Diageo
Diageo’s application of “Predispose More People” resulted in a combined brand value of over $19 billion according to Kantar BrandZ, with Guinness holding its place in the Most Valuable Beer or Alcohol Brands ranking for 19 consecutive years.

Be More Present
Homi Battiwalla, Global Head of Marketing Transformation, PepsiCo 
Stephan Hans, Global Head of CMI, Analytics Marketing, PepsiCo
As one of Kantar’s longtime clients with over 25 years of partnership across more than 50 markets, BrandZ shows that PepsiCo has over twenty $1billion dollar brands as of 2024.

Find New Space
Pernilla Winberg Babtist, EVP Partnerships and Sponsorships
Mastercard increased its value by +180% since 2008, by finding new space and innovating as seen through BrandZ results.

Additional speakers included Kantar’s Martin Guerrieria and Margot Acton, who presented key learnings and predictions on how to add dollar value to businesses and achieve strong, sustainable growth.

To learn more about the brand gala, BrandZ, or the Blueprint for Brand Growth, check out the gala homepage here: https://www.kantar.com/north-america/campaigns/brand-gala-2024

About Kantar

Kantar is the world’s leading marketing data and analytics business and an indispensable brand partner to the world’s top companies, including 96 of the world’s 100 biggest advertisers.

We have a complete, unique and rounded understanding of people around the world: how they think, feel and act, globally and locally in over 90 markets.

We don’t just help clients understand what’s happened, we tell them why and how they can shape the future.

https://www.kantar.com/

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SOURCE Kantar

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VNET Announces Changes to Leadership Team

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BEIJING, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — VNET Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: VNET) (“VNET” or the “Company”), today announced that Mr. Qiyu Wang has resigned from his position as VNET’s Chief Financial Officer for personal reasons, effective April 30, 2026. Mr. Wang’s resignation is not due to any disagreement with the Company, nor does it relate to the Company’s operations, policies, practices, accounting matters, or procedures.

Mr. Josh Sheng Chen, Founder, Executive Chairperson and Interim Chief Executive Officer of VNET, commented, “On behalf of the Company, I would like to thank Qiyu for his contributions during his tenure. His financial discipline and strategic insight have been instrumental to the Company’s growth. We wish him every success in his future endeavors.”

In February 2026, the Company announced the appointment of Mr. Peter Zhihua Zhang as Senior Vice President, Operational Finance of VNET, to oversee the Company’s financial operations and to serve as the Company’s “principal accounting officer” in accordance with applicable U.S. federal securities laws, SEC rules, and Nasdaq requirements. Since joining VNET in 2019, Mr. Zhang has demonstrated extensive expertise in multiple key roles within the Company’s finance operations.

About VNET

VNET Group, Inc. is a leading carrier- and cloud-neutral internet data center services provider in China. VNET provides hosting and related services, including IDC services, cloud services, and business VPN services to improve the reliability, security, and speed of its customers’ internet infrastructure. Customers may locate their servers and equipment in VNET’s data centers and connect to China’s internet backbone. VNET operates in more than 30 cities throughout China, servicing a diversified and loyal base of over 7,000 hosting and related enterprise customers that span numerous industries ranging from internet companies to government entities and blue-chip enterprises to small- to mid-sized enterprises.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “target,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, quotations from management in this announcement as well as VNET’s strategic and operational plans contain forward-looking statements. VNET may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about VNET’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: VNET’s goals and strategies; VNET’s liquidity conditions; VNET’s expansion plans; the expected growth of the data center services market; expectations regarding demand for, and market acceptance of, VNET’s services; VNET’s expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with customers; VNET’s plans to invest in research and development to enhance its solution and service offerings; and general economic and business conditions in the regions where VNET provides solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in VNET’s reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and VNET undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Investor Relations Contact:

Xinyuan Liu
Tel: +86 10 8456 2121
Email: ir@vnet.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vnet-announces-changes-to-leadership-team-302747154.html

SOURCE VNET Group, Inc.

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Steven Rivera Appointed Chief Revenue Officer of NRI North America

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NEW YORK, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nomura Research Institute (NRI), a leading global provider of consulting and technology services, today announced that Steven Rivera has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) for North America.

In this role, Rivera will oversee revenue-related functions across the region, including sales, marketing, demand generation, strategic partnerships, and client engagement.

Rivera brings more than 26 years of experience to the role, having held sales and marketing leadership positions within the cybersecurity, managed services, and consulting sectors. Over the course of his career, he has led the development of integrated go-to-market strategies and supported organizations in strengthening client relationships and operational alignment.

Prior to joining NRI, Rivera served as Chief Revenue Officer at Logically, where he was responsible for coordinating revenue functions across sales, marketing, client support, and pricing. His work focused on improving organizational alignment and supporting consistent business performance.

“Steven’s experience across revenue leadership and his background in cybersecurity and consulting are well-aligned with our priorities in North America,” said Toshi Oiwa, Chief Executive Officer of NRI North America. “We believe his perspective will contribute to the steady advancement of our regional capabilities and support our efforts to further deepen relationships with our clients over the long term.”

Rivera’s areas of expertise include enterprise sales leadership, revenue operations, cloud and cybersecurity solutions, and financial planning. He also brings experience in security consulting, risk analysis, program management, and governance, risk & compliance (GRC).

About NRI

In North America, NRI is a business and technology solutions consultancy. Guiding our clients from insight to execution, we design and deliver solutions that fuel growth, grow profitability, and result in lasting innovation. NRI has more than 16,000 employees in 16 countries and regions including New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia. NRI reports annual sales above US $4.8 billion and is rated “A” by S&P Global Ratings Japan. Learn more at www.nri-na.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/steven-rivera-appointed-chief-revenue-officer-of-nri-north-america-302746068.html

SOURCE NRI

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Ionic Digital Announces March 2026 Mining and Operations Update

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AUSTIN, Texas, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ionic Digital Inc. (“Ionic Digital” or the “Company”), a digital infrastructure company supporting the expanding needs of AI and high-performance computing, today issued its unaudited Mining and Operations Update for March 2026.

In March, Ionic Digital mined 28.05 Bitcoin (“BTC”), a decrease of 14.9% compared to the prior month. The Company’s site production varied in line with strategic adjustments, following fleet consolidation.

The decline in production was driven by a 19.4% decrease in average hashrate and a 6.8% reduction in network block production, partially offset by a 3.3% decline in the global hashrate. Ionic’s share of the global hashrate declined 16.6% month-over-month to 0.21%, reflecting a sharper reduction in company output relative to the total network.

At our four Midland sites, production was 24.26 BTC, a 4.7% month-over-month increase, as the most efficient miners from the Oklahoma GXD facility came online at Midland. At GXD, production was 3.79 BTC, a planned decrease of 61.2% month-over-month due to continued de-racking and reduced operational contribution.

The daily average hashrate was 2.04 EH/s, down 19.4% compared to the prior month, due to the discontinuation of the GXD hosting contract and removal of miners (-62.5%), while Midland remained relatively stable (-1.2%).

Ionic Digital continues to maintain its zero-debt position and liquidated no BTC in March. As of March 31, 2026, the Company held 2,815.6 BTC, an increase of approximately 28.2 BTC over the prior month.

Key Mining and Operating Metrics Summary

Metric

March 2026

Capacity (MW)1

112.0

Efficiency (J/THs)2

29.1

Daily Average Hashrate (EH/s)3

2.04

BTC Mined4

28.05

Average BTC Mined/Day5

0.90

BTC Sold

0.0

BTC Holdings6

2,815.6

Total current energy available at the four Midland sites, representing a change in previous reporting.
Previous reporting only measured total current capacity for mining activities available at hosted and directly
owned sites.Represents the capabilities of active miners during the reporting period.The reported hashrate is derived from internal performance data. Hashrate values reflect miner downtime
and curtailment.Gross BTC mined of 28.05 BTC. No hosting fees were paid in BTC for March 2026.Average BTC/Day in the prior month was 1.18.BTC Holdings excludes 0.9 BTC earned but in transit as of month-end, a change of -0.2 BTC from prior
month. The BTC balance at the end of the prior month was 2,787.4 BTC.

About Ionic Digital 
Ionic Digital Inc. is a digital infrastructure company that develops strategic powered land assets for data centers, high-performance computing (HPC) and cryptocurrency mining. Learn more at www.ionicdigital.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ionic-digital-announces-march-2026-mining-and-operations-update-302746771.html

SOURCE Ionic Digital Inc.

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