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CAE announces Chief Financial Officer transition

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MONTREAL, July 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – (NYSE: CAE) (TSX: CAE) – CAE Inc. (CAE or the Company) today announced that Sonya Branco, Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), has advised the company of her intention to step down from her position at the end of August to pursue interests outside of CAE. As part of CAE’s succession plan, Constantino Malatesta, Chief Accounting Officer and Vice-President, Controller Office, will become interim CFO following Ms. Branco’s departure. A process is underway to identify and select a permanent CFO, and Ms. Branco will continue in a support capacity to ensure a seamless transition.

Ms. Branco has been CAE’s Executive Vice President, Finance and CFO since 2016. She joined CAE in 2008 and was appointed to the role of Vice President and Corporate Controller in 2011.

During her tenure, Ms. Branco was instrumental in the transformation of CAE into the world’s largest civil aviation training provider, which — combined with Defense & Security — makes CAE a company with highly recurring sources of revenue and cash flow. She presided over a period of significant expansion involving more than 20 acquisitions and their integration. Ms. Branco also planned and executed a capital allocation strategy, balancing accretive growth with maintaining a strong financial position and investment grade profile that allowed CAE to successfully navigate the COVID pandemic and beyond.

“On behalf of myself, CAE’s Board of Directors, and the entire executive management team, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Sonya for her numerous contributions to CAE’s success over the last 17 years,” said Marc Parent, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Sonya led CAE’s finance organization through a period of significant growth and reached many important milestones. We have benefitted greatly from Sonya’s stewardship, her insightful mentorship of her colleagues, and her deep commitment to the Company. We wish Sonya the very best in her future endeavours.”

Added Mr. Parent, “Constantino has worked closely with Sonya for many years, and he has a deep knowledge of CAE’s business and an extensive background in finance that will provide continuity and stability at CAE. I have full confidence in Constantino’s ability to oversee the Company’s financial operations and strategy as we move forward with our selection process for the permanent CFO role, for which we will consider both internal and external candidates.”

Mr. Malatesta was appointed CAE’s Chief Accounting Officer and Vice-President, Controller Office, in 2022. Before that he was Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller (2016-2022), Global Head of Finance, CAE Oxford Aviation Academy (2014-2016), and Director, Finance and Assistant Corporate Controller (2011-2014). He joined CAE in 2006 as Manager, Accounting Standards. Mr. Malatesta is a Chartered Professional Accountant and U.S. Certified Public Accountant. He obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from Concordia University in Montreal. 

About CAE

At CAE, we equip people in critical roles with the expertise and solutions to create a safer world. As a technology company, we digitalize the physical world, deploying software-based simulation training and critical operations support solutions. Above all else, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defence and security forces to perform at their best every day and when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we’re everywhere customers need us to be with approximately 13,000 employees in more than 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. CAE represents more than 75 years of industry firsts—the highest-fidelity flight and mission simulators as well as training programs powered by digital technologies. We embed sustainability in everything we do. Today and tomorrow, we’ll make sure our customers are ready for the moments that matter.

CAE Contacts: 

General Media:
Samantha Golinski, Vice President, Public Affairs & Global Communications
+1-438-805-5856, samantha.golinski@cae.com 

Investor Relations:
Andrew Arnovitz, Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Enterprise Risk Management, +1-514-734-5760, andrew.arnovitz@cae.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cae-announces-chief-financial-officer-transition-302207101.html

SOURCE CAE Inc.

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PUDU D7 Named Honoree in IFA Innovation Awards for Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies

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59 minutes ago

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September 6, 2026

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BERLIN, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Pudu Robotics, a global leader in commercial service robotics, today announced that its PUDU D7 Semi-humanoid Intelligent Robot has been named an Honoree in the Best in IFA Next & Emerging Technologies category of the IFA Innovation Awards. The recognition highlights PUDU D7’s ability to combine mobile navigation, dexterous manipulation and intelligent sensing to perform a range of tasks in real-world industrial and commercial environments.

The IFA Innovation Awards recognize outstanding innovations across the global technology landscape. Entries are evaluated by an independent international jury based on criteria including technology and functionality, innovation and originality, and the potential to create tangible value for users and the market. The recognition places PUDU D7 among emerging technologies demonstrating new possibilities for the future of robotics.

From Industrial Operations to Guest Interaction

PUDU D7 is designed for industrial, warehouse, retail and hospitality environments, where it can move through human-oriented spaces and perform tasks that require both mobility and dexterous manipulation.

In industrial and warehouse settings, D7 can handle materials, pick items from shelves, replenish inventory, transport goods between work areas and push carts. With a payload capacity of up to 20 kg (44.1 pounds) and an operating height of up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), it can work with a range of storage systems and materials.

In retail, D7 can support shelf replenishment, item handling and store organization, moving products between storage areas and shelves and helping maintain product displays.

In hotels and hospitality, PUDU D7 can take on the role of an intelligent front-desk host, welcoming guests, preparing and serving coffee, interacting with visitors and providing engaging experiences. Its semi-humanoid form and dual-arm capabilities allow it to combine practical service tasks with natural human-robot interaction, bringing a more personable and engaging presence to the guest experience.

Designed for Adaptable Performance

PUDU D7 combines a dual-arm manipulation system, tactile sensing and a 360-degree perception system to support these applications. Front- and rear-facing LiDAR and other sensors enable navigation around people and obstacles, while tactile sensing provides precise control when handling objects.

The robot also features autonomous battery swapping, allowing it to independently replace its battery and reduce downtime during extended operation.

Together, these capabilities enable D7 to support different tasks across a range of environments without being limited to a single application.

PUDU D7 Makes Its European Debut at IFA

IFA 2026 marks the first time PUDU D7 is being showcased in Europe. At the Pudu Robotics booth, visitors can experience live demonstrations highlighting the robot’s capabilities and its potential for human-robot interaction.

D7 interacts directly with visitors through demonstrations including waving, making heart gestures and picking up objects. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s ability to combine movement, manipulation and interaction in a human-oriented environment.

Advancing the Next Generation of Intelligent Robotics

The IFA Innovation Awards recognition marks another step in Pudu Robotics’ expansion from service delivery, commercial cleaning and industrial delivery into embodied intelligent robotics.

PUDU D7 is part of Pudu Robotics’ broader strategy to develop a portfolio of specialized, semi-humanoid and humanoid robots, building on its capabilities in embodied navigation, manipulation and interaction. This approach enables the company to address a broader range of applications across commercial and industrial environments.

Pudu Robotics will continue working with customers and partners worldwide to explore new applications for embodied intelligence and bring increasingly capable robots into real-world environments.

About Pudu Robotics

Pudu Robotics is a global leader in commercial service robotics and the industry’s first company to offer a full portfolio spanning specialized, semi-humanoid, and humanoid robots. According to Frost & Sullivan’s latest market report, Pudu Robotics ranks No. 1 globally in commercial service robotics by both revenue and shipment volume. Built on its One Brain, Multiple Embodiments architecture, Pudu offers robots for service delivery, commercial cleaning, industrial delivery, and general embodied AI applications across hospitality, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, education, public services, and more. To date, Pudu Robotics has shipped over 130,000 robots to customers across 85+ countries and regions.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pudu-d7-named-honoree-in-ifa-innovation-awards-for-best-in-ifa-next–emerging-technologies-302870806.html

SOURCE Pudu Robotics

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Asia-Pacific Media Forum held in China’s Guangdong

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59 minutes ago

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September 6, 2026

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SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from Xinhuanet: 

The Asia-Pacific Media Forum opened on Saturday in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, with the theme of “Building a Path to Shared Prosperity for the Asia-Pacific Community: Media Consensus and Action.”

Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech. Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, attended the forum and delivered a speech.

Participating guests noted that this year marks 2026 APEC “China Year,” during which China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. They expressed their belief that with support from all sides, the summit will yield fruitful outcomes and elevate Asia-Pacific cooperation to new heights.

Participating guests emphasized that development and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region depend on the active participation of media. The media are expected to share stories of openness and integration, provide comprehensive coverage of the region’s progress and achievements across various fields, and help foster a favorable public opinion environment for the region’s open development.

Participating guests noted that the media should actively promote outcomes of the series of APEC activities, interpret policies and measures of various economies to support scientific and technological innovation, and build regional consensus for innovative development.

They also called for deepening results-oriented cooperation in joint reporting, technological innovation and personnel training, and leveraging media exchanges to carry forward civilizations, spread culture and convey goodwill, so as to enhance mutual understanding and closer bonds among the peoples of the Asia-Pacific.

The forum was co-hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, Xinhua News Agency and the Guangdong provincial government, and organized by the Shenzhen municipal government.

More than 400 representatives from over 40 countries and regions, as well as UN agencies and international organizations, attended the event. At the opening ceremony, 16 founding organizations from China and abroad jointly formed the Organizing Committee of the Asia-Pacific Media Partnership Program.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/asia-pacific-media-forum-held-in-chinas-guangdong-302870809.html

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ATTACK SHARK Announces Strategic Partnership with Cloud9 Esports’ League of Legends Team

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2 hours ago

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September 6, 2026

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NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — High-performance gaming peripheral brand ATTACK SHARK today announced a partnership with leading esports organization Cloud9 Esports. Focused on Cloud9’s League of Legends team, the collaboration will showcase professional gaming insights, esports culture, and competitive gear content across digital, social media, and e-commerce channels.

A Championship Legacy in North American Esports

Founded in 2013, Cloud9 Kia has grown into one of North America’s most iconic esports organizations. Originally established through League of Legends, it has built a global reputation through competitive success, including 6 League Championship Series (LCS) titles, 10 World Championship appearances, the 2018 ELEAGUE Major Boston title, the inaugural Overwatch League championship, and a Rocket League World Championship. Cloud9 Kia remains one of North America’s most influential League of Legends teams.

Deep Collaboration: From Pro Scenes to Player Communities

The partnership will center on professional player training, competitive performance, and player-focused content. ATTACK SHARK will equip the Cloud9 League of Legends team with its latest gaming peripherals to support daily training and competitive preparation.

By combining Cloud9’s professional competitive expertise with ATTACK SHARK’s focus on hardware innovation, the partnership aims to explore the increasing demands placed on gaming equipment in high-level esports environments. Trusted by over 10 million players worldwide, ATTACK SHARK translates professional esports insights into accessible, high-performance gaming peripherals for competitive gamers. 

“At Cloud9 Kia, we believe gaming can unlock the best in everyone. ATTACK SHARK is on a mission to make high-performance mice and keyboards accessible to all gamers, and that’s the same idea from two directions. I’m proud to have them alongside Cloud9 Kia, and excited for all of the amazing peripherals this partnership will put into our fan’s hands,” said Jonathan Tran, President of Cloud9.

“Partnering with Cloud9 Kia is a significant milestone for ATTACK SHARK,” said Gavin Cheng, CEO and Co-Founder of ATTACK SHARK. “Their competitive spirit, professionalism, and relentless pursuit of excellence closely align with the values that have guided ATTACK SHARK from the beginning. This collaboration creates an opportunity to learn from professional competition and share those insights with players around the world.”

The partnership represents a deeper investment by ATTACK SHARK in the global esports ecosystem. Together, ATTACK SHARK and Cloud9 Kia will continue creating new experiences for competitive players and gaming communities worldwide.

For more information, visit https://attackshark.com/ or connect with the brand on social media and Discord.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/attack-shark-announces-strategic-partnership-with-cloud9-esports-league-of-legends-team-302870799.html

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