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PHD LAUNCHES “ASCENSION” TO HELP BRANDS RISE WITH AI

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Generative Publishing Platform Connects Human and Artificial Intelligence to Enable Experimentation, Acceleration and Elevation of AI as a Fundamental Element of Marketing Functions and Solutions

LONDON, Aug. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Omnicom Media Group agency PHD Worldwide has launched Ascension, a publishing platform offering a comprehensive and ongoing exploration of the impact of Generative AI on the marketing industry; and how clients and agencies alike will need to evolve their organizations and offers to effectively leverage the technology to drive business growth.

Unique among agency thought-leadership platforms, Ascension is a generative magazine that blends human and AI-generated content to capture the latest advancements and insights in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

“PHD’s mission is defined as Intelligence. Connected. – bringing everyone and everything together. And today, that includes artificial intelligence,” says PHD Worldwide CEO Guy Marks. “As a generative publication that evolves as the world updates, Ascension explores how AI is going to reshape marketing—from initial experimentation to full acceleration and eventual elevation – and provides actionable information and insights to help us, and our clients, to rise with AI.”

Editorial Perspective Informed by Research

To ensure content that best serves marketers’ needs – and does more than simply add to an already cluttered and confusing generative AI information landscape – PHD partnered with WARC to benchmark AI perspectives, surveying more than 700 senior marketers and agency experts. The findings  revealed significant gaps in desire vs adoption, and perceived vs actual AI knowledge; conflicting expectations around the functional impact; and subjective interpretations of the evolutionary timeline.   

In response, Ascension offers a clearly defined editorial perspective: exploring the impact of AI across seven distinct marketing executive functions; and mapping how these functions will evolve across three specific adoption stages. 

The Ascension Seven

Ascension identifies the seven different executive functions that are required as part of the day-to-day development of marketing communications:

Sensing: The function of understanding stakeholder needs through listening, interpreting, and empathizingVisioning: The ability to identify and articulate needs or opportunities, setting the course for future growthDefining: Translating a vision into an actionable strategy, setting parameters, objectives, and methodologiesGenerating: The creative heart of marketing, involving the creation of concepts and contentDeveloping: Building upon and adapting what has been generated to ensure it is well-crafted and fit for purposeJudging: Decision-making processes involving evaluation, choosing between alternatives, and steering project directionActioning: Task organization and project execution, orchestrating collective efforts to meet deadlines and achieve goals.

With the research revealing that marketers see higher impact across  the Defining,  Generating, Developing and Actioning functions,  Ascension will:

Explore requisite shifts in the roles of creatives, strategists and plannersReveal the essential new skills/roles that will be required to sustain growth in an increasingly AI-driven marketing landscapeExamine strategies for re-skilling/cross-skilling that will be critical for effective AI-human collaborationMap how all of the above will evolve across three eras of development

The Three Eras of Ascension 

Understanding that marketers need to be able to assess AI actioning in the context of the broader marketplace evolution, Ascension provides a developmental road map from this moment in time to the end of the decade that encompasses three distinct eras:

The AI Experimentation Era (2024-2026)
This phase will be marked by the individual use of LLMs and Diffusion models, new software with GenAI capabilities, utilization of existing platforms such as Microsoft Copilot and Adobe Firefly, and the early integration of GenAI into enterprise platforms. It will be a period of pilot projects and refinement, setting the stage for more profound changes to come.The AI Acceleration Era (2026-2028)
Following the early experimentation, AI will become a fundamental element of marketing – with more mature applications of GenAI in existing platforms. It will be used by a large portion of the workforce, albeit mainly for efficiency and effectiveness. This era will focus on replacing and/or enhancing current functions.The AI Elevation Era (2028-2030)
With efficiencies and effectiveness realized by existing platforms, the focus will turn to creating more intelligent systems that can take greater control of decision-making. As individuals are freed up, attention will shift to elevation – exploring new marketing capabilities beyond what we can envision today.

PHD Worldwide Chief Strategy Officer Mark Holden, who conceived and architected Ascension said “To outgrow, you need to outthink. An important part of that is providing an accurate map of the future. That’s why PHD has always emphasized thought leadership, with the latest being their “Ascension” project. This comprehensive initiative explores AI’s impact on marketing, offering insights and practical advice to help businesses adapt and thrive in an AI-driven landscape.”

Ascension is the latest addition to PHD’s thought leadership library – a collection that includes seven books exploring meaningful change moments over the past decade. To access visit https://ascension.phdmedia.com.

ABOUT PHD

PHD, an Omnicom Media Group Agency, helps the world’s leading brands outthink, outpace, and outgrow the marketplace with a next-generation network of tools, talent and technology engineered for connected intelligence. Collaborating on the AI-powered Omni operating system, 6500 people in 81 offices across 74 countries connect data, technology, and human expertise to deliver modern media solutions that drive brands and businesses forward. Headquartered in the UK, PHD is currently the most awarded media agency network in the world according to the WARC Media 100, an independent ranking of campaigns and companies for creativity and innovation; and was named 2024 Global Media Network of the Year by leading US advertising publication Adweek.

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AndX Global Unveils Manila One, a First-of-Its-Kind Tokenized Land Development With Global Access

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NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AndX Global today unveiled Manila One, a $100 million initiative that is the first to tokenize a large-scale, development-stage land project and open it to investors worldwide from day one.

Originated in the Philippines, structured through a U.S.-based investment framework and built for distribution to eligible investors globally, Manila One represents a new model for cross-border real estate investing. It combines a local asset, institutional structuring, global access and a path to liquidity.

Manila One applies tokenization where the most value is created, in the development of raw land, and opens it to investors around the world from the start.

“Tokenization without liquidity is simply digitized illiquidity,” said Viru Raparthi, CEO of AndX Global. “Manila One changes that model by giving global investors access at the development stage, while building toward real liquidity. This isn’t just about tokenizing real estate. It’s about creating a global market for real-world assets.”

Designed for global investors

Manila One is built to overcome the barriers that have kept private real estate closed to most investors: access, currency, minimums and exit.

Global access: open to eligible investors in more than 190 countries, subject to applicable lawUSD-denominated: priced and reported in U.S. dollarsLow minimum: tokens priced to ensure maximum participationDigital ownership: each token represents an economic interest in the development-stage project, with digital custody and blockchain-based recordkeepingBuilt for liquidity: designed for secondary trading on regulated AndX exchanges globally, so eligible holders can buy and sell their interests rather than stay locked into a multi-year private investment

Behind the offering is an end-to-end model that AndX intends to apply to other asset classes. It runs from origination through U.S. structuring, digital issuance, global distribution and custody to secondary trading. AndX Global provides the technology, tokenization, exchange, custody, payments and distribution infrastructure.

“The next generation of capital markets won’t be defined by geography,” Raparthi said. “It will be defined by access.”

The asset: 54 hectares, 5 km from Bonifacio Global City

The project centers on about 54 hectares of waterfront land roughly 5 kilometers from Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Metro Manila’s leading business district. Proceeds will fund horizontal development, including roads, utilities, drainage and other core infrastructure, to prepare the site for future residential, commercial and mixed-use construction. A later phase is planned to include affordable housing.

Manila One is sponsored by Jack Rodriguez, a Filipino entrepreneur and President of ARC Pacific Development, Inc., whose family story spans generations and two countries. His ancestry traces to passengers associated with the Mayflower and America’s earliest Pilgrim settlers, while his own roots remain deeply connected to the Philippines. Rodriguez sees the project as a bridge between the United States and the Philippines.

“Major development opportunities in the Philippines have mostly been available to a small circle of institutions, developers and wealthy families,” said Rodriguez. “Manila One opens that up, starting with Filipinos around the world and extending to investors everywhere who want a stake in transforming a major Philippine asset.”

The project is advised by Romel C. Cañete, widely regarded as one of the early visionaries behind Manhattan’s Hudson Yards transformation. Cañete evaluated developer bids for more than 40 million square feet of mixed-use development over the West Side rail yards — work that helped shape what became one of the most successful and consequential urban redevelopment projects in modern New York City.

“On Hudson Yards, the first question was whether the infrastructure could carry the vision,” said Cañete. “Manila One starts in the same place. What’s different is who gets in on the ground floor. It’s not just a handful of institutions anymore, but investors around the world.”

Offering at a glance

Offering size: $100 millionUnderlying asset: about 54 hectares of waterfront land near BGC, Metro ManilaIndicated land value: more than $200 million, per Cuervo Valuers & Advisory, Inc. (appraisal dated February 3, 2026)Term: three yearsPreferred return: 8% per year, simple and non-compounding (24% over the three-year term)Additional upside: 100% return on investment tied to appreciation of the underlying land, subject to offering termsEligible investors: retail and institutional, in more than 190 countriesOffering documents and eligibility: andx.ai/m1

About Manila One

Manila One is a tokenized real estate offering tied to the horizontal development of about 54 hectares of waterfront land near Bonifacio Global City in Metro Manila. ARC Pacific Development, Inc. is the sponsor, and AndX Global provides the tokenization and distribution infrastructure. Learn more at andx.ai/m1. 

About AndX Global

AndX Global is a financial technology company expanding global access to financial markets and real-world assets. Its infrastructure spans licensed digital-asset trading, payments, tokenization, custody and liquidity. Its mission is to let investors trade any asset, anywhere, anytime. Learn more at andx.ai. 

Important disclosure

This communication is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security or investment product. Any offering will be made only under applicable securities laws and through definitive offering documents containing material information about the investment, its risks and its terms. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. The preferred return is not guaranteed. Statements about liquidity, secondary trading, returns, appreciation or future value are forward-looking and not guaranteed. Secondary trading, if available, will be subject to securities laws, regulatory approvals, transfer restrictions and the availability of an appropriate venue. Securities-related activities in the United States, where applicable, will be conducted through appropriately registered entities.

Media contacts

United States

Roxanne Rittberg

roxanne@andx.ai

+1 (561) 544-7172

Philippines

Mikel Cañete

mikel@andx.ai 

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Veridian Credit Union adds Allstate Identity Protection to free credit monitoring tool

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New benefit gives members access to professional identity restoration support and monitoring tools

WATERLOO, Iowa, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Veridian Credit Union members now have complimentary access to Allstate Identity Protection through Credit Central, Veridian’s free credit monitoring tool within online banking.

The added support comes as identity theft is making a growing financial impact on U.S. consumers. Identity theft losses reached an all-time high of $27.3 billion in 2025, according to the 2026 Identity Fraud Study from Javelin Strategy & Research.

Veridian members who are enrolled in Credit Central and believe they are experiencing identity theft can now use identity fraud finder tools and work with a professional restoration specialist on monitoring high-risk transactions, dark web exposure and more. Monitoring for additional fraud continues for at least three months after a restoration case is resolved.

“Providing identity restoration support through a tool members already have access to is another way we can help them protect their financial lives and move forward with confidence,” said Mallory Paeper, Veridian’s manager of fraud and disputes. “Your financial well-being includes more than knowing your credit score. It also means having support when your personal information is compromised.”

The identity protection benefit expands the resources already available to Veridian members through Credit Central, Veridian’s free credit monitoring tool within online banking. Credit Central gives members access to their credit score and credit report, credit monitoring alerts and personalized tools designed to help them better understand and manage their credit. Credit Central is available to Veridian members within online banking at no cost, giving members easier access to credit information and identity protection as part of their everyday banking experience.

About Veridian Credit Union
Veridian Credit Union, founded in 1934 in Waterloo, Iowa, is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by the people who use its products and services – its members. Nationally recognized among the top credit unions in the U.S. for returning value, Veridian offers a full range of business and consumer financial services with 32 branches across Iowa, eastern Nebraska and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. For details, visit veridiancu.org or call (800) 235-3228.

About Allstate Identity Protection
Allstate has been protecting what matters most for 90 years. Allstate Identity Protection provides identity restoration services and related support for users who experience identity fraud.

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SOURCE Veridian Credit Union

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SAJ Electric Honoured with EUPD Top Innovation Award at All-Energy

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The EK70 HS5 Series and EK90 HS5 Series were recognised in the Storage category

MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SAJ Electric has received the EUPD Research Top Innovation Australia 2026 award in the Storage category for its EK70 HS5 Series and EK90 HS5 Series all-in-one home energy storage systems. The award was presented on SAJ Electric’s stand at All-Energy Australia 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

EUPD Research recognises products for technology advancement, innovation uniqueness, environmental impact, market disruption and practical applicability.

The EK70 HS5 and EK90 HS5 combine a hybrid inverter, LFP battery storage and backup in one modular system. Blind-mate connectors and a wireless meter cut installation cabling, and three-step app commissioning speeds setup. A built-in 63A bypass delivers whole-home backup without a separate backup box, switching in 10 ms or less. An independent DC/DC battery optimiser supports flexible expansion, and the elekeeper 5.0 platform coordinates solar, storage, EV charging and household loads. Both are available in single-phase and three-phase.

The award headlined two busy days for SAJ Electric across Stand M143 and a dedicated Strongman booth at E01. SAJ Electric ran live product demonstrations, partner sessions with its three national distributors, and a public strength challenge against Bradman Houston, Australia’s Open-weight Strongest Man of 2026. Bradman’s lifts include a 380 kg deadlift, 340 kg squat and 180 kg overhead press.

Highlights

CEC certification: DEKRA and CCS presented Clean Energy Council certificates for the EK70 HS5 and EK90 HS5 on stand, making them the first products approved under Australia’s new SA TS 5398 battery safety standard.CEO roundtable: SAJ Electric Chairman and CEO Samil Ouyang and Smart Energy Council CEO David McElrea discussed the direction of Australia’s home battery market and how manufacturers can better support installers.Beat the Strongest Man: Booth E01 drew some of the biggest crowds of the show as visitors stepped up to the high striker against Bradman. Anyone who out-hit him took home a pair of Shokz headphones.Nine live demos: SAJ Electric’s technical team ran scheduled sessions across both days on residential storage, the elekeeper energy management platform, and commercial and industrial solutions.Distributors on board: One Stop Warehouse, Supply Partners and Tradezone showcased SAJ Electric products on their own stands, with SAJ Electric technical staff at each throughout.Media on stand: SAJ Electric hosted briefings, interviews and content capture with RenewEconomy, pv magazine, EcoGeneration, SunWiz, Solar Cutters, OpenSolar, Your Energy Media, Techmanpat and the Smart Energy Council, plus a booth tour and interview with Glenn Morris, founder of Smart Energy Lab, who recently installed and tested the EK70 HS5 on his YouTube channel.

The Strongman activation built on SAJ Electric’s ongoing work with Bradman, who earlier this year fronted an SAJ Electric video series with the Sydney Solar & Electrical crew on stretching, lifting technique and health tips for installers who move heavy batteries and panels every day.

SAJ Electric thanks every installer, partner and visitor who came by Stand M143 and the Strongman booth.

About SAJ Electric

Guangzhou Sanjing Electric Co., Ltd. (SAJ Electric) is a global manufacturer of solar inverters, energy storage systems and smart energy management solutions. In Australia, SAJ Electric products are available through One Stop Warehouse, Supply Partners and Tradezone. Learn more at au.saj-electric.com.

Media contact

Bella He
APAC & MENA Regional Head of Marketing
Guangzhou Sanjing Electric Co., Ltd.
No.9 Lizhishan Road, Guangzhou Science City, Guangdong, P.R. China 510663
Mobile: +86 188 2508 2693
www.saj-electric.com

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