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Cheil Agency Network Strengthens Leadership Team With Two C-Suite Promotions

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Bill Mattis will step into a new role as chief growth officer, and Gourang Mehta advances to chief technology officer

NEW YORK, June 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Amid a period of strong growth, The Cheil Agency Network (CAN) today announced the promotions of Bill Mattis to chief growth officer and Gourang Mehta to chief technology officer, strengthening its leadership team to support the network’s next phase of expansion. 

Mattis, formerly managing director and head of network growth at CAN, assumes the position of chief growth officer. Mehta will join the executive team as chief technology officer, moving from his position as managing director at Barbarian, one of five agencies (McKinney, Iris, Attention Arc, CYLNDR Studios and Barbarian) that make up the network.

Mattis brings a combination of new business leadership, brand-building expertise, strategic thinking and operational discipline. In his new role, he will continue to build systems, partnerships and infrastructure to elevate the visibility of CAN and cement the network as a partner that brands actively seek out, whether for a specialized agency partnership or a fully integrated network solution.

“The agency landscape is changing rapidly, and clients increasingly need partners that can move across disciplines, channels and business challenges with agility,” said Joe Maglio, CEO of CAN. “Bill understands how to bring together the strengths of our agencies to create meaningful business outcomes for clients. His promotion to chief growth officer reflects our commitment to building a network that is collaborative, entrepreneurial and relentlessly focused on growth.”

Working alongside Mattis and Maglio, Mehta offers experience in technical innovation and strategic business development. He specializes in generative AI, enterprise workflow automation and enterprise platforms, and will translate these proficiencies to maximize what’s technically possible with what drives business impact for the network and its partners.

“Gourang’s greatest strength is his rare ability to bridge the gap between deep, complex technical innovation and strategic business growth,” explained Maglio. “The pace of technological change, particularly with the rapid emergence of generative AI and agentic workflows, demands dedicated, visionary leadership right now, and Gourang’s expertise will guide our agencies through this critical next phase of industry transformation.”

Since launching in 2025, CAN has added 20 new accounts to its portfolio, increased market consideration by 30% and delivered a 26% increase in net new revenue YoY. To support this momentum, the network established unified office hubs in New York and Toronto. Aimed at serving mid-market brands, the network provides the specialized strengths of individual agencies with the power of a connected, collaborative network.

“My mandate is to architect the future of how our agencies operate and deliver value using technology. I’m driving our network-wide AI investments and prioritizing emerging technologies,” said Mehta. “I want us to move past the ‘hype’ phase of AI and execute on impactful use cases that change the way we work.”

“Growth today requires more than scale; it requires connection. The most successful brands aren’t looking for more agency partners; they’re looking for partners who truly understand their business challenges and can bridge the right expertise to solve them,” said Mattis. “With each agency within CAN possessing a unique superpower, we have a distinct advantage in how we architect those solutions, whether the answer lies within a single agency or requires us to scale across the network to meet a client’s needs. That’s the opportunity we’re building at Cheil Agency Network, and I’m excited to lead the next chapter of that growth.”

About Cheil Agency Network
The Cheil Agency Network (CAN) is a network of independently led agencies in North America: Attention Arc, Barbarian, CYLNDR Studios, Iris and McKinney. Capabilities include: creative, media, branding, production, social media, influencer, design, digital transformation and tech. The Cheil Agency Network offers the agility and energy that’s often missing from traditional holding companies, but with the reach of Cheil Worldwide, the global marketing powerhouse with offices in 46 countries.

With teams and offices in the U.S. and Canada, agencies within the Cheil Agency Network partner with some of the biggest brands across North America including Little Caesars, Bentley, Samsung, Microsoft, Barclays, Sherwin-Williams, Texas Pete, Shoe Show, California Pizza Kitchen, Citizen Watch and many more. For more information, visit cheilagencynetwork.com

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SOURCE Cheil Agency Network

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Dreame Expands Beyond Smart Cleaning with Full Smart Living Portfolio at IFA 2026

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dreame Technology is showcasing more than 100 products across 16 categories, demonstrating how Physical AI can move beyond the digital interface and become part of the physical world—helping products better perceive, understand, and respond to everyday life.

At the foundation of this ecosystem is Dreame’s Physical AI architecture, which integrates three core technology pillars: the Omni-Perception System, the Home Intelligence Model, and the Intelligent Actuation & Control System. Together, these enable products to perceive surroundings, interpret scenarios, make decisions, and translate them into physical actions—applying shared capabilities across diverse products and real-world use cases.

Smart Cleaning Flagships

Headlining the robot vacuum lineup is the X60 Ultra Extreme. Its Dual-Joint UltraExtend Arms allow the side brush to extend 12cm and the mop to reach 18cm into corners and under furniture. The ultra-slim 8.9cm design, liftable LDS module, and 42,000 Pa Vormax Suction ensure powerful cleaning in low-clearance spaces. AI-Enhanced OmniSight and 10cm ProLeap provide smooth navigation, while the PowerDock offers 100°C mop self-cleaning and up to 100 days of hands-free emptying.

Also unveiled is the Aqua20 Ultra Roller, Dreame’s first steam robot vacuum, using 180°C steam and 100°C hot water to melt grease and kill 99.99% of bacteria, with an 8cm extendable roller mop reaching deeper into recessed spaces.

For floor care, the H16 Pro TriForce combines 30,000 Pa suction, 200°C steam sterilization, 90°C hot water degreasing, and foam cleaning in one slim device, with a 9.85cm low profile and 180° lie-flat reach.

Personal Care Innovations

The Pocket Aura uses smart heat control and real-time distance sensors to reduce heat damage, low-heat drying and a foldable, travel-ready design. The Pocket Uni offers SmartVolt™ global voltage, 350 million negative ions, and a self-absorbing curling wand that styles with airflow. The AirStyle Pro HI is an 8-in-1 styling kit with a 130,000 RPM motor and Dreamehome app guidance, featuring A-Curl™ and a U-shaped straightening nozzle.

Air Purification Solutions

The FP10 Furcatch Air Purifier for pet owners captures 99.5% of pet hair and eliminates odors via six-stage purification with H14 HEPA and CataFresh™.

The TP20 delivers 500m³/h PCADR, refreshing a 20㎡ room in under 6 minutes, with a 3-in-1 filter lasting up to 5 years and 22dB quiet operation. The compact TP10 offers 280m³/h CADR for spaces up to 117㎡, consuming just 0.48kWh per 24 hours. The NP10 uses high-voltage electrostatic purification with a washable filter, delivering 400m³/h CADR at 28W.

Debuting is the RF10 Purifier Cool, a 2-in-1 purifier and fan with 120° wide-area airflow, millimeter-wave radar for person-tracking, and an 8-layer purification system with negative ions, consuming less than 1kWh per 24 hours.

From Intelligent Products to a Connected Smart Living Ecosystem

Dreame’s IFA 2026 presence reflects a shift toward an integrated ecosystem, applying common perception, decision-making, and execution capabilities across categories. With products in 190+ countries and 42 million households, Dreame continues to extend its Physical AI expertise into everyday life.

About Dreame Technology

Established in 2017, Dreame Technology is a trailblazer in smart home appliances that enhance lives through cutting-edge technology. The official distributor for Dreame Technology in Singapore is DM Dasher Pte Ltd. Stay updated by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, or visit https://dreame.sg/.

 

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SOURCE Dreame Technology

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SLACAL Launches Executive Forum Video Series Featuring Lloyd’s Americas President Marc Lipman

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SLACAL CEO Benjamin McKay and Lloyd’s Americas President Marc Lipman discuss wildfire, AI, new sources of capital and the future of insurance coverage in California.

SAN RAMON, Calif., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Surplus Line Association of California (SLACAL) today released the inaugural episode of its Executive Forum video series, featuring a wide-ranging, on-the-record conversation between SLACAL CEO & Executive Director Benjamin J. McKay and Lloyd’s Americas President Marc Lipman. Moderated by SLACAL Chief Industry & Regulatory Officer David Kodama Jr., the discussion pulls back the curtain on how wildfire risk, artificial intelligence and a new wave of global capital are reshaping where, and how, California residents and businesses find coverage.

California is the world’s fifth-largest economy on its own, and its surplus lines sector now accounts for roughly $24 billion in annual premium. Lloyd’s is proud to be a critical partner; it held an 18% share in the California E&S market in 2025. McKay and Lipman explain why that growth happened, why they say the industry’s biggest reputational myth is flat-out wrong and what’s coming next as AI, data centers and other emerging risks outpace what traditional insurance was built to handle.

In the conversation, viewers will hear:

Why McKay says California’s insurance troubles are “a wildfire crisis, not an insurance crisis,” and how Proposition 103 has shaped the market ever since.Why McKay says surplus lines insurance is safer than most people assume.Why Lipman says the old idea of surplus lines as insurance’s “dumping ground” no longer holds up, and what he calls it instead.How private equity, hedge funds and sovereign wealth are quietly funding California’s next generation of risk transfer.How parametric insurance products emerging from the Lloyd’s Lab—which accelerates the development and adoption of new insurance products and operational solutions for the Lloyd’s market—can help California homeowners after a wildfire or earthquake.

▶ Watch the full conversation now on SLACAL’s YouTube Channel 

The Executive Forum conversation is the first in a planned series exploring the issues shaping California’s insurance market. New episodes, along with additional educational content, will be added to SLACAL’s Learning Center throughout the year.

About the Surplus Line Association of California
As the advisory organization appointed by the California Department of Insurance, the Surplus Line Association of California oversees the state’s nearly $25 billion surplus lines marketplace, serving as a market stabilizer, information authority and early-warning system for regulators and market participants. SLACAL supports regulatory oversight, helps brokers comply with California laws and regulations, processes surplus lines insurance policies and monitors the financial condition of companies on California’s List of Approved Surplus Line Insurers.

About Lloyd’s
Lloyd’s is the only insurance marketplace of its kind in the world. It brings together more than a hundred syndicates and thousands of investors, enabling the market to shoulder more insurance risk for every unit of capital than any other financial institution in the world. The role of the Corporation is to advance and protect the market—by maintaining underwriting discipline and our financial strength; and by attracting expertise, innovation and scale. Our unique global licenses and excellent financial strength ratings provide the infrastructure, oversight and confidence required to understand, price and manage complex and interconnected risks. Risk transfer—properly executed—underpins economic growth, resilience and innovation around the world. This is the role Lloyd’s has played for 337 years, and it remains central to our purpose today.

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SOURCE The Surplus Line Association of California

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Cross-border Counselor LLP: Chinese E-Commerce Sellers File Class Action Seeking to Void Thousands of “Schedule A” Default Judgments Entered After Email Service the Seventh Circuit Has Held Invalid

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Bilateral class action under Rule 60(d)(1) seeks relief from void judgments, an accounting, and restitution of money collected from mainland-China defendants in the Northern District of Illinois

CHICAGO, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Ningbo-based cross-border e-commerce seller has filed a class action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois seeking to void default judgments entered against mainland-China defendants in thousands of “Schedule A” cases, and to require the plaintiffs who obtained those judgments to account for and return the money collected under them.

The complaint, filed by Ningbo Jiaruisi E-Commerce Co., Ltd., which formerly operated on Amazon under the storefront name GENISBULB, asks the court to declare the thousands of default judgments void for lack of personal jurisdiction, to halt their continued enforcement, and to order restitution of funds seized from seller accounts.

The Seventh Circuit’s decision in Kangol

The suit follows a May 29, 2026 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the federal appellate court with jurisdiction over the Northern District of Illinois. In Kangol LLC v. Hangzhou Chuanyue Silk Import & Export Co., 177 F.4th 793 (7th Cir. 2026), the court held that where the Hague Service Convention applies, it supplies the exclusive means of serving process abroad — and that because no provision of the Convention authorizes service by email in China, email service on a mainland-China defendant is not authorized by Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 4(f)(3).

For years before Kangol, judges in the Northern District of Illinois routinely granted Schedule A plaintiffs leave to serve Chinese sellers by email or by posting documents to a website. Sellers who never learned of the case did not appear, and default judgments followed.

The scale of the practice

The Northern District of Illinois is the country’s busiest Schedule A forum. According to the complaint, more than 8,900 Schedule A cases were filed there between 2012 and May 2026, by more than 1,900 different named plaintiffs, with each case typically naming dozens or hundreds of online sellers under a collective caption. The complaint alleges that thousands of those cases ended in default judgments against mainland-China sellers served by email or electronic publication rather than through the Convention, that tens of thousands of sellers were affected, and that tens of millions of dollars were collected from them.

“Kangol corrected an error that was repeated thousands of times in the Northern District,” said Wesley E. Johnson of Cross-Border Counselor LLP, lead counsel in this action and in Kangol. “This case seeks to remedy those errors. Spread across tens of thousands of sellers, it adds up to an enormous uncompensated transfers of value out of the Chinese cross-border e-commerce sector.”

The named plaintiff

In December 2022, WHAM-O, owner of the FRISBEE trademarks, filed a Schedule A action in the Northern District of Illinois, WHAM-O Holding, Ltd. v. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A,” No. 1:22-cv-06802. On Dec. 13, 2022, the court entered a temporary restraining order that also authorized service by email and electronic publication. GENISBULB was listed as defendant No. 44.

The court later entered a default judgment awarding WHAM-O statutory damages of $200,000 against each defaulting defendant and directing third parties holding the defendants’ funds to restrain those accounts and turn the money over. Amazon released $4,393.41 from GENISBULB’s account to WHAM-O. The balance of the $200,000 judgment, along with a permanent injunction, remains outstanding against the company, and the complaint alleges that marketplaces and payment processors continue to treat the judgment as an adjudicated finding of infringement.

A bilateral class structure

The complaint proposes a plaintiff class of mainland-China Schedule A defendants and, unusually, a defendant class of the Schedule A plaintiffs who obtained non-Hague service authorization and then took default judgments. WHAM-O, which the complaint alleges filed at least 116 Schedule A cases, is named as the proposed representative of the defendant class. A subclass would cover sellers whose funds were actually turned over.

No class has been certified, and the court has not ruled on any of the allegations in the complaint.

Information for affected sellers

Many sellers named in Schedule A cases never received notice that a judgment had been entered against them, and some learned of it only when a marketplace account was frozen or closed. Sellers who believe they may have been affected — or who are simply unsure whether a judgment was entered against them — are welcome to contact the firm with questions. There is no cost or obligation to make an inquiry.

About Cross-Border Counselor LLP

Cross-Border Counselor LLP is a law firm with offices in Illinois, California, Washington and New York that represents United States and Chinese companies in U.S. litigation involving international legal issues, with a particular focus on intellectual property actions and cross-border enforcement.

Media contact
Wesley E. Johnson
Cross-Border Counselor LLP
105 W. Madison Street, Suite 2300, Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: +1 (312) 752-4828
Email: wjohnson@cbcounselor.com 

Attorney Advertising

This release is attorney advertising. It describes allegations contained in a complaint filed with the court; those allegations have not been proven, and no court has ruled on them. Nothing here is legal advice on any specific matter, and nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Sources: Complaint filed Sept. 3, 2026 (N.D. Ill.); Kangol LLC v. Hangzhou Chuanyue Silk Import & Export Co., 177 F.4th 793 (7th Cir. May 29, 2026); WHAM-O Holding, Ltd. v. The Partnerships and Unincorporated Associations Identified on Schedule “A,” No. 1:22-cv-06802 (N.D. Ill.).

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SOURCE Cross-Border Counselor LLP

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