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Macnica Invests in Malaysia’s Leading Digital Transformation Company, Orangeleaf Consulting, to Expand Digital Transformation Services for Japan’s Manufacturing Industry

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PETALING JAYA, Malaysia, Aug. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Orangeleaf Consulting Holdings Co. (“OLC”), a Singapore-registered, Malaysian-founded digital transformation and enterprise software consultancy with operations across Malaysia, Japan and Singapore, today announced a significant new chapter in its growth journey following the acquisition of a majority stake by Macnica, Inc.

Macnica, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, is a leading technology solutions provider with deep expertise in semiconductors, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, IoT and smart manufacturing.

The transaction represents more than a capital investment. It is a strategic initiative to scale the agile transformation and DX in-sourcing model that Macnica and OLC have jointly developed since 2024. Through their collaboration, the two companies have leveraged Siemens’ low-code platform, Mendix, to support Japanese enterprises in accelerating digital transformation, modernising legacy systems and developing internal capabilities to build and continuously improve their own digital solutions. The partnership has demonstrated a practical and scalable approach to transformation, one that combines strategy, technology, people and execution to deliver measurable business value.

Combining Japanese Market Strength with Global Transformation Capabilities

As advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies continue to reshape industries, organisations are under increasing pressure to transform more quickly and continuously. However, many Japanese enterprises continue to face challenges such as shortages of DX talent, dependence on external vendors for system development and operations, fragmented legacy systems, and limited internal capabilities to sustain transformation over the long term.

Through this strategic investment, Macnica and OLC will combine their complementary strengths to address these challenges in Japan. Macnica brings an extensive customer network in Japan, deep knowledge of the country’s manufacturing sector, hands-on expertise in DX in-sourcing, and the ability to integrate advanced technologies such as AI, IoT and cybersecurity.

OLC brings globally proven digital transformation consulting, agile delivery methodologies and end-to-end software engineering capabilities, powered predominantly by Malaysian talent. From small-scale business applications to complex enterprise platforms, OLC demonstrates that world-class technology solutions can be designed, built and delivered from Malaysia for global markets. Together, both companies will support Japanese enterprises in building the talent, operating models, technologies and organisational capabilities required to drive transformation from within.

“OLC is a leading global digital transformation company with unique strengths that extend beyond agile transformation and software development to include talent development and organizational capability building, enabling the company to support customers throughout their transformation journey. Since beginning our collaboration in 2024 to support digital transformation initiatives for customers in the manufacturing industry in Japan, we have been consistently impressed not only by OLC’s deep expertise and execution capabilities, but also by its unwavering commitment to customer success and the values it brings to every engagement. This partnership represents far more than a capital and business alliance. It marks an important strategic first step for two organizations that share a common purpose: helping customers successfully navigate transformation and create lasting business value.

By combining the expertise and talent of both companies, we look forward to delivering even greater value to customers across industries, while contributing to the sustainable growth and competitiveness of the manufacturing industry in Japan”, said Kazumasa Hara, President and Co-CEO of Macnica.

“This represents one of the most significant milestones in Orangeleaf Consulting’s journey. When Tim and I founded OLC eight years ago, we started with a simple belief: technology should empower organisations to transform from within, rather than leave them permanently dependent on external providers. Today, that belief has grown into a shared vision with Macnica. Our partnership brings together Macnica’s strength, customer relationships and technology ecosystem in Japan with OLC’s transformation experience, software engineering capabilities and talent from Malaysia and the region.

Together, we are building more than technology solutions. We are building organisational capabilities, developing future-ready talent and creating a sustainable model that enables enterprises to continue innovating long after an individual project is completed. This milestone also represents a new chapter for OLC. We remain deeply committed to our team, our customers and the values that have shaped the company from the beginning. With Macnica, we now have the opportunity to scale our impact and contribute meaningfully to the future of Japan’s manufacturing industry.” Ellice Ng, Founding Partner & Non-Executive Director, Brand & Strategic Innovation of Orangeleaf Consulting

“Over eight years running OLC in Malaysia, OLC has built a strong delivery model that connects business strategy, agile execution and enterprise software engineering.

Our partnership with Macnica allows us to bring this model to a much larger market while continuing to strengthen our technology, delivery and talent capabilities. Japanese manufacturers have a tremendous opportunity to modernise their operations, adopt AI and build the internal capabilities required to respond more quickly to change. By combining the strengths of both organisations, we can provide customers with an integrated transformation journey from strategy and application development to in-sourcing, talent development and continuous improvement We have transformed local talents from non-tech background to leading conglomerate-sized clients on their Digital Transformation (DX) journey and saved millions in phasing out legacy systems.  I am honoured to lead OLC into this next phase as Founder and CEO, and I look forward to working closely with Macnica and our teams in Malaysia and Japan to create meaningful and sustainable outcomes for our customers and opportunities for local talents.” Tim Hendricks, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Orangeleaf Consulting.

Leadership for Orangeleaf Consulting’s Next Chapter

As part of this strategic milestone, Orangeleaf Consulting has also announced an evolution of its leadership structure to support the company’s next stage of growth. Tim Hendricks has been appointed Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Orangeleaf Consulting.

In this role, Tim will lead OLC’s overall business strategy, technology direction, delivery excellence and organisational growth. He will also oversee the continued expansion of OLC’s enterprise software, digital transformation and AI capabilities across Malaysia, Japan and the wider region.

Ellice Ng will assume new role of Founder & Non-Executive Director, Brand & Strategic Innovation.

In her new role, Ellice will focus on shaping OLC’s long-term brand direction, strategic innovation, market positioning, global partnerships and future growth opportunities. She will continue contributing to the company’s strategic direction while supporting the development of OLC’s brand, ecosystem and regional influence. The leadership evolution reflects the founders’ commitment to strengthening the company’s governance and creating a scalable leadership structure for OLC’s next phase. Together, Tim and Ellice will continue supporting OLC’s founding vision: helping organisations turn strategy into software, build internal transformation capabilities and create meaningful opportunities for the next generation of technology talent in Malaysia.

About Orangeleaf Consulting – Turning Strategies into Software.

Orangeleaf Consulting is a Malaysia-headquartered digital transformation and enterprise software consultancy with operations across Malaysia, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Founded in 2018, OLC helps organisations turn strategies into software by combining digital transformation consulting, agile development, enterprise system modernisation, low-code technology, software engineering, AI and talent development.

OLC supports organisations across the complete transformation journey from strategy, process redesign and application development to internal capability building and continuous improvement. The company is a Siemens Mendix partner and has supported enterprises in accelerating application delivery, modernising legacy operations and building sustainable internal digital capabilities. It is now complete with Claude Architect Certified talents.

About Macnica Inc.

Macnica is a service/solution company that handles the latest technologies in a comprehensive manner, centered on semiconductors and cyber security. Developing business in 91 locations in 28 countries/regions around the world, leveraging the technological capabilities and global network cultivated over a history of more than 50 years, we discover, propose, and implement cutting-edge technologies such as AI, IoT, and autonomous driving. Please visit: www.macnica.co.jp/en/

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SOURCE Orangeleaf Consulting

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Sagility India Enters Asia’s Top 60 Best Workplaces, Ranked 57 in 2026

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With over 22,000 employees in India and over 49,000 globally, Sagility continues to expand its workforce Employee initiatives span learning, leadership development, wellbeing and engagement, including STRIDE, PACE, STEP, S.H.E. Leads Program. S.H.E. Circle & Abilities Circle ERG, Wonder of Wellness and Healthcare Academy.  

MUMBAI, India, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sagility India has been ranked 57 among Asia’s Best Workplaces 2026 in the Large Companies category by Great Place to Work. The company was ranked 11 among India’s Best Companies to Work For 2026, following previous Great Place to Work recognitions. 

The Asia ranking is based on confidential employee feedback, with more than 3.8 million individual responses representing nearly 8.9 million employees across the region. Employees evaluated their workplace experiences across areas including trust, innovation, company values, and leadership. Of the 100 organizations recognized in the Large Companies category, 34 operate in India. 

The findings also point to the importance of everyday employee experience. Overall sentiment among employees at the Best Workplaces in Asia remained high at 93%, while the Trust Index Grand Mean stood at 91%. More than 95% of employees reported positive sentiment on areas such as feeling safe, being welcomed, being treated fairly, and feeling proud to belong. 

Against this backdrop, Sagility’s workforce has grown to over 22,000 employees in India and more than 49,000 globally. Its people initiatives span career development, continuous learning, wellbeing, and employee engagement. Key programmes include the STRIDE, PACE, and STEP leadership development programmes, the S.H.E. Leads Program for women in junior and mid-level roles, S.H.E. Circle and Abilities Circle Employee Resource Groups, Wonder of Wellness initiatives, employee surveys, hobby clubs, and Healthcare Academy. Sagility also operates a hybrid work model.

Speaking about the recognition, Tina Vas, Chief Human Resources Officer, Sagility, said, “At our scale, culture is about what employees experience every day. Can they learn, speak up, get support, and see an opportunity to grow? Those are the things we pay attention to. We are thrilled to be recognised as the 57th Best Workplace in Asia, building on our earlier recognition as the 11th Best Workplace in India. These recognitions reinforce our commitment to our employees and their well-being, particularly because they are grounded in what employees themselves say about their experience.”

The latest recognition reinforces Sagility’s focus on building a workplace where employees have opportunities to learn, develop and contribute, while fostering an environment that supports wellbeing, inclusion and engagement. As the organization continues to evolve, these priorities remain an important part of its people strategy. 

About Sagility Limited

Sagility is a tech-led, U.S. healthcare-focused business operations solutions and services company that supports payers, providers, and their partners in delivering best-in-class operations, enhancing member and provider experiences, and improving the quality of care, all while ensuring cost-effective financial and clinical outcomes. With over two decades of experience, Sagility’s dedicated experts address complex healthcare challenges through deep domain expertise and technology innovations. The company serves six of the top ten payers in the U.S., utilizing its advanced technology, processes, and solutions to ensure efficient operations and minimize additional administrative costs. The company delivers these services through its skilled talent pool of nearly 50,000 professionals across five global service delivery centers located in the US, India, the Philippines, Jamaica, and Colombia.

To learn more, visit: https://sagility.com/ 

Media contact details:

Srushti Rao | press@sagility.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/sagility-india-enters-asias-top-60-best-workplaces-ranked-57-in-2026-302884023.html

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New Research from Kai: UK CISOs Face a Widening AI Security Gap as Attackers Gain the Advantage

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59% of UK CISOs say attackers already hold the advantage, while 67% take more than a week to remediate critical vulnerabilities

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kai, the company behind the first agentic AI cybersecurity platform designed to execute security work end-to-end at machine speed with human expert accuracy, today announced UK findings from its inaugural 2026 State of Autonomous Defense Report.

According to the survey of 100 UK CISOs, a growing gap is emerging between the speed of AI-powered attacks and the ability of security teams to respond. As AI makes it faster and easier for attackers to find and exploit vulnerabilities, many UK organisations are still relying on manual processes that can take days or weeks. The findings point to a looming challenge for defenders: security operations built around human speed may not be able to keep pace as attackers become faster and more automated. If organisations fail to close vulnerabilities quickly, attackers could strike before defenders have a chance to act, increasing the risk of a major security incident.

While UK CISOs recognise the need to move toward machine-led security, many organisations aren’t there yet. Barriers including trust, governance and operational readiness could slow that transition as attackers continue to accelerate their use of AI.

“AI is changing the speed of cyberattacks, and security teams can’t afford to fall further behind,” said Nick Degnan, Chief Revenue Officer at Kai. “The concern is that attackers are getting faster while many defenders are still operating with processes built for a different era. UK organisations know they need to change, but moving from human-led to machine-led security takes trust, governance and a willingness to let machines take on more of the work. The longer that transition takes, the more room attackers have to pull ahead.”

UK CISOs understand the AI threat, but many security processes remain human-led

UK security leaders overwhelmingly acknowledge that AI has changed the threat landscape. Nearly all UK CISOs (94%) say their organisation is prepared to defend against AI-accelerated vulnerability exploitation, yet only one-third (33%) describe themselves as very prepared.

That confidence comes as UK CISOs see attackers gaining the upper hand. Fifty-nine percent believe attackers currently have the advantage given current levels of AI adoption and advancement, compared with just 13% who believe defenders have the advantage. As attackers increasingly leverage AI to accelerate exploitation, many UK organisations continue to rely on human-led security workflows that struggle to keep pace.

Slow remediation leaves a growing window for attackers

The research found that vulnerability management remains heavily dependent on manual effort, leaving UK organisations exposed and security teams under pressure. More than half (54%) of UK organisations report their vulnerability and exposure management processes are at least half manual, while 67% require more than one week to remediate critical vulnerabilities. More than half (54%) say at least one-quarter of known vulnerabilities go unremediated for more than 30 days.

These operational challenges are taking a measurable toll on UK security teams. Eighty-four percent of UK CISOs say vulnerability and exposure management contributes at least moderately to security team burnout, including 19% who describe it as a major contributor.

The findings suggest it’s not just the threat landscape creating risk, but the operating model itself.

UK organisations want more automation, but barriers remain

While UK organisations increasingly see automation as essential to keeping pace with AI-powered threats, confidence in autonomous decision-making has yet to catch up. More than half (51%) of UK CISOs identify lack of trust in automated decisions as one of the biggest barriers to broader automation adoption in vulnerability and exposure management, followed by governance or compliance concerns (45%) and skills or talent gaps (45%).

UK organisations are already embracing automation for lower-risk activities such as vulnerability prioritisation (57%) and asset discovery and inventory (55%). However, only 32% currently permit automated remediation actions without human approval, underscoring that most organisations remain cautious about letting machines change the environment.

UK CISOs are also clear about what would give them greater confidence in machine-led security. More than half point to vendor accountability and liability protections (54%), auditability and explainability (53%), and regulatory clarity (52%) as factors that would increase their confidence in allowing machine-led systems to execute remediation actions without human approval.

UK organisations are moving toward machine-led security, but attackers are moving faster

Despite today’s challenges, the research shows UK organisations are further ahead in adopting machine-led approaches. Today, 46% of UK organisations describe their vulnerability and exposure management approach as mostly or primarily machine-led, compared with 35% of organisations globally.

The foundations for further adoption are also being put in place. Ninety-four percent of UK CISOs say their organisation’s governance approach is either already designed to support machine-led security actions or is being adapted for greater machine-led operation.

Looking ahead 12 to 18 months, 40% expect humans to supervise machine-led systems that lead prioritisation and execution, while 25% expect most vulnerability and exposure management workflows to be machine-led and 14% expect autonomous security operations to become the primary operating model.

The findings suggest UK organisations are not waiting for machine-led security to become a future reality. Many are already putting it into practice, while adapting governance and operating models for a more autonomous approach to cyber defence. But as attackers gain speed through AI, the pressure to make that transition is only growing.

Read the full 2026 UK State of Autonomous Defense Report here.

Methodology

The Kai Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research among 500 CISOs at private sector companies with a minimum annual revenue of $500 million, including 100 CISOs in the United Kingdom. The research was conducted in four markets between June 15 and June 29, 2026, using an email invitation and an online survey. All UK findings cited in this release are based on the 100 UK respondents.

About Kai

Kai is the AI company rebuilding cybersecurity for the machine-speed era. Trusted by Fortune 500 and Global 2000 enterprises, the Kai Autonomous Defense Platform replaces fragmented tools and human-limited workflows with agentic AI that works continuously across cyber asset management, application security, infrastructure vulnerability management, and detection engineering. It contextualises, reasons, and acts at machine speed and enterprise scale. What takes human-led teams weeks, Kai executes in hours, driving risk toward zero through Auto Remediation. Human defenders don’t just keep up. They become superhuman.

Media contact: kai@inkhouse.com 

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Bloomsbury Money Group appoints ex-SAP engineer as CTO to head global banking platform

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LONDON and ST HELIER, Jersey, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bloomsbury Money Group today announced the appointment of Thomas Holst as Chief Technology Officer. Holst joins from SAP’s health technology ecosystem, and brings more than a decade of experience building data-intensive, privacy-critical technology platforms. As CTO, he will lead Bloomsbury Money’s technology strategy, engineering and platform architecture as the Group builds out its banking platform across its existing markets and the new jurisdictions it plans to enter.

The appointment comes as Bloomsbury Money moves from a regulated money services and virtual asset business run from Jersey and London to a multi-jurisdiction financial network. The group’s current services span multi-currency accounts, foreign exchange, cross-border payments and regulated virtual asset custody and transfers. Under Holst, these are being brought together on a single platform designed from the outset to run in several regulatory environments with one standard of control.

A single network for cross-border value

Bloomsbury Money’s ambition is a global cross-border payment network in which fiat currencies, regulated digital assets and local payment rails sit side by side. In practice that means a customer can hold, convert and send value in the form that suits the transaction, whether a wire, a card payment, a domestic instant payment or a digital asset transfer, and the network selects the fastest compliant route. The group intends to extend its regulatory footprint and rail connectivity market by market to deliver this, starting in Jersey and the Channel Islands.

Manu Choudhary, co-founder, Bloomsbury Money Group, said:

“Thomas is joining at the right moment. We have a regulated business, live customers and a clear view of where cross-border money movement is heading. What we need now is someone who can turn that view into infrastructure that behaves the same way in every market we enter. Thomas has spent thirteen years building software where getting the data wrong is not an option, and that is the mindset we want at the centre of this platform. Our ambition is a network where a business in one country pays a supplier in another in whatever form of money and over whatever rail makes sense, without ever thinking about the plumbing.”

Chris Park, CEO, Bloomsbury Money Group, said:

“I have spent over decades in banking and the pattern never changes: the firms that last are the ones whose technology is boring in the right ways. Resilient, auditable, fast, and built by people who assume a regulator will one day ask to see how every decision was made. Thomas comes from SAP and from healthcare technology, one of the few sectors where the bar on data protection and control is as high as it is in finance. He has shipped enterprise software to hospitals and research institutions and built and run the cloud infrastructure underneath it. Bringing that discipline to a platform spanning fiat, digital assets and local rails across several jurisdictions is exactly the point. This is an infrastructure hire, and infrastructure is what we are building.”

Thomas Holst, Chief Technology Officer, Bloomsbury Money Group, said:

“Most fintechs bolt new products onto an old core. Bloomsbury Money is building the core with the network in mind from day one: multiple currencies, multiple asset types, multiple rails and multiple regulators, all held to the same standard of control. That is a rare engineering brief and it is why I said yes. I spent more than a decade in SAP’s health technology ecosystem in Germany, building products for hospitals and researchers and health data applications and the cloud infrastructure they run on. Both taught me that trust is a technical property. It comes from architecture, testing and auditability, not from a marketing deck. I will bring the same standard here.”

About Bloomsbury Money Group

Bloomsbury Money Group provides multi-currency accounts, spot foreign exchange, cross-border payments, Visa debit cards and regulated virtual asset services to businesses and individuals, with offices in St Helier, Jersey and London. Its regulated business, Bloomsbury Money Jersey Limited, is a money service business and virtual asset service provider regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC registry reference 210054). Bloomsbury Money Group Limited is a Jersey private company (registered number 165853). The group is building a global cross-border network for fiat, digital assets and local payment rails, and trades under the strapline Better Global Banking.

www.bloomsburymoney.com

Forward-looking statements

This announcement contains some forward-looking statements about Bloomsbury Money Group’s strategy, plans and intended products, including the development of its platform, the extension of its services into additional jurisdictions. These statements reflect current intentions and expectations and are subject to regulatory approvals, technical development, market conditions and other factors outside the group’s control. They are not a guarantee of future performance or of the availability of any product or service in any jurisdiction, and the group undertakes no obligation to update them.

Media contacts: Bloomsbury Money Press Office
Email: press@bloomsburymoney.com
Website: www.bloomsburymoney.com

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SOURCE Bloomsbury Money

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