Verisk Appoints Lee M. Shavel as CEO, Mark V. Anquillare as President, Three New Independent Directors to Board of Directors


Lee M. Shavel Headshot

JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK), a leading global data analytics provider, today announced the appointment of Lee M. Shavel to CEO and Mark V. Anquillare to President following the company’s annual shareholder meeting. Shavel was also elected to the Verisk Board of Directors. At this time, three new independent directors, nominated by the company, were elected to the company’s Board of Directors: Jeffrey Dailey, Wendy Lane and Kimberly S. Stevenson.

“Verisk has a profound opportunity to help the insurance industry evolve in a new digital environment, integrate and activate rapidly growing data sets and achieve new levels of efficiency. With our industry knowledge, technical expertise and established client relationships, we are uniquely positioned to address their needs as an essential technology partner,” Shavel said. “I’m humbled to assume the role of Verisk CEO, and I will be focused on value creation for our customers, colleagues and shareholders. This is a great responsibility and one I truly cherish.”
Mark V. Anquillare Headshot 

Most recently, Shavel served as CFO and group president for Verisk. Anquillare served as COO and group president. Shavel and Anquillare have been architects and drivers of Verisk’s growth, increased efficiency and an innovation agenda that has helped the insurance industry successfully turn data into actionable insights and accelerate its digital transformation.

“With a sharpened focus on serving the insurance industry, we’ve optimized our path toward continued growth and enhanced value creation,” Anquillare said. “At such a pivotal moment for the industry, Verisk is poised to empower new opportunities for our customers and colleagues around the globe.”

Shavel’s replacement as CFO will be named at a later date.

Biographies for Lee M. Shavel, Mark V. Anquillare, Jeffrey Dailey, Wendy Lane and Kimberly S. Stevenson can be found here.

About Verisk
Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) provides data-driven analytic insights and solutions for the insurance and energy industries. Through advanced data analytics, software, scientific research and deep industry knowledge, Verisk empowers customers to strengthen operating efficiency, improve underwriting and claims outcomes, combat fraud and make informed decisions about global issues, including climate change and extreme events as well as political and ESG topics. With offices in more than 30 countries, Verisk consistently earns certification by Great Place to Work and fosters an inclusive culture where all team members feel they belong. For more, visit Verisk.com and the Verisk Newsroom.

Attachments

Investor Relations
Stacey Brodbar
Head of Investor Relations
Verisk
201-469-4327
stacey.brodbar@verisk.com

Media
Alberto Canal
Verisk
201-469-2618
alberto.canal@verisk.com

Introducing Cloudbeds Amplify: The Intelligent Digital Marketing Solution Driving More Direct Bookings for Independent Hoteliers

Leading hotel technology platform Cloudbeds acquires AdsHotel and Odysys to level the playing field in the high-cost competition for direct bookings with new digital marketing service

SAN DIEGO, May 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Cloudbeds, the hospitality industry’s fastest-growing technology provider, unveiled today the expansion of its hospitality platform with its newest solution, Cloudbeds Amplify. Set for release in early Fall, the comprehensive done-for-you digital marketing service leverages advanced technologies to optimize customers’ online presence, drive more direct bookings and increase revenue. Cloudbeds Amplify services include website creation and search optimization, metasearch advertising, search engine marketing and management of online business listings — combined into fully managed, cost-effective service packages designed to drive more traffic, boost online visibility and build a better guest booking experience.

“Direct bookings are critical to many hoteliers’ bottom lines,” said Adam Harris, CEO and Co-Founder of Cloudbeds. “Yet, many operators don’t have the marketing budget, time or skills to compete effectively against the major players. Cloudbeds Amplify makes it easy for lodging businesses to win new customers without the hassle. They can leverage the technology and expertise used by big brands without needing big budgets.”

Cloudbeds Amplify, part of the company’s comprehensive hospitality management platform, addresses some of the most pressing pain points for the industry, including profitability and the high cost of customer acquisition.

Marina Moretti, owner of Ô de Casa Hostel & Bar in São Paulo, who joined the pilot program earlier this year, stated, “As an owner, digital marketing is not my specialty. I have always viewed it as complicated, but it is quickly becoming a necessity to operate a lodging business in today’s market. With Cloudbeds Amplify, the team made the process easy by handling the entire setup and management. Thus far, we’ve driven 57 additional bookings through our website that might otherwise have been booked via OTAs – without requiring any additional time or effort from myself or staff.”

To support the expansion of its hospitality platform and the launch of Cloudbeds Amplify, the company recently made several strategic moves, including the acquisitions of AdsHotel and Odysys. AdsHotel, formerly owned by D-Business based in Venice, Italy, is the leading ad tech platform designed for hospitality, offering independent hotels a platform to manage metasearch and programmatic advertising to boost direct bookings. Odysys, based in Bend, Ore., is a specialist marketing firm offering a flexible all-in-one marketing platform to independent lodging businesses.

Learn more about Cloudbeds Amplify at cloudbeds.com/join-cloudbeds-amplify.

About Cloudbeds
Cloudbeds is the hospitality industry’s fastest-growing technology partner, powering seamless operations for properties of all sizes and types across the globe. Its award-winning Cloudbeds Hospitality Platform seamlessly combines operations, revenue, distribution and growth marketing tools with a marketplace of third-party integrations to help hoteliers and hosts grow revenue, streamline operations and deliver memorable guest experiences. Cloudbeds was named No. 1 PMS and No. 1 Hotel Management System by Hotel Tech Report in 2022, and has been recognized by Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 in 2021. For more information, visit www.cloudbeds.com.

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/70564651-6832-47ac-b4af-99ffd54e7e69

All You Need to Know About the Two New Locations for Vivid Sydney 2022 — Central Station & The Goods Line

A brand-new precinct that transforms some of Sydney’s oldest buildings and forgotten corners into a vibrant hub of light, music and ideas

Chronoharp

Chronoharp

SYDNEY, May 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Central Station and The Goods Line will be part of Vivid Sydney for the first time in 2022. Light projections, installations and music events will be held in the historic station building and along the adjoining revitalised walkway, and Central Station’s iconic clock tower will be illuminated. Two of Sydney’s great educational institutions nearby, the University of Technology Sydney and the Powerhouse Museum, will also host events for the Vivid Ideas program, including the fascinating Vivid Ideas Exchange.

VIVID LIGHT

Name: Vivid Reflections
Artist: The Electric Canvas (Australia)
Location: Western Forecourt of Central Station
Interactive | Great for Families | Soul of Sydney

This interactive projection uses motion capture technology to turn a person’s movements into animated action, then beams them onto the landmark clock tower. Visitors will be transported, in fantastic and unexpected ways, to the places that make Sydney unique, from Bondi Beach to diverse cultural icons.

Name: Convergence
Artist: Mandylights (Australia)
Location: The Goods Line Tunnel
Interactive | Art & Architecture

The largest-scale laser installation in Vivid Sydney history — with more than 100 custom-made laser units — creates a spectacular, immersive visual experience. The unused Goods Line tunnel becomes a portal to a spectacular convergence of lights, lasers and smoke effects that will leave guests wondering where the tunnel leads and what they’ll discover as they journey deeper underground.

Name: Frankly, My Dear…
Artist: Sinclair Park (Australia)
Location: UTS Business School (Dr Chau Chak Wing Building), Ultimo Road, Ultimo
Art & Architecture

See the Frank Gehry-designed UTS Business School in a whole new light. By illuminating its windows with colour-changing cove lights and wall grazers, Sinclair accents the crumpled-looking exposed brick form with jewel-bright hues. Seen from the Goods Line, Frank Gehry’s unmistakable “paper bag” aesthetic suddenly looks as enticing as a bag of mixed lollies.

Name: We Dream the City
Artist: Essem Projects: Michael Killalea (Australia) / Sarah Barns (Australia)
Location: The Goods Line at Powerhouse Museum
Soul of the City

As visitors stroll along The Goods Line, the back wall of the Powerhouse Museum comes alive with an animated vision of Sydney’s streets through time, creating a 130m-long meditation of the forces that have shaped Sydney. This moving mural uses footage from the ABC, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, the former Maritime Workers Union, the Transport for NSW Historical collection and more.

Name: A Mirrored City
Artist: WITCH+GHOST: Isabel Hudson (Australia) / Trent Suidgeest (Australia)
Location: The Goods Line, Ultimo
Interactive | Great for Families | Soul of the City

Discover a city within the city, where shimmering surfaces beckon. Visitors weave their way through a series of building-like forms covered in dichroic film. This playful installation invites people on a journey through many vignettes of Sydney life. Will they recognise Oxford Street, the Northern Beaches, a game of backyard cricket or the late-night allure of Kings Cross?

Name: Shard
Artist: Lumos Creatives: Christian Lovelady (Australia) / Wakara Gondarra (Australia) / Baykali Ganambarr (Australia) / Watjarr Garmu (Australia) / Tristan Garner (Australia)
Location: The Goods Line Near Novotel Sydney Central
Indigenous & First Nations

This trio of light sculptures acts as a platform for the stories of Yolngu dancers Baykali Ganambarr, Wakara Gondarra and Watjarr (Marko) Garmu, with LED screen technology giving them a new way to express themselves that truly brings their language to fresh eyes and ears. Watch as the fire dances, the yidaki (traditional didgeridoo) sings and poetry is spoken.

Name: Smash
Artist: Creative Road Art Projects Pty Ltd: Marilyn Minter (United States)
Location: The Goods Line Near Novotel Sydney Central
Agents of Change

An arresting video projection of a pair of bejewelled stilettos stomping and splashing through puddles of silver paint. It’s a play on the Vivid Sydney 2022 theme of “Soul of the City,” as a “sole” of a different kind can be seen as a catalyst for change.

VIVID MUSIC
Vivid Music at Central Station
Every Saturday, 7-10 p.m.
Free

The Grand Concourse of Central Station becomes an impromptu concert hall with a different band performing every week. Stop by for some swing, bluegrass, jazz, pop and more on the way to or from the Light Walk.

DJs at The Goods Line
Every night from 6-10:30 p.m.
Free

The city’s best spinners will hit the decks during Vivid Sydney on a new stage set up among the Light Walk along The Goods Line. There’s a different DJ playing every night including Stereogamous, Kate Monroe, Stephen Ferris, Peewee Ferris and LUEN.

VIVID IDEAS
Vivid Ideas Up Late
Powerhouse Museum
9, 2 & 16 June, 5-9 p.m.
Free

Celebrate who and what makes Sydney unique through talks, music, performance and art at Vivid Ideas Up Late. The Powerhouse Museum will host three events in the series: Beautiful Freak in the Machine (2 June), Ballroom & the West Ball (9 June), and Queer Sydney (16 June).

Vivid Ideas Exchange
University of Technology Sydney

Join some of the world’s greatest minds at the Vivid Ideas Exchange, with more than 60 events covering everything from racism and cults to death, climate change, space and drugs. This series of talks, seminars, screenings and workshops is designed to spark debate among the creative community.

EXCLUSIVE VIVID SYDNEY OFFERS & EXPERIENCES 

Many of the restaurants in the Kensington Street dining precinct have special offers during Vivid Sydney, including a complimentary Fire & Ice dessert at Eastside Bar & Grill; a complimentary bottle of Sicilian wine with the degustation menu at Olio; a complimentary serve of Rainbow Dumplings with any whole duck at Holy Duck; and 15% off selected cocktails at Cartel, Gin Lane and Blossom Bar.

Step off The Goods Line at Darling Square to refresh with a limited-edition Vivid Sydney drink at Bubble Nini Tea. The Milky Way milk tea and Super Nova sparkling fruit drink both come with light-up coasters and glow-in-the-dark straws to take home.

Hello Auntie in Darling Square is serving up a Vivid-inspired Disco Ball cocktail complete with LED ice cubes.

For more information on Vivid Sydney and to book tickets, go to www.vividsydney.com. Get social using @vividsydney #vividsydney.

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Wayne Mitcham, Āmio Limited
M: +64 21 499 550
E: wayne@amio.nz

About Vivid Sydney 

Vivid Sydney is an annual celebration of creativity, innovation and technology, which transforms Sydney for 23 days and nights. Staged for its 12th year in 2022, Vivid Sydney fuses mesmerising art displays and 3D light projections with exhilarating live music performances and deep-dive discussions from some of the world’s brightest minds, as well as the Sydney Opera House Lighting of the Sails. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.

Related Images

Image 1: Chronoharp

Artists – Amigo & Amigo (Photo Credit – Destination NSW)

Image 2: Corpi Celesti

Artists – Daniele Davino, Daniele Spanó and Luca Brinchi (Credit – Destination NSW)

Image 3: Vivid Reflections

Artist – The Electric Canvas (Credit – Destination NSW)

Image 4: We Dream The City

Artists – Michael Killalea and Sarah Barns (Credit – Destination NSW)

This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

Attachment

Journalists’ associations should play greater role in training media practitioners – Annuar

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) — Journalism institutions including journalists’ associations need to play a greater role in enabling the community of media practitioners to receive training and guidance on the profession, says Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

He said this was because a journalist’s career could not depend on formal studies from institutions of higher learning alone.

“If journalists want to become professional, then the journalist bodies themselves must conduct training and also set guidelines to become an entity that is considered professional,” he said during the ‘Ruang Bicara’ programme on Bernama TV entitled ‘HAWANA 2022: Kewartawanan Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia’.

In the programme, Annuar also advised journalists’ associations to unite, focus and build the journalism profession in the right way.

“If the journalists’ associations remain divided, or still open up many associations that only take care of the welfare of their members without looking at the scope of the journalism profession…then we will be fragmented and weak and may quarrel, and in the end, it takes us nowhere,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said it was very important for journalists’ associations in the country to hold more training programmes to strengthen the credibility of media practitioners.

“I want to see these journalists’ associations get together, don’t have too many branches. If there are already various (associations) it doesn’t matter, the important thing is to sit together and create a platform for all to share the same vision,” he told Bernama after the programme.

Annuar added that the role of the associations in providing training was among the best measures to improve the professionalism of journalists, so that incidents including writing news not based on facts did not occur.

HAWANA 2022, which will take place in Melaka this Sunday, is being organised to recognise the role of Malaysian journalists and media practitioners, besides serving as a platform for media practitioners to share opinions and enhance the development and growth of the media industry in Malaysia.

The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and Malaysian-Indonesian Journalists’ Association (ISWAMI) will be the prime movers of the event with the support of the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia (K-KOMM).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Toddler dies after being hit by school bus

PUTRAJAYA, May 26 (Bernama) — A 16-month-old girl was killed after she was hit by a school bus in front of her house in Taman Anggerik, Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi in Sepang today.

Sepang police chief ACP Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof said the toddler was believed to have been running after her sister who came out of the house to board the bus in the 12.15pm incident.

“Her sister was not aware that the victim was following behind to get on the bus …she was found under the bus when it drove off.

“The victim’s 13-year-old sister got down from the bus to find the toddler severely injured in the head and several parts of the body,” he said briefly in a statement tonight.

“She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Salak Health Clinic in Sepang,” he said adding that the body was sent to Putrajaya Hospital for post mortem.

The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Franchise industry can grow rapidly in Sabah and Sarawak — Nanta

SANDAKAN, May 26 (Bernama) — The franchise industry is able to grow faster in Sabah and Sarawak, where the industry has the potential to produce entrepreneurs that can be successful even abroad.

Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said Sabah and Sarawak have still not been exposed to the franchise industry to a satisfactory level but there is room and opportunity for development.

“If we look at how this industry is growing rapidly elsewhere, especially in the Peninsula, there is space and opportunity for us (entrepreneurs) in Sabah and Sarawak.

“Overseas, brands from Malaysia are already established in 72 countries…we are developing this industry so that there are more new brands and products that we can bring and introduce locally and abroad,” he told reporters after officiating tea drink brand Tealive’s new outlet at Hotel Elopura here tonight.

He said a fund of RM8 million allocated last year for the development of the industry has spawned many franchisees and his ministry would apply for more funds from the government to boost the industry.

Meanwhile, founder and chief executive officer of Loob Holding Sdn Bhd, the owner of Tealive brand, Bryan Loo said the company planned to open 12 more franchised branches in Sabah by next year.

He said currently, there are 47 branches of the beverage brand in 14 towns in the state.

“As a brand that was ‘born in Malaysia, raised for the world’, Tealive appreciates the tremendous support among tea lovers in Sabah, which allows us to grow consistently and extend our reach to the city and suburbs,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

Ticket sales for KTM ETS, intercity services start May 27

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) — Tickets for KTM Electric Train Service (ETS) and Intercity rides between July 1 and Dec 31, will go on sale beginning tomorrow (May 27), based on the existing schedule.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) said that ETS services will operate with 32 services: with 10 services for the KL Sentral-Butterworth route, 10 for the KL Sentral-Ipoh route, eight for the KL Sentral-Padang Besar route and two services each for the Gemas-Butterworth and Gemas-Padang Besar routes.

The KTM Intercity service operates with 22 services consisting of two Ekspres Timuran, six Ekspres Selatan and 14 Shuttle Timuran.

“From July 1, the Ekspres Rakyat Timuran will resume operation from Johor Bahru Sentral Station to Tumpat Station, including the Ekspres Selatan service which will operate from Johor Bahru Sentral Station to Gemas Station,” KTMB said in a statement tonight.

This is because the operation for the Kempas Baru to Johor Bahru Sentral route was previously suspended for work to upgrade the Gemas-JB Sentral Electrified Double Track Project (PLBEGJB) on Nov 23 last year.

“Ticket sales are open for a period of six months, to let the public plan ahead, especially for those celebrating Aidiladha, school holidays and vacations,” said its group chief executive officer Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin, in the statement.

He said following the reopening of the country’s borders, tourist arrivals are expected to rise by year-end; travellers are advised to buy tickets immediately to enjoy cheap fares as well as choose seats.

Meanwhile, KTMB customers can get a RM15 discount by using promo code ‘CUTIKERETAPI2’ for travel until Nov 30, as well as a 25 per cent group travel discount through the Keluarga Malaysia Package using promo code ‘KMKTMB22’ to purchase adult or child tickets.

Tickets can be purchased through the KTMB mobile application (KITS/KTMB MobTicket app) or the KTMB website.

More information can be obtained by contacting KTMB call centre at 03-2267 1200 or KTMB’s official new media channel and website at www.ktmb.com.my.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency