former CEO

Mastercard, former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt are investing in a finance platform serving small businesses, according to Forbes. The backing from a major payments company and two of tech's most prominent figures signals growing investor interest in lending and financial tools aimed at small firms, an area often underserved by traditional banks.

UniCredit is making headlines in Italy on multiple fronts. Former top banker Michael Diederich is reportedly the leading candidate to take over as Commerzbank CEO in February, replacing Bettina Orlopp. Analysts are also lifting their targets on the bank: Equita sees room for the share price to reach 110 euros in a Commerzbank-HVB merger scenario, and Citi raised its target as UniCredit plans new branch openings in Italy.

Apple CEO John Ternus is reportedly taking a more hands-on role in the company's design teams, according to a new report. Apple has lacked a clear design lead since Jony Ive's departure in 2019, with former COO Jeff Williams overseeing design until he left the company last year. Ternus stepping in marks a notable shift in how Apple organizes its design leadership under its new chief executive.

Bob Chapek, the former Disney chief executive, is advising startups and says he is open to launching or joining a private equity fund, according to Bloomberg. The move marks a new chapter for Chapek after his high-profile exit from Disney in 2022, and signals continued interest from former media executives in early-stage ventures and investment vehicles.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt has given an interview discussing how artificial intelligence is reshaping warfare, with a focus on Ukraine's ability to innovate under wartime pressure and the lessons this holds for Europe's defence. Readers are sharing the conversation as a thought-provoking look at where technology and conflict may be heading next.

Chip City, the cookie chain founded in Astoria, Queens, has announced it is closing suddenly, just days after its former chief executive filed a lawsuit. The company gave no detailed explanation, and the timing of the legal dispute has fuelled speculation that the closure is connected to the suit. Customers and staff have been left scrambling after the abrupt announcement.

Mona, an AI startup, has raised $3.5 million in new funding, according to a report by FinSMEs. The news has drawn searches around former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who is widely known for backing early-stage artificial intelligence ventures. Details on who led the round or what Mona plans to do with the capital were not provided in the report.

David Ellison has appointed Ynon Kreiz as co-CEO of his newly formed media company, pairing the Paramount Skydance leadership with Kreiz, the former Mattel chief best known for turning the toy giant into a film and entertainment brand. The move signals how Ellison plans to structure his expanded empire, splitting creative and operational duties between the two executives as the company takes shape.

Yaki Noyman, former CEO of Israeli renewable energy firm Doral, has launched a new venture in partnership with founders of cybersecurity company Sphera, according to Calcalist. The move marks Noyman's return to the energy sector after his departure from Doral, teaming up with tech entrepreneurs to develop renewable energy projects.

Paramount is appointing Ynon Kreiz, formerly Mattel's chairman and CEO, as co-CEO ahead of the close of its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Kreiz will lead the company alongside chairman and CEO David Ellison, who remains at the helm as the deal moves toward completion.

The 'Ballmer Peak' is a humorous idea, attributed to xkcd, claiming a narrow band of blood-alcohol concentration improves programming ability, named after former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. The concept resurfaced in discussion, with people debating whether a small amount of alcohol genuinely sharpens focus or whether it is purely programmer folklore that has endured as an internet in-joke.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt said the best programmers no longer write code themselves, pointing to a shift toward directing AI tools that do the coding instead. His comments highlight how artificial intelligence is reshaping software engineering, with experienced developers increasingly acting as reviewers and architects of machine-generated code rather than typing it out line by line.

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt says artificial intelligence has overtaken him at the thing he considered himself best at. Schmidt, who led Google through its rise to dominance, has become a prominent voice on AI's rapid progress, and his admission is drawing attention as a striking example of how quickly the technology is matching — and beating — the abilities of seasoned tech executives.

Devin Nunes, the former chief executive of Trump Media & Technology Group and a former US congressman from California, has opened a wine business in Pismo Beach. The venture marks a new chapter for Nunes, who represented the state's Central Coast area in Congress before joining the Trump media company. The business adds to the region's established wine and tourism scene.

Bishop Keith McMullin, a longtime leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and former chief executive of Deseret Management Corp., has died at the age of 85. The death was announced through church-affiliated news channels. McMullin served in senior church positions and led the company overseeing the church's media and commercial assets. Church members and colleagues are mourning his passing.

Paramount, newly enlarged through its merger with Skydance, has appointed a co-CEO to serve alongside David Ellison. The report identifies Ynon Kreiz, the former Mattel chief, as taking on the shared leadership role at the combined media company. The move signals how the merged Paramount is structuring its top management as it integrates the two businesses.

Paramount is appointing Ynon Kreiz, the former Mattel chairman and CEO, as co-CEO ahead of the expected close of its $110 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The move signals how the combined media giant will be led once the deal completes, pairing Kreiz with existing leadership as Paramount prepares to run a far larger film, television and streaming business. Commentators are watching what a toymaker chief brings to a Hollywood studio at such a pivotal moment.

Former US House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has been named the next President and CEO of PhRMA, the pharmaceutical industry's main lobbying group in Washington. The appointment places a veteran Republican lawmaker and political insider at the helm of the industry's top advocacy organization as drug pricing remains a contentious policy issue.

A former PlayStation boss has offered public advice to Xbox's newly appointed CEO, telling them 'This is your Dreamcast moment' — a reference to Sega's console era that many gamers took as a pointed warning about the stakes facing the Xbox business. The remark is being shared across gaming outlets, with readers debating whether it is fair criticism of Microsoft's gaming strategy or simply a cautionary note from an industry veteran.

A hearing connected to Jack Smith, the former special counsel who brought criminal cases against Donald Trump, is being reported alongside news involving former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. The hearing marks another step in proceedings tied to Smith's work, while Schmidt's name is circulating in the same news cycle.

Donald Trump held a meeting with leading artificial intelligence executives, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai and Jensen Huang. The tech companies committed to new safety controls and independent audits for frontier AI systems. The gathering brings together political leadership and the biggest names in AI, drawing attention to how safety commitments will be implemented and enforced.