Month: February 2025

Microsoft implements instant layoffs with no severance for departing staff

Satya Nadella mused that if he were to depart from Microsoft, he would harness "tokens per watt per dollar"—a cutting-edge metric revolutionizing AI efficiency—to drive innovations in under-resourced fields such as healthcare, education, and public sector institutions.

Tech giant’s new performance management policy results in swift terminations without severance, as it tightens standards amid a competitive tech landscape.

We Are Social appoints Toby Southgate as Global Group CEO

Southgate’s new role will see him focus on evolving the agency’s ways of working, strengthening its global reach, and innovating its offerings in partnership with a prestigious roster of clients.

Southgate previously served as the global CEO of Forsman & Bodenfors, where he unified the agency’s offices post-merger and achieved gender pay equity.

Understanding ‘micro-retirement’, the new workplace trend reshaping career breaks

Similar to a sabbatical, a micro-retirement (or mini-retirement) is an intentional break from one’s career for a few months to even a few years.

A new workplace trend—micro-retirement—is making waves in 2025. This practice sees young professionals, particularly Gen Z, taking extended breaks from their 9-to-5 jobs to recharge and pursue personal passions. But is there more to this trend than just time off? Let’s find out.

Minimalist’s Mohit Yadav on challenging misinformation and not relying on flashy ads

Instead of chasing trends or relying on flashy ads, our marketing initiatives are rooted in science-backed information, transparency, and real consumer experiences, says Mohit Yadav, Co-Founder and CEO of Minimalist.

What’s next for Minimalist? With a fiercely loyal customer base, the inevitable question looms – Will the brand’s identity and quality evolve or perhaps even transform under HUL’s guidance?

Perplexity AI pursues TikTok US in bold bid for American ownership

The proposed deal, reportedly submitted to TikTok's parent company ByteDance in January, envisions the creation of a combined entity that would unite TikTok US with Perplexity's innovative AI-driven search engine.

For Perplexity, the deal represents more than just a high-stakes acquisition; it is a strategic push to challenge search engine giant Google.

Finfluencers face 60% decline in brand deal rates, drop in followers as SEBI tightens rules

Finfluencers will face a massive revenue drop as brand deals evaporate, as firms will no longer risk collaborations that could land them in non-compliance with SEBI’s circular, say experts. (Representative Image: Mark Duffel via Unsplash)

SEBI’s latest move to prohibit financial influencers from using trend data to make predictions would lead to a significant drop in brand deals from brokerage firms and investment platforms. However, improvements in disclosures, reduced deceptive practices, and better measurability in influencer marketing are expected.

WinZO vs Zupee case: Microsoft willing to share data, says no need for impleadment: EXCLUSIVE

The CCI also found no proof that Microsoft’s practices restricted technological progress in the cybersecurity industry.

WinZO had earlier sought permission from the Delhi High Court to seek critical information from Microsoft as part of its ongoing legal battle against Zupee and associated entities, including Data Empiric and FutureMinds Consulting.

Chiradeep Gupta moves on from Unilever

Having started his career at Starcom Mediavest Group as management trainee where he rose to the position of regional director, ASEAN, Chiradeep Gupta then joined Unilever, where his stint went on to last for 13 years. He began in the position of global innovation manager.

Chiradeep Gupta was Unilever’s vice president, personal care head of media and digital & global integrated media strategy lead.