Starmind International AG’s ambition to become the global leader in Brain Technology and self-learning knowledge networks took a major step forward today with the announcement that Peter Waser will be the new Chief Executive Officer. 

Blackstone announces the appointment of Marc Bolland as Head of European Portfolio Operations of its private equity businesses. Mr Bolland was formerly Chief Executive of Marks and Spencer plc and previously Chief Executive of Morrisons plc and Chief Operating Officer of Heineken plc. He will start on 19 September 2016.

Joseph Baratta, global Head of Private Equity at Blackstone, said:

As part of its expansion strategy in Mexico, The Western Union Company announced an agreement with Walmart de Mexico y Centroamérica to offer international money transfer services under the Western Union®, Vigo® and Orlandi ValutaSM brands throughout Mexico.

Customers will be able to receive their money transfer transactions across 1,266 Bodega Aurrera, Mi Bodega Aurrera, Walmart, Superama and Suburbia stores in all of Mexico’s 31 states and in Mexico City, during store hours, 365 days a year. The companies expect to activate services during the third quarter of 2016.

Asset International, the premier source for authentic business intelligence and actionable insight for the asset management community, today announces that it has closed its acquisition of Market Metrics and Matrix Solutions. Market Metrics and Matrix Solutions are leading data and research firms for advisor-sold investments and insurance worldwide, with a heritage of providing strategic consulting and mission-critical data sets for mutual funds, variable annuities, mortgages and life insurance.

 Colt PrizmNet, the financial extranet developed by Colt, has continued to grow its footprint in Asia by connecting to Equinix’s International Business Exchange™ (IBX®) data centres in Hong Kong (HK1) and Singapore (SG1).

 Syneto announced the appointments of Vadim Comanescu as CEO and Rick Dudson as VP of sales EMEA. Both appointments are effective immediately and will support Syneto’s ambitions to extend its presence across Europe, to continue to drive double-digit growth and to further expand its channel partner ecosystem.

Sonovate, the UK’s leading provider of contract finance to recruitment companies, has appointed Richard Mansell as its new chief operations officer to oversee the company’s ambitious growth plans.