The latest from the frontlines of the world’s fastest growing companies and the teams doing the work. 

Meet The Team

The co-op model has been readily embraced by many sectors, but in technology it remains on the fringes. Can agritech behemoths like New Zealand’s LIC give the blueprint for a new era of tech ownership?


Wellington, New Zealand. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

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What Part Will Co-ops Play in Tech’s Future?

Luminar has announced that it has four new executives joining to help lead the LiDAR maker into a new phase of growth. The new hires include VP of Business Operations and Alignment Sardar Gautham, Vice President of Strategic Sourcing and Materials Cheryl Zula, Head of Corporate Development & Strategy Alex Vitale, and CIO Munir Hafez.

Luminar’s Iris integrated into the roofline of a passenger vehicle that is kicking off on a roadshow in NYC. (Photo: Business Wire)

Luminar

Luminar Adds a Chief Information Officer and Three Other Execs

This week, Microsoft found the leader for its consumer app portfolio, Twitter named the head of its decentralized social network platform project, and a former Tesla exec joined Lordstown Motors.

Editorial credit: Asif Islam / Shutterstock.com

Microsoft

10 Tech Executive Moves You Should Know This Week

Recently we’ve seen the wealth management industry diversify significantly from just having high-touch products geared towards institutional investors and high net worth individuals, to offering more accessible products to a wider range of people. The Org spoke to four dynamic players in the wealthtech scene in Africa about the nascent industry that is teeming with opportunity, and the roles these startups are playing in promoting financial inclusion on the continent.

The Org identifies four companies that are shaping Africa's wealthtech ecosystem. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.

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Four Companies Shaping Africa’s Wealthtech Ecosystem 

A current startup boom combined with a maturing stock market in India has resulted in a string of buzzy startups planning to go public in 2021. The Org identified four lucrative startups, other than Zomato, to keep an eye on as they go public later in the year.

India Skyline 

The Hottest IPOs In India in 2021

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Artemis Program recently hit a bump in the road when Jeff Bezos, who owns Blue Origin, sued the company for “unlawful and improper evaluation of proposals.” Despite the escalation of the new lawsuit, NASA’s senior leaders are committed to proceeding with their space exploration program. The Org has delved into NASA’s org chart to learn who is calling the shots at the largest independent space agency in the world. 

The Org has delved into NASA’s org chart to learn who is calling the shots at the largest independent space agency in the world. Image courtesy of NASA.


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Meet the Team Guiding NASA - The World’s Largest Independent Space Agency

Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon, but that's not the only thing the Southwestern state has going on.

Editorial credit: JeniFoto / Shutterstock.com

Sunset view of the desert and mountains near Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Startups to Watch Coming Out of Arizona

High fidelity music streaming service Tidal has named Sade Ayodele as the company’s Head of Global Communications, a newly created position.

Sade Ayodele. Image credit: Sade Ayodele via LinkedIn

Sade Ayodele

Tidal Finds Its New Global Comms Head

Workplace mental health platform Modern Health has onboarded Gyre Renwick as its new Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.

Gyre Renwick. Image courtesy of Modern Health

Gyre Renwick

Ex-Lyft and Google Exec Selected as Modern Health’s COO

Microsoft has recruited Manik Gupta, Uber’s former product chief, as its new Corporate Vice President for Teams Consumer, Skype, and GroupMe.

Manik Gupta. Image courtesy of Manik Gupta via Linkedin

Manik Gupta

Microsoft Hires Ex-Uber and Google Exec to Lead Consumer Apps

These are the most notable hires, promotions, and departures within the US tech community in the last week. For executive news updated daily, check out The Org's People on the Move.

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The Biggest Moves in Tech This Week

Health food chain, Sweetgreen, has appointed Wouleta Ayele as Chief Technology Officer, effective today.

Wouleta Ayele. Image courtesy of Business Wire.

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Wouleta Ayele Appointed as CTO of Sweetgreen

Super apps contain multiple functions that are easily accessed in one space. The idea may still seem a little foreign in Western countries, but throughout the Asia Pacific super apps are the new normal. The Org delves into possibilities behind why super apps may have flourished in the East but struggled to gain steam in the West.

Super apps contain multiple functions that are easily accessed in one space.

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Super Apps Are Taking Over Asia Pacific, But Why Aren’t They Picking Up Steam In The West?

Wingstop has elevated CTO Stacy Peterson as its new Chief Digital and Technology Officer to help continue its tech-focused approach to the fast-casual food industry. 

Stacy Peterson, chief technology officer. Image courtesy of Wingstop


Stacy Peterson

Wingstop Names CTO to an Expanded Role

Dave Gerhardt is returning to the marketing startup as its first-ever brand officer. He was the startup's first marketing employee back in 2015 and will work with both the CEO and CMO in his new role. 

Drift Chief Brand Officer Dave Gerhardt. Courtesy of Dave Gerhardt. 

Dave Gerhardt

Drift's First Marketing Employee Returns as Chief Brand Officer 

Twitter has found the leader for its initiative to create a decentralized social network standard, called Bluesky, as Happening founder Jay Graber revealed she had accepted the role in a tweet on Monday.

Jay Graber. Image courtesy of jaygraber.com

Jay Graber

Jay Graber to Helm Twitter’s Bluesky Initiative

Joseph Holmes has joined autonomous vehicle (AV) technology startup Perrone Robotics as its VP of Global Business Development.

Joseph Holmes. Image courtesy of Perrone Robotics

Joseph Holmes

Perrone Robotics Adds a Global Business Development Leader

Digital identity management solutions provider ForgeRock has selected Cisco’s Tschudy Smith to serve as the company’s new Chief People Officer.

Tschudy Smith, Chief People Officer at ForgeRock. Image courtesy of Business Wire

Tschudy Smith

ForgeRock Recruits New People Chief From Cisco

Medtech startup theator has selected its first Chief Commercial Offer, Kavi Vyas, as it enters a new phase of growth.

Kavi Vyas

Theator Selects Kavi Vyas as Its Commercial Chief

Upwork, a platform that connects freelancers to businesses, has hired seasoned cloud, mobile and AI executive, Saty Bahadur as its CTO. 

Saty Bahadur Appointed as CTO of Upwork. Image courtesy of Shutterstock.