Professional & Business Services

Arlington, Va. – September 11, 2026 -- Eighty-four percent of senior business leaders say at least one cultural factor is limiting their organization's success with artificial intelligence, even as AI adoption delivers measurable productivity and quality gains, according to a new survey from Eagle Hill Consulting.

AI adoption spreads evenly across core business functions

The Eagle Hill Consulting AI Capabilities survey of 306 U.S. director-level and above executives finds organizations deploying AI at nearly equal rates across business operations (73 percent), decision support and analytics (72 percent), and employee productivity and knowledge work (71 percent). Sixty-six percent of respondents report improved employee productivity, 59 percent cite improved operational efficiency, 55 percent report improved quality of work, and 53 percent report improved customer experience.

New York – September 11, 2026 -- Genpact (NYSE: G) has appointed Sumita Pandit as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective September 9, 2026, placing a 25-year finance and capital markets veteran at the helm of its balance sheet as the company pushes its Agentic Operations strategy.

Pandit succeeds Michael Weiner, who exits after five years as CFO

Pandit takes over from Michael Weiner, who has held the CFO post since 2021 and will remain with Genpact as an advisor through the end of Q1 2027 to support the transition. She will report directly to President and CEO Balkrishan 'BK' Kalra and join the Genpact Leadership Council.

Kalra credited Weiner with strengthening Genpact's financial foundation over the past five years and positioning the company for its next growth phase.

Provo, Utah – September 11, 2026 -- Aptive Environmental, the fifth-largest pest control company in the United States, has appointed Shane Hansen as Chief Financial Officer, Ivona Adkins as Chief People Officer and Viviana Harrington as Deputy General Counsel, Compliance, strengthening its finance, people and legal functions.

Hansen brings two decades of tech and consumer finance leadership to Aptive

Hansen will oversee Aptive's finance, technology and data functions. He most recently served as CFO and Executive Vice President at Transformco, where he managed financial and operational strategy across five business units. He previously held senior finance and strategy roles at Planful, Vivint Smart Home and Symantec.

Denver – September 11, 2026 -- Demand AI has appointed John P O'Malley, a former IDG Communications Chief Operating Officer, as Non-Executive Chairman of its Board as the AI-native B2B marketing technology company enters its next growth phase.

O'Malley brings three decades of IDG leadership experience to the Board

O'Malley spent more than 30 years across technology, data, media and B2B marketing, including tenure as CEO of IDG's demand-generation business and international sales and operations divisions before becoming COO of IDG Communications, overseeing data, technology, engineering, finance and global operations. He was closely involved in developing IDG's Pipeline Activator, an early platform for identifying companies showing active buying signals, and carries extensive M&A, due diligence and post-merger integration experience.

Tamarac, Fla. – September 11, 2026 -- A PuroClean Franchise Owner has surpassed $20 million in gross sales from a single location for the first time in the restoration franchise's history, according to figures disclosed in the company's Franchise Disclosure Document. The milestone underscores accelerating reinvestment across the system, with 20% of PuroClean's 2026 unit growth coming from existing Franchise Owners adding territories.

Multi-unit ownership climbs to 44% of the franchise base

Nearly half of all PuroClean Franchise Owners, 44%, now operate multiple units. The company frames this reinvestment rate as evidence of confidence in its unit-level economics and scalability.

Scottsdale, Ariz. – September 11, 2026 -- Performance marketing agency Brilliant climbed to No. 1,847 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, up more than 1,700 spots from No. 3,562 in 2022, on 188% three-year revenue growth.

Revenue growth outpaces the Inc. 5000 median by 58 points

Brilliant's 188% three-year revenue growth (2022-2025) exceeds the 130% median posted by companies on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, which ranks U.S. private companies by three-year revenue expansion.

Agency signs new consumer brands including Haakaa, Baby Brezza and Sera Prognostics

New business wins over the past 12 months include Haakaa, Baby Brezza, Veer, b.bot, Sera Prognostics, Mira and Napa Cellars, expanding Brilliant's existing client roster with marquee consumer accounts.

Beachwood, Ohio – September 11, 2026 -- Referna, a referral network for independent professionals, has been accepted into the Google for Startups Cloud Program, gaining Google Cloud credits and technical resources to scale its AI-driven matching and live-meeting infrastructure.

Referna organizes independent professionals into structured referral circles of 8 to 12 peers

The platform groups fractional CFOs, consultants, recruiters, and other client-service experts into small circles of non-competing peers serving the same type of client. Members meet regularly and refer business to one another, replacing informal networking with a structured system for warm introductions.

Washington, D.C. – September 11, 2026 -- NovoTech Patent Firm Founding Director Babak Akhlaghi has secured recognition from three separate intellectual property industry rankings within a single cycle, including a listing in the IAM Strategy 300 guide.

Akhlaghi earns triple recognition across global IP rankings

Akhlaghi has been named to the IAM Strategy 300, a guide identifying individuals viewed as leaders in developing and implementing IP strategies that maximize portfolio value. He was also recognized in WIPR Leaders 2026, a ranking highlighting IP professionals worldwide, and was selected to Super Lawyers for the eighth consecutive year.

Enfield, Connecticut – September 11, 2026 -- Annex Brands, Inc. has opened a new PostalAnnex Express franchise inside Tobacco Hut at 2 Middle Road in Enfield, CT 06082, expanding its franchise network to a new local owner, Gaurav Trehan.

New location bundles shipping carriers under one roof for local customers

The express location offers shipping services through USPS, UPS, and DHL, alongside expert packing services, private mailbox rentals, and packaging supplies. The site combines retail tobacco operations with parcel logistics, a model Annex Brands has used to broaden its franchise footprint into non-traditional retail spaces.

Aachen – September 10, 2026 -- FEV Consulting has been included in the World's Best Management Consulting Firms 2026 list, published jointly by Forbes and Statista, marking a repeat recognition following its 2022 and 2023 appearances on the global ranking.

FEV Consulting secures back-to-back Forbes-Statista recognitions in 2026

The Aachen-based firm was also named to the America's Best Management Consulting Firms 2026 list earlier this year, adding to its 2022 and 2023 inclusions in the global Forbes ranking. The consultancy positions the latest listing as confirmation of its sustained standing as an internationally recognized management advisory firm.