leadership

Global – October 23, 2026 -- Seven months into the Omnicom PR integration, the executive leading it, identified in the podcast only as Chris, says unresolved ambiguity costs more than change itself. People adapt to change faster than leaders expect, he said, but not to open questions, and the longer decisions linger the more time staff spend speculating instead of serving clients.

Chris ranks leadership and people above financial synergies in consolidation

Integration is "a leadership exercise, not a financial one," in Chris's account. Financial and regulatory transactions close in due time, he said, while building one organization takes longer. He named three lessons: keep people and clients at the center, lead visibly through uncertainty, and extend leadership across the whole business rather than concentrating it in one person. Every integration decision should answer one question: does it make the company a stronger partner for clients?

New York – October 21, 2026 -- University of South Carolina women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time national champion, argues that empathy and high standards work together to produce wins, according to a new episode of the Grey Matter podcast hosted by Consello Founder, Chairman and CEO Declan Kelly.

Staley says playing instincts do not automatically make a leader

Staley tells Kelly that the instincts that made her successful as a player did not always translate into impactful leadership when she moved into coaching. Over more than three decades at the highest levels of women's basketball, she says, empathy and adaptability have defined her long-term success.

Bel Air – October 19, 2026 -- Harford Mutual Insurance Group's policyholders' surplus has grown from $89 million in 2006 to $489 million as of September 30, 2026, over the 20-year tenure of President and CEO Steven D. Linkous.

Linkous becomes third-longest-serving president in 1842 insurer's history

Linkous took the top job on October 16, 2006, as only the 10th president since the company was founded in 1842. Only John Carroll Walsh, who served 29 years, and Richard Dallam, who served 45 years, have led the company longer. Linkous joined HMIG in 1985 as a Microcomputer Programmer and Agency Support Specialist and also sits on the Board of Directors.

LONDON – October 19, 2026 -- Strategic advisory firm Hakluyt has appointed Julia Gillard, Australia's prime minister from 2010 to 2013 and current chair of Wellcome, to its international advisory board, effective immediately.

Gillard brings six years at the top of Australian government

Gillard served as deputy prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and then as prime minister until 2013, the first woman to hold the post. She was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in 1998. Earlier, she became a partner at the law firm Slater & Gordon and served as chief of staff to the premier of Victoria.

Downers Grove – October 16, 2026 -- Midwest grocer Fresh Thyme Market has placed five employees on Progressive Grocer's 2026 GenNext list, which recognizes emerging leaders in the grocery industry.

Honorees span category management, store operations and IT

The five honorees are Joe Sanchez, Deli Category Manager; Zachary Robbins, Store Director in Newport, Kentucky; Bri Chin, Natural Living Category Manager; Jared Anderson, Vegetable Category Manager; and Manny Perez, IT Network & Systems Infrastructure Manager.

Three of the five hold merchandising roles across deli, natural living and vegetables. The remaining two cover store-level leadership and technology infrastructure.

Boston – October 14, 2026 -- Nearly 90% of CEOs believe their employees trust their leadership, but only 46% of employees agree, according to the second edition of Boston Consulting Group's CEO Insomnia Index.

The gap is widest around AI transformation. Four in ten employees say their CEO has not been transparent enough about how AI will affect their roles and career opportunities. Only 15% of CEOs worry that their AI approach could erode employee trust.

The study draws on global surveys of 645 CEOs of companies with at least $100 million in revenue and 500 nonexecutive employees, plus five years of CEO turnover data from the S&P 1200. This edition adds employee perspectives to the Index for the first time.

Chicago – October 13, 2026 -- PRA, a business events and destination management firm, has appointed Raymond Zilberberg as Vice President, Production Services, putting a 20-year live events veteran in charge of its global production team as the company expands its entertainment offering.

Zilberberg takes charge of global production strategy and team growth

Zilberberg will lead PRA's global Production Services team, develop business strategies and operational excellence, and manage team growth. He will work with PRA's centralized Creative and Operations teams, its Global Sales and Strategic Account teams, and local teams.

Omaha – October 13, 2026 -- Medical Solutions CEO Rebecca Rogers Tijerino has been named to Staffing Industry Analysts' 2026 Global Power 150 Women in Staffing list, which recognizes senior female leaders across the global staffing industry.

SIA selects honorees based on demonstrated leadership, business impact and influence within their organizations and the wider industry. The list is compiled annually.

Tijerino has led Medical Solutions since January 2024

She joined the healthcare workforce solutions provider as CEO in January 2024. Under her leadership, the company has expanded how it helps facilities nationwide manage labor costs, improve patient care and prepare for future workforce needs.

Taipei – October 12, 2026 -- Kathy Yang, General Manager of Global Campus Operations and Head of AI Software Business and AI Infrastructure at Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) (TWSE:2317), has been named to Fortune's Most Powerful Women Asia 2026 list for the second consecutive year.

Technology leads the 2026 list with 16 honorees, ahead of banking's 14

Technology is the most represented sector in this year's ranking. Fortune's Asia list Senior Manager Charmian Choo said the sector's prominence reflects its growing influence on Asia's economy, with established leaders and a newer generation both rising.

Detroit – October 11, 2026 -- Akio Toyoda, chairman of the board of Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), became the fourth member of the Toyoda family inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame, in a ceremony held in Detroit.

The Hall of Fame recognizes leaders, innovators and visionaries whose work has shaped the global automotive and mobility industry. Toyoda joins his grandfather Kiichiro, his father Shoichiro, and Eiji Toyoda, his grandfather's cousin. Taiichi Ohno, widely regarded as the father of the Toyota Production System, is also among Toyota's honorees.

Toyoda took TMC's presidency in 2009 during a difficult period

Toyoda became president of TMC in 2009, assuming leadership during one of the most challenging periods in the company's history. He led efforts to strengthen quality controls, rebuild trust in the Toyota brand and reinforce the company's business foundation.