illumynt Appoints Matt Popieniuck as Vice President of Customer Success & Delivery

 BURLINGTON, Mass. -

28-year Dell Technologies veteran, most recently leading services sustainability strategy, joins to own end-to-end program execution as illumynt scales its AI hardware lifecycle business

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--illumynt, a technology-driven leader in AI hardware lifecycle recovery and IT asset disposition (ITAD), today announced that Matt Popieniuck has joined the company as Vice President of Customer Success & Delivery, effective August 2026. He reports to CEO Jörg Herbarth.

Popieniuck joins illumynt after 28 years at Dell Technologies, where he progressed from group leadership through senior and principal program management roles before moving into services sustainability strategy. In that most recent chapter, he worked on the question now driving illumynt's market: what happens to enterprise technology after its first deployment, and how manufacturers and their customers recover value from it responsibly.

In his new role, Matt leads the execution of illumynt’s customer programs from commercial handoff through final delivery, ensuring programs consistently meet SLAs, operational objectives, and customer expectations. He leads the company's Program Account Manager organization, co-owns new program introduction alongside illumynt's solutions team, and will build the company's enterprise program management office as illumynt scales.

"Matt spent nearly three decades inside one of the world's largest technology manufacturers, and the last several years of it on what happens to hardware at the end of its first life," said Jörg Herbarth, CEO of illumynt. "He has sat on the customer's side of this table. He knows what a program is supposed to deliver, and he knows exactly what it costs an enterprise when it doesn't. That is the perspective we want owning execution."

The appointment comes as illumynt expands its global operational footprint. The company employs more than 180 people across facilities in Burlington, Massachusetts; Columbus, Ohio; Amsterdam; Hong Kong; and St. Petersburg, Florida, and will open the Talorem Innovation Center in Columbus this fall.

"I spent most of my career building the programs that put technology into the world, and the last few years working on what happens to it afterward," said Popieniuck. "The intent was never the hard part — the execution was. illumynt has built real engineering infrastructure behind that problem instead of treating it as a logistics exercise, and that is a rare thing in this industry. I'm here to make sure every customer program delivers on what we promised."

Popieniuck holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management from Dean College.

About illumynt

illumynt is a technology-driven leader in AI hardware lifecycle recovery, providing engineering-grade testing, certification, and value recovery for retired AI infrastructure — including GPU grading, chip-level NAND recovery, and liquid-cooled hardware evaluation. illumynt's Talorem platform brings engineering rigor to an industry historically built on logistics alone.

 

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Contacts

Alyson Kaye 617.407.6381

Space42 et Leonardo DRS s’allient pour révolutionner les systèmes avancés au service des missions de sécurité nationale

ABOU DHABI, Émirats arabes unis - mercredi, 12. août 2026

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Space42, l’entreprise émiratie de SpaceTech propulsée par l’intelligence artificielle et réputée à l’échelle mondiale, a signé un protocole d’entente avec Leonardo DRS. Cet accord permet d’établir un cadre visant à intégrer les systèmes de missions opérationnelles de Leonardo DRS aux solutions de connectivité satellitaire sécurisée de Space42, afin de renforcer les capacités souveraines de sécurité nationale des Émirats arabes unis.

Sous les auspices de ce protocole, Leonardo DRS mettra à contribution son expertise en systèmes d’intervention en C5ISR et missions, tandis que Space42 fournira des solutions de communications satellitaires sécurisées, propulsées par l’intelligence artificielle, ainsi que les communications tactiques au-delà de la visibilité directe (Beyond Line-of-Sight, BLoS). Les deux entreprises étudieront conjointement la conception et l’intégration de capacités de mission avancées destinées aux Émirats arabes unis.

« Il est essentiel pour Space42 d’être reconnu comme un leader fiable dans le domaine de la communication sécurisée, en établissant de nouvelles références en matière de réseaux résilients et prêts à répondre aux exigences des missions », a déclaré Ahmed AlMehrzi, Directeur commercial – Secteur gouvernemental de Space42. « En associant notre infrastructure satellitaire souveraine et nos capacités de communication fondées sur l’intelligence artificielle avec les systèmes de mission avancés de Leonardo DRS, nous renforçons les communications protégées et contribuons ainsi au développement de l’écosystème de sécurité nationale des Émirats arabes unis ».

Pour sa part, Denny Crumley, Vice-Président principal et Directeur général de l’unité commerciale Électronique terrestre de Leonardo DRS a souligné : « Ce protocole d’accord marque une avancée majeure dans notre engagement à soutenir les priorités des Émirats arabes unis en matière de sécurité nationale, grâce à des capacités intégrées, éprouvées et de pointe, conçues pour garantir la réussite des missions dans un environnement de menaces en constante évolution ». « Nous sommes fiers de participer à cette initiative aux côtés de Space42, alors que nous poursuivons le développement de nos activités à l’international en collaboration avec des partenaires stratégiques à travers le monde », a -t-il ajouté.

Face à la complexité et l’interconnexion des opérations de sécurité nationale, les forces souveraines ont besoin de systèmes de mission intégrés, de communications satellitaires sécurisées et d’une connaissance permanente de la situation opérationnelle. Leonardo DRS dispose d’une expertise éprouvée en matière de développement et d’intégration de technologies C5ISR robustes et hautement performantes, ainsi que de systèmes électroniques embarqués pour véhicules essentiels à la conduite des missions, au service de partenaires internationaux. En complément de ces capacités, Space42 fournit des solutions souveraines de communications satellitaires et des services spatiaux qui permettent d’assurer une connectivité sécurisée au-delà des réseaux terrestres, afin de favoriser une prise de décision éclairée et de renforcer la résilience opérationnelle des Émirats arabes unis.

Leonardo DRS est un fournisseur reconnu et fiable en matière de systèmes avancés de gestion des missions, de solutions informatiques en réseau et de capacités d’intégration de véhicules destinés aux forces armées américaines et aux forces alliées à travers le monde. L’entreprise est réputée comme un acteur de référence dans le domaine des solutions éprouvées et hautement performantes en matière d’informatique tactique, d’écrans intelligents, de traitement des données reposant sur l’intelligence artificielle, ainsi que de solutions intégrées C4/C5/C6ISR, permettant ainsi de réduire la charge cognitive des commandants et des équipages qui opèrent dans des environnements de sécurité complexes. Conçus pour fournir une compréhension de la situation en temps réel, ces systèmes sont évolutifs, indépendants des plateformes et compatibles avec des architectures ouvertes.

À propos de Space42

Space42 (ADX : SPACE42) est une entreprise émiratie de SpaceTech propulsée par l’intelligence artificielle, qui intègre les communications satellitaires, l’analyse géospatiale et les capacités d’intelligence artificielle afin de contribuer, depuis l’espace, à une meilleure compréhension de la Terre. Créée en 2024 à la suite de la fusion réussie de Bayanat et Yahsat, Space42 bénéficie d’une présence mondiale lui permettant de répondre aux besoins en constante évolution de ses clients dans les secteurs gouvernemental et privé, ainsi qu’auprès des collectivités. Space42 s’articule autour de deux unités commerciales : Space Services et Smart Solutions. Space Services se concentre sur les opérations satellitaires en amont, pour les services satellitaires fixes et mobiles. Smart Solutions associe l’acquisition et le traitement de données géospatiales à l’intelligence artificielle afin d’éclairer la prise de décision, d’améliorer la compréhension de la situation et d’accroître l’efficacité opérationnelle. Parmi les principaux actionnaires de Space42 figurent G42, Mubadala et IHC.

Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez consulter www.space42.ai et suivez-nous sur X : @space42ai.

À propos de Leonardo DRS

Leonardo DRS, Inc. (Nasdaq : DRS) est une société avant-gardiste dont la mission consiste à développer et fournir des technologies de défense de pointe destinées aux clients du secteur de la sécurité nationale des États-Unis et à leurs alliés à travers le monde. L’entreprise est spécialisée dans les solutions de détection haute performance, de l’informatique en réseau, de protection des forces, ainsi que de l’énergie électrique et de la propulsion, conçues pour répondre aux exigences les plus complexes des missions. Pour plus d’informations, consultez www.LeonardoDRS.com.

Mentions légales et déclaration de mise en garde concernant les informations prospectives

Le présent communiqué peut contenir des déclarations prospectives fondées sur les attentes et hypothèses actuelles concernant des événements futurs. Ces déclarations, identifiables notamment par des termes tels que « s’attendre à », « sera » ou des expressions similaires, sont soumises à des risques et incertitudes et peuvent s’avérer inexactes. Elles reflètent les informations disponibles à la date du présent communiqué, et les sociétés déclinent toute obligation de les mettre à jour. Aucune garantie ne peut être donnée quant à la réalisation d’une quelconque déclaration prospective, et il convient de ne pas accorder une confiance excessive à ces déclarations. Le présent communiqué ne constitue ni une communication à caractère financier, ni une offre d’achat ou de vente de titres financiers dans quelque juridiction que ce soit.

CONTACT MÉDIA
Équipe Communication de Space42 – media@space42.ai

Une photo accompagnant le présent communiqué est disponible à l’adresse suivante : http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dc7b26da-b9d2-4fdc-b09b-f1663bc011a4

 

Rimini Street Expands C-Suite Leadership for Growth with Appointment of Two Proven Industry Veterans as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Delivery Officer

 LAS VEGAS - Wednesday, 12. August 2026 AETOSWire Print 

Rimini Street appoints Keith Costello as EVP and Chief Operating Officer and Alexander Guasch as EVP and Chief Delivery Officer

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), the Software Support and Agentic AI ERP Company™ and the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software, today announced the appointment of Keith Costello as chief operating officer (COO) and Alexander Guasch as chief delivery officer (CDO).

New COO Brings Proven Experience Scaling Organizations for Growth

Keith Costello brings decades of experience building and scaling global enterprise software and services organizations, including leading teams of tens of thousands and managing businesses generating billions of dollars in revenue. He previously served as president, enterprise applications, technology, consulting and engineering services at DXC Technology and general manager for IBM’s global SAP business unit. Earlier, he completed eight years at SAP in various senior leadership roles, including executive vice president and general manager of business analytics and technology solutions, senior vice president of global field services and chief customer officer.

As COO, Costello will own product strategy, determining what products, services and solutions Rimini Street will bring to market. He will also own the professional services sales function and other global business operations, which he will take over from Rimini Street president and CEO Seth Ravin.

“It’s an exciting time at Rimini Street. The company has successfully sold billions of dollars of services and built a differentiated offering that helps clients unlock more value from their mission-critical enterprise systems while gaining greater control over their technology roadmaps,” said Costello. “I’m looking forward to working with the global team to scale operations, strengthen execution and support the company’s continued growth worldwide.”

New CDO Brings Global Delivery Leadership and Client-Focused Execution

Alex Guasch is a seasoned leader with more than 30 years of experience leading integrated global IT service delivery organizations with thousands of professionals. He has led numerous initiatives across enterprise software support, managed services, consulting, modernization, cloud transformation and AI-enabled innovation. Guasch formerly served in senior executive roles at HPE, IBM, VMware and Cognizant and has held leadership positions at Effectual and Optiv.

As Rimini Street CDO, he is responsible for the end-to-end development and delivery of all company products, services and solutions worldwide, assuring reliable operational excellence, unparalleled service quality and successful client outcomes.

“Client success starts with consistent, high-quality delivery, especially for the mission-critical systems that keep global organizations and government clients running smoothly,” said Guasch. “I’m pleased to join Rimini Street and lead an organization that has a storied reputation as one of the best enterprise software and technology engineering teams in the world, delivering 24/7/365 service globally with an average two-minute response time and client satisfaction ratings of 4.9 out of 5.0.”

Rimini Street is firmly focused on executing its operating plan to accelerate revenue growth and increase profitability. These expanded leadership roles strengthen execution, scale global operations and support continued client success.

“Keith and Alex bring the global operating experience, execution discipline and client-first leadership to scale our organization with speed and quality,” said Seth Ravin, president and CEO, Rimini Street. “Keith and Alex understand what it takes to run and grow complex technology organizations and deliver extraordinary client outcomes. They are welcome additions to our leadership team as we continue helping clients use technology to lower their total operating costs, improve profitability and enhance competitive advantage.”

About Rimini Street, Inc.

Rimini Street, Inc. (Nasdaq: RMNI), a Russell 2000® Company, is a proven, trusted global provider of end-to-end, mission-critical enterprise software support, managed services and innovative Agentic AI ERP solutions, and is the leading third-party support provider for Oracle, SAP and VMware software. The Company has signed thousands of IT service contracts with Fortune Global 100, Fortune 500, midmarket, public sector and government organizations who have leveraged the Rimini Smart Path™ methodology to achieve better operational outcomes, billions of US dollars in savings and fund AI and other innovation.

To learn more, please visit www.riministreet.com, and connect with Rimini Street on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this communication are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “budget,” “continue,” “could,” “currently,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “outlook,” “plan,” “possible,” “goal,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “reflect,” “results,” “seem,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would” and other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our expectations of future events, future opportunities, global expansion and other growth initiatives and our investments in such initiatives. These statements are based on various assumptions and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance, nor are these statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Rimini Street’s business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to our ability to attract new clients or retain and/or sell additional products or services to existing clients; our ability to achieve and maintain an adequate rate of revenue growth; cost of revenue, including changes in costs associated with our efforts to grow and the results of any efforts to manage costs to align with current revenue expectations and the expansion of our offerings; the effects of increased intense competition in our industry and our ability to compete effectively; our ability to successfully educate the market regarding the advantages of our support and managed services for ERP software and to sell the products and services comprising our “Rimini Smart Path™” solutions portfolio, including but not limited to our Agentic AI ERP solutions; our intentions with respect to our pricing model and expectations of client savings relative to use of other providers; the evolution of the ERP software management and support landscape facing our clients and prospects; estimates of our total addressable market; the effects of seasonal trends on our results of operations, including the contract renewal cycles for vendor-supplied software support and managed services; the effects of the efforts of enterprise software vendors to sell upgrades or migrations to cloud-based versions of their enterprise software on our results of operations; our ability to scale our operations quickly enough to meet our clients’ changing needs or decrease our costs adequately in response to changing client demand; risks arising from incorporating artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies into our products or services or any deficiencies associated with AI technologies used by us or by our third-party vendors and service providers; our ability to maintain, protect, and enhance our brand; the loss of one or more members of our management team and our ability to attract and retain additional qualified technical, sales and marketing personnel; our ability to expand our marketing and sales capabilities; our ability to avoid interruptions to, or degraded performance of, our services and the impact of any such interruptions or performance problems on our operations; our ability to defend against cybersecurity threats and to comply with data protection and privacy regulations; our expectations regarding new product offerings, innovation solutions, partnerships and alliance programs and our ability to develop and maintain strategic partnerships; our ability to expand internationally and the risks associated with global operations; our wind down of support services for Oracle’s PeopleSoft software products and the impact on future period revenue and costs incurred related to these efforts; the continuing impact of and our ability to comply with the terms of our July 2025 settlement agreement with Oracle; the impact of macro-economic trends, including inflation and changes in foreign exchange rates, as well as general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the industry in which we operate and the industries in which our clients operate; our ability to generate significant capital through our operations or to raise additional capital necessary to fund and expand our operations and invest in new services and products; our business plan and our ability to effectively secure and manage our growth and associated investments; risks relating to retention rates, including our ability to accurately predict retention rates; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting; changes in laws or regulations, including tax laws or unfavorable outcomes of tax positions we take; tariff costs; our ability to realize benefits from our net operating losses; any negative impact of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters on our reputation or business and the exposure of our business to additional costs or risks from our reporting on such matters; our credit facility’s ongoing debt service obligations and financial and operational covenants on our business and related interest rate risk; the sufficiency of our cash and cash equivalents to meet our liquidity requirements; the volatility of our stock price; the amount and timing of repurchases, if any, under our stock repurchase program and our ability to enhance stockholder value through such program; our ability to maintain our good standing with the United States and international governments and capture new contracts with public sector entities; the occurrence of catastrophic events that may disrupt our business or that of our current and prospective clients; future acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary companies, products, subscriptions or technologies; and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rimini Street’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 30, 2026, and as updated from time to time by Rimini Street’s future Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings by Rimini Street with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Rimini Street’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Rimini Street anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Rimini Street’s assessments to change. However, while Rimini Street may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Rimini Street specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Rimini Street’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication.

© 2026 Rimini Street, Inc. All rights reserved. “Rimini Street” is a registered trademark of Rimini Street, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and Rimini Street, the Rimini Street logo, and combinations thereof, and other marks marked by TM are trademarks of Rimini Street, Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners, and unless otherwise specified, Rimini Street claims no affiliation, endorsement, or association with any such trademark holder or other companies referenced herein.

 

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Contacts

Janet Ravin

VP, Corporate Marketing

Rimini Street, Inc.

+1 702 285-3532

pr@riministreet.com

Align Technology Prevails in China Patent Infringement Action Against Angelalign

 (BUSINESS WIRE)--Align Technology, Inc. ("Align") (Nasdaq: ALGN), a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the Invisalign® System of clear aligners, today announced that the Jinan Intermediate People's Court in China issued a judgment in favor of Align in a patent infringement action against Angelalign Technology's operating subsidiaries in China ("Angel") (Hong Kong Stock Exchange: 6699.HK).

In September 2025, Align filed a patent infringement action against Angel in the Jinan Intermediate People's Court, asserting Align’s patent related to extraction-gap-closure technology (CN113693748B). On August 10, 2026, the Jinan Intermediate People's Court issued a first-instance judgment finding that Angel's use of its MasterForce biomechanical simulation system and ATreat digital orthodontic treatment design system to generate A7 and A7 Speed premolar extraction treatment solutions infringes Align's patent rights. The court further found that the related aligner products manufactured and sold using the accused technology also infringe Align's patent. Angel may appeal the judgment to the Supreme People's Court. The deadline for filing an appeal has not yet expired.

The court ordered Angel to cease using the patented technology and to stop manufacturing and selling the infringing products in China and awarded Align RMB 10 million in damages. While the ruling remains subject to appeal, Align believes the decision further reinforces the strength of its intellectual property portfolio and ongoing commitment to protecting its innovations globally.

The ruling follows other recent developments in Align's patent-enforcement actions against Angel. In February 2026, the Unified Patent Court (“UPC”) issued a preliminary injunction requiring Angel to cease infringement of Align's patented ClinCheck® Live Update technology, a decision that was subsequently upheld on appeal. In July 2026, the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) conducted an evidentiary hearing concerning five patents asserted by Align against Angel. Align expects that the ITC will make its initial determination regarding the merits of Align’s claims in November 2026. Align also continues to pursue additional patent infringement actions against Angel affiliates in China and Europe.

"Align has made significant long-term investments in innovation and in the Chinese market,” said Joe Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Align Technology. “We respect the role of China's courts in protecting intellectual property rights and are encouraged by this decision. Protecting intellectual property is essential to sustaining that innovation and ensuring continued investment in technologies that benefit doctors and patients. This decision reinforces the value and strength of Align's intellectual property portfolio and the significant investments we have made to develop industry-leading technologies. We remain committed to supporting fair competition, advancing innovation, and protecting our intellectual property rights while competing in the marketplace."

Align’s Cutting-Edge Global Operations

As a global leader in digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry with nearly 23.5 million Invisalign® patients treated worldwide, Align continues to transform the orthodontic industry through its global operations, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and doctor-directed treatment planning.

Align’s operations span the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions, with clinical treatment planning centers in Costa Rica, Poland, China (Chengdu), Spain, France, Germany, and Japan. The company’s global aligner manufacturing operations includes world-class facilities in Juarez, Mexico; Wroclaw, Poland; and Ziyang, China; Vienna, Austria; San Jose, CA; and a new aligner manufacturing facility coming online in 2027 in Hyderabad, India; together forming the backbone of the world’s largest 3D printing network for dental aligners (appliances).

Align’s investments in global operations are designed to bring its facilities closer to doctor-customers and their patients. In Mexico, the Juarez facility serves as a strategic node in Align’s global supply chain, enabling fast and cost-effective delivery of aligners to customers in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and beyond. In China, the Chengdu treatment planning center and Ziyang manufacturing facility are central to Align’s long-term investment strategy for China, supporting the local economy and one of its fastest-growing markets by helping Chinese doctors provide millions of Chinese consumers access to high-quality orthodontic care. Wroclaw, Poland is the operations hub for Align’s EMEA business, bringing operations and support closer to the more than 63,000 Invisalign-trained doctors in the region.

About Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® System, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for over 302.0 thousand doctor customers and are key to accessing Align’s 600 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 29 years, Align has helped doctors treat approximately 23.5 million patients with the Invisalign System and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align™ Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.

For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about the iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com. For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com.

Invisalign, iTero, exocad, Align, Align Digital Platform and iTero Lumina are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc.

 

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Contacts

Align Technology

Madelyn Valente

(909) 833-5839

mvalente@aligntech.com

Zeno Group

Sarah Karlson

(828) 551-4201

sarah.karlson@zenogroup.com

Gen Z Spending is Expected to Reach $12 Trillion by 2030. Here's Why That Doesn't Matter as Much as Brands Think

CHICAGO - Wednesday, 12. August 2026

New NIQ report reveals consumers across generations are trading up and trading down in the same shopping basket, putting new pressure on middle-market products

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The biggest shift in consumer spending isn't generational—it's behavioral. New research from NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) finds consumers across every age group are increasingly making the same calculation: where is a premium worth paying, and where can they save money instead? The result is a growing divide between premium and value products, while traditional middle-market offerings face mounting pressure.

The findings come from NIQ's latest global report, A Tale of Two Consumers: The Polarized Mindsets Reshaping Global Consumption, developed in collaboration with World Data Lab. While Gen X accounted for $15.2 trillion in spending in 2025 and Gen Z is expected to reach $12 trillion by 2030, the report finds that age alone no longer explains purchasing decisions. Consumers across generations are increasingly alternating between premium and value-seeking behaviors depending on category, occasion, and need.

Key findings include:

Gen X is expected to remain the world's highest-spending generation through 2033 and a key driver of global consumption trends

Gen Z's spending power is projected to reach $12 trillion globally by 2030

Affluent consumers spent $35.9 trillion globally in 2025, surpassing spending by the much larger core consumer population, who spent $31.6 trillion

Across all age groups, consumers are increasingly alternating between premium and value-seeking behaviors depending on category, occasion, and need state

This shift is accelerating a “barbell effect”, with demand concentrating at premium and value tiers while the middle market comes under increasing pressure

Building on NIQ's generational spending research in collaboration with World Data Lab, including Spend Z and The X Factor, the report finds that consumers across all age groups are increasingly moving between “upgrade” and “price-constrained” purchasing mindsets, carefully choosing where a product deserves a premium and where value alternatives are sufficient.

“Consumers haven't stopped spending—they've become more selective,” said Ramon Melgarejo, President of E-Commerce at NIQ. “Age still matters, but it no longer explains the full purchase decision. Whether it's a Gen X parent managing multiple households or a Gen Z shopper building lifelong consumption habits, both are asking the same question: do I really need this in my basket?”

While younger generations continue to gain economic influence, the report challenges the notion that age alone defines consumer behavior. Instead, shoppers across generations are making similar trade-offs between premium and value, creating new challenges—and opportunities—for brands and retailers.

As a result, traditional middle-market offerings are facing increasing pressure as consumers gravitate toward products that either clearly justify a premium or deliver strong value at a lower price point.

For manufacturers and retailers, the implication is clear: consumers are not necessarily spending less—they are spending more selectively. A single household may choose premium products in one category while actively seeking savings in another, creating new opportunities for brands that clearly communicate value while increasing risk for products positioned in the middle. To learn more, visit niq.com/tale-of-two-consumers.

FAQs

What is A Tale of Two Consumers?

A Tale of Two Consumers: The Polarized Mindsets Reshaping Global Consumption is a global research report from NielsenIQ and World Data Lab that examines how consumer polarization, spending power, and evolving purchasing behaviors are reshaping retail and consumer goods markets worldwide.

What is the main finding of NIQ's Tale of Two Consumers report?

The report finds that consumer behavior is becoming more important than age in explaining purchasing decisions. Consumers across generations are increasingly balancing premium purchases with value-seeking choices based on category, occasion, and perceived need.

Why does NIQ say the biggest shift in spending is behavioral rather than generational?

While generations differ in total spending power, shoppers across Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers are exhibiting similar purchasing patterns. Consumers are selectively deciding where to spend more and where to cut costs, regardless of age.

What is the “barbell effect” in consumer spending?

The barbell effect refers to growing consumer demand at both the premium and value ends of the market while products positioned in the middle face increasing pressure. Consumers are gravitating toward products that either clearly justify a premium price or provide strong value.

Which generation currently has the greatest spending power?

According to the report, Gen X accounted for approximately $15.2 trillion in consumer spending in 2025 and is expected to remain the world's highest-spending generation through 2033. Global Gen Z spending is projected to reach approximately $12 trillion by 2030, making the generation an increasingly influential force in global consumption despite not yet being the highest-spending generation.

What do these findings mean for brands and retailers?

Brands can no longer rely solely on demographic targeting. Success increasingly depends on understanding when consumers are seeking premium experiences and when they are prioritizing value, regardless of generation.

About NIQ

NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) is a leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete and trusted understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth. By combining an unmatched global data footprint and granular consumer and retail measurement with decades of AI modeling expertise, NIQ builds decision systems that help companies turn complex data into confident action.

With operations in more than 90 countries, NIQ covers approximately 82% of the world’s population and more than $7.4 trillion in global consumer spend. Through cloud-based platforms, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights, NIQ delivers The Full View™—helping brands and retailers understand what consumers buy, why they buy it, and what to do next.

For more information, please visit www.niq.com.

© 2026 Nielsen Consumer LLC. All Rights Reserved.

About World Data Lab

World Data Lab is a data science company delivering projections of where global spending power and consumer demand are heading. By combining authoritative demographic and economic data with a proprietary, peer-reviewed forecasting methodology, World Data Lab converts long-term population and spending shifts into a single, forward-looking view of the future consumer, helping organizations identify where growth will emerge before it does.

Modeling consumer trends and demographic change through 2050, World Data Lab covers 99.5% of the world's population across 190+ countries, 9,000+, and 200+ spending categories. Its core methodology, named by Nature among the 50 most influential papers of the decade, underpins both its enterprise platform, World Data Intelligence, and a suite of public tools including the World Poverty Clock.

For more information, visit worlddatalab.com.

Forward Looking Statement

This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding anticipated consumer behaviors, market trends, and industry developments. These statements reflect current expectations and projections based on available data, historical patterns, and various assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “believes,” “forecasts,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

These statements are not guarantees of future outcomes and are subject to inherent uncertainties, including changes in consumer preferences, economic conditions, technological advancements, and competitive dynamics. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. While we strive to base our insights on reliable data and sound methodologies, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except to the extent required by applicable law.

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Boomi Ranked #1 Overall Leader in the 2026 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Application Integration

 Boomi earns top rankings across Product Experience, Capability, Platform, Customer Experience in 2026 ISG Buyers Guide™ for Application Integration

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Boomi, the data activation company for AI, today announced it has been ranked the #1 overall software provider in ISG Buyers Guides™ for Application Integration 2026.

In the report published by ISG Software Research, a division of ISG (Information Services Group), Boomi was placed within ISG's highest quadrant classification, Exemplary. ISG's report states that “Boomi was designated a Leader Overall and in every category,” a distinction no other provider assessed achieved.

Capability, Platform and Customer Experience Leader

The ISG Buyers Guide™ looks at how well software providers deliver for their customers, evaluating both the product itself and the overall experience of working with the company. Boomi came out on top, earning the #1 Overall ranking and #1 in Capability and Product Experience, and was recognized as a Leader in both Platform and Customer Experience. The ISG Buyers Guide™ evaluates software providers on Product Experience and Customer Experience. Boomi ranked #1 Overall and #1 in Capability and Product Experience, and was named a Leader in Platform and Customer Experience. ISG credited Boomi's breadth of integration, API management and AI capabilities, along with its customer commitment and product roadmap, as key drivers of that performance. ISG also specifically highlighted Boomi's expansion into agentic integration development, agent management and governance as a differentiator supporting its performance.

“Being named a Leader in every category ISG evaluated speaks to the strength of what we've built,” said Ed Macosky, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Boomi. “As organizations move from experimenting with agentic AI to operationalizing it, they need integration, automation and agent governance working together on one foundation. That's exactly where Boomi has focused its investment, and this recognition reflects it.”

Highlights from the ISG Buyers Guide™ include:

#1 Overall Leader: Boomi ranked #1 Overall Leader among 24 providers evaluated.

Exemplary Classification: ISG classified Boomi within the highest quadrant, Exemplary.

Leader in Every Category: Boomi is the only provider that was positioned as a Leader across every category ISG evaluated.

Strong Customer Experience: Boomi's highest score of the report came in Customer Experience, reflecting strong customer commitment, a clear product roadmap and effective onboarding.

Agentic AI Investment: ISG credited Boomi's expansion into agentic integration development and agent governance as a differentiator.

“Orchestrating communication and integration among applications, data, systems, tools and processes is essential to enabling agents to execute business processes through autonomous actions,” said Matt Aslett, research director, ISG. “Boomi's performance in the 2026 ISG Buyers Guide for Application Integration is illustrative of recent investments made by the company in product and customer experience as well as core capabilities for API and agent management.”

The ISG Buyers Guide™ assessments are widely used by enterprise technology buyers to evaluate market-leading software solutions. Boomi's #1 ranking and Leader status across every category reflect its commitment to delivering a unified platform that helps organizations reduce the complexity of connecting applications, processes and data, supporting real-time integration, automation, and agentic AI.

Additional Resources

Read our thoughts on Boomi’s recognition here

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About Boomi

Boomi, the data activation company for AI, powers the agentic enterprise by bringing data to life across the business. The Boomi Enterprise Platform is the active data foundation that delivers essential agentic infrastructure to drive agentic transformation. By unifying agent design and governance, API and MCP management, integration and automation, and data management into a single platform, Boomi enables organizations to harness the power of AI with secure, scalable connectivity. Trusted by over 30,000 customers and supported by a network of 800+ partners, Boomi helps organizations of all sizes achieve agility, efficiency, and innovation at scale. Discover more at boomi.com.

© 2026 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the ‘B’ logo, and Boomiverse are trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

 

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Kristen Walker

Global Corporate Communications

kristenwalker@boomi.com

 

One in Four Executives Say AI Errors Have Reached External Audiences or Boards, According to New Research From Workiva

 Although 84% of executives are at least somewhat confident in AI output without human review, only 11% believe their data quality is sufficient for AI use

 

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK), a leading, audit-ready platform for trust, transparency, and accountability, today released findings from its 2026 Midyear Executive Benchmark Survey.

Although 84% of surveyed executives say they are at least somewhat confident in the accuracy of AI output without human review, one in four (26%) say internal audits have detected AI errors that reached external audiences or board members. This data suggests there is a disconnect between what executives believe and what evidence shows. As AI reshapes the enterprise at unprecedented speed, a new risk is emerging: transformation could be outpacing the instincts of the leaders tasked with overseeing it.

"Confidence in AI without control over data quality is a liability, not a strategy. CFOs need platforms that connect AI to trusted, auditable data so every output is one they can verify and every disclosure is one they can defend," said Barbara Larson, Chief Financial Officer at Workiva. "Getting this right is about more than avoiding errors. Business leaders can move faster and embed AI deeper into their operations when they trust what their systems produce. That's a real competitive edge."

Data Quality Threatens AI Accuracy and Investor Trust

Executives largely agree that poor data quality is limiting their organizations’ use of AI, suggesting enterprise AI can only scale where there is confidence in, and control over, the underlying data. Institutional investors express similar concerns about the accuracy of AI-generated content.

Only 11% of executives believe their data quality is sufficient for AI use

27% say poor data quality has significantly blocked deployment in key workflows

71% say poor data quality has at least moderately impacted the use of AI in financial and sustainability reporting

89% of investors are concerned about AI accuracy in corporate disclosures

Over time, weak or unverifiable data may erode credibility with stakeholders, and organizations that fail to address data quality and investor concerns risk losing ground to more proactive peers.

As AI Use Grows, Executives Call for Supporting Infrastructure

For financial reporting teams, and CFOs in particular, the tools that govern AI output are as critical as the AI itself. As agents become more autonomous, executives believe the need for specialized infrastructure will increase, citing multiple priorities1:

49% say they will continue to need systems of record, such as general ledgers

45% say they will need software that enables traceability and audit

55% say they will need platforms to manage agents and automated workflows

"Generic AI isn't enough for financial reporting. Investors, regulators, and boards expect answers they can trust. The real advantage comes from specialized AI built on governed, auditable data and paired with human judgment, giving organizations the confidence to verify what AI produces and stand behind the decisions and disclosures that follow,” said Jason Darby, Chief Financial Officer of Amalgamated Bank.

The Workiva 2026 Midyear Executive Benchmark Survey polled 2,272 finance, risk, and sustainability professionals, including 847 C-level executives, from organizations across North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. The survey also polled 367 institutional investors from firms in North America and the United Kingdom. Read the report at www.workiva.com/benchmark-2026.

About Workiva

Workiva Inc. (NYSE: WK) powers trust, transparency, and accountability. Finance, accounting, sustainability, risk, and audit teams from more than 6,700 organizations, including over 85% of Fortune 1,000 companies, rely on Workiva for their mission-critical work. We transform how customers connect data, unify processes, and empower teams in a secure, audit-ready platform. Learn more at workiva.com.

 

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Lauren Covello

Workiva Inc.

press@workiva.com