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

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Duolingo, the world's most popular language-learning platform, today announced the appointments of Matt Skaruppa as the company's first Chief Financial Officer and Stephen Chen as its first General Counsel.

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Duolingo

Duolingo hires its First CFO and General Counsel 

No matter size or location, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected every industry. As businesses lay off workers, healthcare professionals struggle to access urgent equipment and politicians grapple with economic shutdowns and social tolls, companies across the globe are stepping up to help those on the frontline of the fight against the deadly virus.

Coronavirus

The Companies Supporting The Fight Against  Covid-19

A recent story in the Financial Times highlights how workplace culture is often a ‘rude awakening’ for new graduates. Young workers are lulled into a false expectation of what the workplace will be like from their time at university where they were praised by the faculty for hard work and rewarded and recognized for high achievement.

young people in an office

Lack of Recognition is Driving Away Young Recruits in the Workplace

Groupon's chief executive Rich Williams has stepped down from his role, and Steve Krenzer, the company's chief operating officer, is also leaving his role. 

Groupon

Groupon C-Suite Shakeup With Both CEO and COO Stepping Down

Box has announced that three new independent directors will join the company’s Board of Directors prior to the company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in June 2020.

Box Adds Three New Board Members Following Starboard Investment

Uber has appointed consumer industry veteran Robert Eckert to its Board. According to a company SEC filing, Uber’s Board of Directors appointed Eckert as an independent director on March 20. 

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Uber

Former Mattel CEO Robert Eckert Joins Uber’s Board of Directors

April Underwood, the former chief product officer of Slack, has joined San Francisco-based venture firm Obvious Ventures as a venture partner.

April Underwood

Former Slack Chief Product Officer April Underwood Joins Obvious Ventures 

Microsoft has announced Amanda Langowski as the new lead of the Windows Insider program, an online community of 18 million people that allows users to test new features in exchange for providing detailed feedback to the company.

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Microsoft

Microsoft Hires Company Veteran to Lead Windows Insider Program

Although it’s relatively new on the startup map, Austria is home to a young and dynamic tech startup scene. It has already produced a number of breakout international success stories, like online travel agency TourRadar which has raised €66.5 million in funding and operates in 200 cities. 


The Top 10 Startup Teams in Austria

Howard Willard, chairman and CEO of tobacco giant Altria Group, has contracted coronavirus and is taking a temporary medical leave. He is the first chief executive of a major U.S. company publicly known to have been hit by the rapidly spreading virus.

Marlboro

Altria Group CEO Howard Willard Contracts Coronavirus, Takes Medical Leave

Jason Hollar was named chief financial officer of healthcare giant Cardinal Health, effective May 12. Hollar takes over from interim CFO David Evans.

Cardinal Health

Cardinal Health Names Jason Hollar as New CFO

General Motors announced several senior executive changes on Wednesday, including the appointment of Matt Tsien as chief technology officer and Craig Buchholz as chief communications officer.

General Motors

General Motors Announces Executive Leadership Changes

Boeing’s senior vice president of Human Resources, Heidi Capozzi, will depart the company in early April to pursue another opportunity, the company has announced. 

Boeing

Boeing’s HR Leader to Leave the Aerospace Giant

Lockheed Martin chief executive Marilyn Hewson will step down in June. She will be succeeded by James Taiclet, a board member of Lockheed and CEO of American Tower Corp.

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin Names Aerospace Veteran James Taiclet as New CEO

Kenneth Chenault, the chairman and managing director General Catalyst and former American Express CEO, is stepping down from Facebook’s board of directors.

Kenneth Chenault

Kenneth Chenault Steps Down From Facebook’s Board

Bill Gates is stepping down from Microsoft’s board of directors to focus on his philanthropic efforts, the company announced on Friday. Gates is also leaving the board of Berkshire Hathaway.

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Bill Gates

Bill Gates to Leave Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway’s Boards

Wells Fargo announced that Ellen Patterson, TD Bank Group’s top lawyer, will join the San Francisco-based bank as executive vice president and general counsel.

Ellen Patterson

Wells Fargo Names TD Bank’s Ellen Patterson as General Counsel

As the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on Wednesday with the coronavirus spreading across more than 120 countries and confirmed cases topping 125,000, an increasing number of companies are asking employees to work from home in an effort to stem the escalating public health crisis.

Google

More Companies Are Asking Employees to Work From Home As Coronavirus Spreads

Juul co-founder James Monsees will leave the embattled e-cigarette company, stepping down as an adviser and board member, according to an email the company sent to employees today. 

Juul

Juul Co-founder James Monsees Steps Down as Board Member and Advisor

Bytedance, the owner of the wildly popular social networking video app TikTok, has appointed two executives to run its China operations, leaving Chief Executive Zhang Yiming to focus on expansion and growth in the US and other overseas markets. 