In a July 2009 interview with Bloomberg, Grano alleged that senior officials at UBS refused to hear him out. The company, under former chairperson Marcel Ospel, had taken over Paine Webber in 2000.

Grano recounted how he sent missives urging Ospel and ex-CEO Marcel Rohner to spin off Paine Webber and brand it separately. He additionally recommended using the proceeds for an employee stock-ownership plan.

“It wasn’t a definitive offer, it was something for them to consider, but the message was clear…let’s talk,” said Grano. “They didn’t even have the courtesy to respond to the letter.”

Joseph Grano had led Paine Webber prior to its merger with UBS, which was orchestrated by Ospel for $11.5 billion. For three years since, Grano was retained as CEO of UBS Wealth Management USA. Ospel quit in 2008, but not before renaming the entire company to UBS AG.

Now chief executive of his own advisory firm, Centurion Holdings LLC, Grano has also commented on rumored management realignments at UBS. He thinks Robert “Bobby” McCann would make a “great” replacement for Marten Hoekstra, who currently occupies Grano’s former UBS seat.

“I think he’d be a big help to the franchise if they were smart enough to choose him,” said Joseph Grano.

McCann was the previous chief executive of Merrill Lynch’s wealth management division. He resigned after Bank of America bought the ailing firm in January.

Said to be the world’s premier wealth manager, UBS AG has now assumed the most write-downs for any bank based in Europe. The quintessential Swiss bank’s wealth managers have lost some $125 billion since May 2008. Around the same time, US Justice Department officials revealed a probe linking some high-profile tax evaders to UBS accounts.

The session finished with a 4-hour meeting that commenced the creation of a document that will utilize the lessons learned and capture the resolutions that were discussed at the assembly.

National Safety Council President and Chief Executive Officer Janet Froetscher stated that leadership is a vital factor for health and safety concerns that revolve around the place of work. Froetscher drove home the point on how critical the gathering was by asking, “Who better to guide the first Executive Leadership Workshop than the leaders themselves?”

The workshop was put together by a team of industry specialists who work mutually throughout the year surveying best methods and practices for Health, Security and Environmental supervision as well as delegates from known companies such as Exxon Mobil, DynMcDermott, Caterpillar, Intel, General Motors, and Toyota North America.

The National Safety Council aims to save lives by mitigating injuries and deaths at work, in residences and communities, and on the roads, through research, education, leadership and sponsorship. The NSC seeks to save an additional 10,000 lives and avert 1 million injuries by year 2014.

To attain this goal, NSC continues to collaborate with several businesses, officials and the public to make a difference in areas that seem mundane but prone to disasters. The First Executive Leadership Workshop is one of the many instruments put in place to achieve that safety and security goal for the workers and leaders everywhere.

In July of 2009, Human Genome Sciences (HGS) and partner GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), makers of the alli diet drug, announced that their lupus drug candidate Benlysta was effective and safe in the later stages of a clinical trial, raising hopes for a genuine treatment for the disease.

“Benlysta could be the first true disease-modifying therapy for lupus patients,” said stock analyst Joseph P. Schwartz of Leerink Swann.

Benlysta is a human monoclonal antibody. It blocks the B-lymphocyte stimulator, a protein required for a type of white blood cell to age into plasma B cells, which produce antibodies. HGS made the amazing discovery of the B-lymphocyte stimulator in 1999. With the help of Cambridge Antibody Technology, now part of AstraZeneca, they developed a monoclonal antibody that stems the stimulator’s role in an overactive immune system.

When HGS came out with the news of the effectiveness of their drug, Sandra C. Raymond, CEO of the Lupus Foundation of America, called it a “historic day.” “These results provide hope that this complex chronic autoimmune disease can be brought under control and that, eventually, a cure can be found for the estimated 1.5 million Americans and more than 5 million people worldwide living with lupus,” she said in her official statement upon announcement of the trial results. On the same “historic day,” HGS’s stock price more than quadrupled.

Kalban also told Reuters that their debt was originally due in 2010 and now it is due in 2011. Furthermore, he anticipated the firm’s fourth-quarter operating revenue to be around 200 million dirhams (54.45 million USD), and a full-year income of 450 million dirhams.

Union Properties have arrears of about 6.5 billion dirham of which 700 million is payable in 2011, said Kalban. The third-largest real estate developer by market value in Dubai will center on the immediate release of units to its clients.

Earlier this year, the firm’s shares dropped 5.6%, closing at its lowest point since February. The share fall aggravated losses after Credit Suisse cut its price target on the reserve to 0.03 dirhams from 0.80 dirhams on Monday.

The bank said even if Union Properties surmounted its present liquidity insertion, there would not be much equity price left after targeting its debt contracts. In January, Union Properties stated it was contemplating marketing some of its accomplished properties to elevate liquidity and proceeds.

Khalid bin Kalban stated that the firm is closing the sale of two huge supermarkets in Dubai worth an estimated 150 million Dirhams. Kalban told Al-Arabiya some investors of Union Properties and competitor developer Deyaar had conferred a probable unification but with no result, although the discussion has not yet reached board level.

Kramer enthused that her taking on the specialized function in the Jewish community feels “very right” as she shared her sentiments and the knowledge she has acquired about managing a non-profit association. Before founding the consultancy business focused on strategic planning and management for nonprofit organizations such as JFGO, Kramer was president and Chief Executive Officer of BETA Center, Central Florida’s renowned service network for pregnant teens and teen parents.

She directed BETA through the development phase that included a $3.5 million expansion, and managed its funds, which tripled from 1997 to 2008. Earlier, Hope Kramer worked as an executive director for the Foundation for Orange County Public Schools and as March of Dimes’ Central Florida division director. As the president of JCC, she assisted in organizing a thriving capital drive to finance the building of the new infant-toddler center. In year 2008, Jewish Family Services honored her with its George Wolly Community Leadership Award.

First-term Federation President Ian Robinson stated that this was the third time that he requested Hope Kramer for her leadership. The first time wasn’t possible due to the fact that she was still in BETA. It was only in their second invitation—when they had known of her aim to retire from BETA—that she accepted the offer and took over as the interim leader.

Two months after partners made the choice to set up a new managing partner position and hand over the title of chairman to another, Spehr succeeded restructuring partner Brian Trust. Spehr, who co-heads the New York litigation group, will be in charge of an administrative center of over 200 attorneys. Brian Trust will continue to carry out his practice from the office in New York.

Spehr hopes to pick Mayer Brown up from the 11% drop that it suffered last year. He says his focus will be on the growth of the New York office in order to keep in line with the one in Mayer Brown Chicago office—which gained some impressive litigation victories, including the December products liability win for Medtronic—as well as the offices in Hong Kong and London. He also aims to continue to build the firm’s litigation practice.

The company has since had to hold out against its own share of bad weather that has resulted in the recent restructuring. In the short time since then, James Holzhauer, the firm’s former Chicago-based chairman, stepped down and allowed Herbert “Bert” Krueger to move up in his place. Vice-chair of the London office Paul Maher followed suit soon after with news of his departure, topping off a two-year string of more than 100 partner defections, to get Greenberg Traurig’s new London office underway. Maher was overlooked for Washington vice-chair as Kenneth Geller took the new managing partner position.

Spehr has a more optimistic view on the new management line. He believes that the new leadership will help make future hiring easier. “I’m very optimistic about both the management restructuring, as well as the firm’s commitment to grow New York,” he says.

As Spehr explores his ideals for more effective decision-making, Mayer Brown continues to make significant changes in their lineup.

Now more than ever, renewable energy and clean tech groups at all parts of expansion should place themselves with competent leaders who can run their firms through these uncertain times and be ready to expand their ventures at the first signs of economic recovery. Ira Ehrenpresis, General Partner at venture capital firm Technology Partners, highlighted the significance of human capital when it comes to supporting clean tech firms. “First and foremost we give money to people. We fund strong leaders, CEO’s with whom we feel are capable of returning to our General Partners, incredible returns,” the businessman said.

Strong executive leadership means a commitment to excellence and the ability to sell an idea. Erik Straser, Partner at Mohr Davidow Ventures has invested a huge amount of time enlisting CEOs to his client collection. “The one common trait that we look for in a CEO is their outgoing-ness and ability to sell to everyone and everywhere throughout the firm’s steps toward commercialization and well beyond,” said Straser.

While firms and companies may be laying-off hundreds of employees and catapulting the U.S. and European nations to unparalleled unemployment levels in 10 years, several clean tech firms look for a chance in the current economic climate to improve their leadership ranks and promote their reserve of talents. Whether renewable energy firms are just faced with fiscal restrictions and budgetary concerns, being able to persevere is the solution when it comes to looking for the right executive leadership.

This accelerator problem is believed to have caused numerous car crashes involving Toyota vehicles which, in turn, led to a global recall and halt in production and sales for the automaker.

The NHTSA engineers have reviewed the company’s proposal to prevent the accelerators in its eight model cars from sticking. An official said they found no complaints about the proposal, which is to be publicly announced after its finalization.

Toyota, in the past two weeks, has been issuing recalls with regards to many of its car models all over the world as complaints about its gas pedals sticking and causing various car accidents have become a staple in news reports and the media spotlight.

It has recalled approximately 5.6 million cars in the US alone, nearly two million in Europe and 75,000 vehicles in China. This recall is the biggest ever among automakers in US history.

Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda issued a statement during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland stressing how apologetic the company is for the unease that these recalls have caused their customers. The plan to be released by Toyota in order to fix the problems on its models will cover the majority of the cars recalled in the US. It involves a shim, or a spacer, that will be added to the cars so that there won’t be any springing back, thereby avoiding unwanted acceleration.

The NHTSA is not technically required to approve of the said amendments, but they can veto the plan if they find it insufficient. Toyota has been working with NHTSA and has said that it is finalizing the details before announcing it, hopefully within the week.

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said he was personally satisfied with the measures that Toyota was taking to fix their problem and to make sure that their customers’ safety will be top priority at all times.

“Each of the brands we acquired has a rich heritage, a strong and loyal customer base, and significant opportunities to grow following very challenging times throughout the boating industry,” said Louis Samson, the principal at Platinum leading the investment. “Platinum has a strong track record of supporting companies through difficult transitions and we look forward to putting each of these brands on a path toward long-term growth and profitability.”

Platinum Equity is currently setting up a transition that will make the Genmar brands into a standalone business with a name. David Huls has been named President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the new consolidated corporate holding company. Mr. Huls was previously Senior Vice President and CFO of Genmar Holdings, Inc.

“I am honored and excited to have this opportunity and to work alongside so many great people,” said Mr. Huls. “Partnering with Platinum is a critical first step towards the stability we need in order to move forward and once again aggressively support the growth and success of our brands.”

“David has tremendous experience, demonstrated leadership skills and an ability to get things done, all of which make him the ideal candidate to lead the holding company organization,” said Mr. Samson.
Mr. Huls discussed the challenges and difficulties his industry has faced. “The last eight months have been extremely difficult for our employees, dealers and suppliers,” said Mr. Huls. “I’m grateful for everyone’s support and cooperation as we worked through so many challenges. It hasn’t been easy and we have a lot of hard work ahead, but through a renewed spirit of collaboration we will all prosper together.”

Randy Hopper will continue to serve as President of Wood Manufacturing, a position he has held for more than 20 years, and will oversee Ranger Boats, Stratos Boats and Champion. Jeff Olson will continue to serve as President of Four Winns and Wellcraft, and Mike O’Connell has been appointed to the newly created position of President of Glastron Boats.

About Platinum Equity
Platinum Equity (www.platinumequity.com) is a global M&A&O® firm specializing in the merger, acquisition and operation of companies that provide services and solutions to customers in a broad range of business markets, including information technology, telecommunications, logistics, metals services, manufacturing and distribution. Since its founding in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity has completed nearly 100 acquisitions with more than $27.5 billion in aggregate annual revenue at the time of acquisition.

Since 2005, around 100 American universities and colleges have reported security compromises, according to Privacy Rights Clearinghouse. Indeed, colleges and universities offer a treasure trove for thieves, who could use something as trivial as report cards to strike gold.

Identity thieves are often a step ahead of everyone, despite the technological know-how of the youth. So it pays to regularly upgrade the computer’s security and anti-virus capabilities. Many computers have locking features that ask for passwords from uninvited users.

Similarly, students shouldn’t be fooled by phishing, pre-texting and similar deceptions by tech-savvy thieves. Granted, identity scams have grown more sophisticated than before. Affinion Security Center has noted that they often pose as websites or emails from legitimate organizations, asking for sensitive data. The trick is to look for URLs beginning with https://. These URLs indicate a secured connection.

For all their technological advances however, identity cons know better than to ignore a classic: the rummaging-for-papers-in-trash-cans technique. Therefore, papers containing names, addresses, and social security numbers should be disposed of properly ASAP. If one can’t rip papers apart long enough by hand for them to be indecipherable, a good paper shredder is in order. Student affairs offices usually have one.

However, credit card-toting college students need to religiously check their statements first before destroying them. Credit monitoring services can help warn account holders of identity theft in progress.

For anything that requires a password, students should create a strong one that isn’t easily guessed. A good password can be a combination of characters and digits. Either way, no student should divulge his/her passwords and PIN numbers to others.

Affinion Security Center has compiled these tips from years of experience tackling cases of identity theft in colleges. An international leader in identity theft protection services, Affinion Security Center is a member of the Staples Security Council and the Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Management Standards Panel steering committee.