BusinessStartupsTechnology

Rivian CEO Assumes Interim Marketing Chief Role Amid 600+ Job Cuts Preceding R2 SUV Launch

Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe is stepping into the chief marketing officer position temporarily during a major organizational shakeup. The electric vehicle maker is eliminating approximately 600 positions as it prepares for next year’s critical R2 SUV launch.

Leadership Restructuring at Electric Vehicle Maker

Rivian Automotive is undergoing significant organizational changes as founder and CEO RJ Scaringe assumes the role of interim chief marketing officer, according to reports from TechCrunch. The leadership shift comes alongside workforce reductions affecting roughly 4.5% of employees, which sources indicate translates to more than 600 positions across the company.

BusinessRetailers

Starbucks to Phase Out Mobile Pickup Stores in Strategic Brand Shift

Starbucks is reportedly planning to eliminate its mobile-only pickup store format by 2026, according to recent earnings call discussions. The move represents a significant strategic shift for the coffee giant as it emphasizes human connection over transactional efficiency. Industry analysts suggest this creates new opportunities for competitors in the rapidly evolving coffee market.

Starbucks Reimagines Store Strategy

Starbucks is reportedly planning to phase out its mobile-order pickup-only locations beginning in 2026, according to recent company announcements. The decision marks a significant strategic shift for the global coffee chain, which had previously invested in the streamlined format designed for speed and convenience. Sources indicate the company will instead focus on enhancing its traditional coffeehouse experience across its global footprint.

Assistive TechnologyBusiness

Creator Economy Reaches Tipping Point as Infrastructure Demands Intensify

** The creator economy’s explosive growth is creating an operational crisis for major brands, with reports indicating a single global campaign can require coordination across 61 people. Industry analysts suggest the next competitive edge won’t be finding viral talent but building the infrastructure to manage creator partnerships at scale safely and efficiently. **CONTENT:**

The Infrastructure Gap in Creator Marketing

Cybersecurity

Mango Retailer Confirms Third-Party Data Breach Exposing Customer Information

Fashion retailer Mango has notified customers of a data breach originating from an external marketing services provider. The incident exposed customer names, contact information and location data, though financial information reportedly remains secure. Security analysts suggest the breach may be connected to the ShinyHunters cybercrime group’s ongoing retail sector campaign.

Third-Party Security Incident Impacts Global Retailer

Global fashion retailer Mango has confirmed a significant data breach affecting customer information, according to reports from cybersecurity monitoring services. The company, which operates more than 2,500 stores across 120 markets worldwide, indicated the breach originated from one of its external marketing services providers rather than its own infrastructure.

BusinessInnovation

CEOs Favor Tech Chiefs Over Marketing in Innovation Decisions, Study Finds

New research indicates CEOs overwhelmingly trust Chief Technology Officers when making risky innovation decisions, often overlooking crucial customer insights from marketing leaders. This bias toward technological feasibility over market acceptance has led to expensive product failures, according to the study published in Research Policy.

Technology Bias in Executive Decision-Making

When facing radical innovation decisions, CEOs reportedly turn to their Chief Technology Officers rather than marketing leaders, according to new research from Macquarie Business School. The study of more than 500 CEOs and business owners reveals a striking pattern where technological expertise consistently outweighs customer insight during uncertain innovation periods.