November 2025 Most Innovative Financial Wellness CEO 2025: Mo Radjab Taking control of your personal finances can be a daunting task, but one grounded in complete necessity. By creating and tracking your income, spendings, and goals, your path to financial freedom will become clearer than ever before. This is a philosophy championed by Grassfeld, a leading Dutch scale-up providing innovative personal finance management technology across Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom. Today, we celebrate Mo Radjab – the visionary CEO of Grassfeld steering the company to excellence. We heard more from Mo below, following his well-deserved recognition in the Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025.
Welcome to the November 2025 issue of CEO Monthly. CEO Monthly remains committed to giving its readers the most up-to-date information and features in the business sector. By sharing information, perspectives, skills, and success stories from around the world, we hope to uplift and inspire others in a world that is always evolving. Presenting such a wide range of industry-leading CEOs every month, those who have been going the extra mile for their clients, customers, teams, businesses, and industries, CEO Monthly is proud to deliver the latest insights and successes to our readers. We’re also extremely proud to present Mo Radjab, our Most Innovative Financial Wellness CEO 2025, as he is featured on this month’s cover. Mo built his career from the ground up, with tenacity and tremendous hard work, to ensure that everyone can have access to financial wellbeing, and it is this kind of dedication that we at CEO Monthly always wish to applaud. We look forward to seeing you again next month for our final issue of the year. Here’s to a prosperous and successful month ahead. Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. News 7. The Power of Simplicity in Leading Change 8. Grassfeld Inc: Most Innovative Financial Wellness CEO 2025: Mo Radjab 9. Grassfeld Inc: Think Cost, Think Circular, Re-Think Food Waste 12. Herewith, Inc: COO of the Year 2025: Dedicated Senior Care Solutions 14. VH BPO Services: Rising Star Award In BPO Services 2025 (South East Asia): EJ Hamodiong 15. GRI Group Limited: Graham Royle: Injecting Entrepreneurial Excellence into Innovative Industries 16. Equipzilla: Leading Industrial Machinery Rental and Management in Spain 17. Belfast Exposed: Photography for Everyone 18. BioSapien: The Brain Behind The Lifechanging MediChip 19. TruthSayer AI: Outperform the Investment Market with TruthSayer AI 20. VFX Apprentice: Supporting the Next Generation of VFX Specialists Contents
NEWS Perspire Sauna Studio Appoints Caroline Linton as Chief Marketing Officer
AI, transformation demands and sustainability targets are driving the growth of new roles in the boardroom, but C-Suite leaders are concerned by their ability to find the required skills. That’s according to new research from international recruitment firm Robert Half. In its study, “Towards the C-Suite 2035”, the talent solutions expert found that the majority (83%) of businesses expect that the role of the Chief AI Officer will become more important over the next ten years as companies look for the best approach to tackling artificial intelligence. Given the pace of change in the current landscape, it’s perhaps unsurprising that a further 78% of C-Suite leaders expect the role of the Chief Technology Transformation Officer to also grow in value in the next decade, while 73% predict that the Chief Sustainability Officer will be more important as ESG pressures intensify. Equally, the study also revealed that traditional leadership roles will simultaneously gain importance, specifically Chief HR Officers, which will be vital to deliver workforce transformation and succession planning, Chief Communications Officers to manage strategic messaging and Chief Operations Officers to ensure stability during these periods of change. Skills availability concerns Despite the recognition of these emerging roles, 59% of those surveyed expressed concerns around finding suitable leaders for their company. With emerging roles such as the Chief AI Officer expected to reshape the boardroom, it’s not surprising that many respondents are worried about talent availability, as these roles don’t currently exist at scale. The analysis did identify a range of skills that all leaders will need. Resilience (75%) and critical thinking (74%) were cited as important, followed by creativity (68%), innovative capacity (67%) and emotional intelligence (65%), which also ranked highly. In addition, 60% stated that workforce transformation experience will be essential for the next generation of executives. AI, transformation, and sustainability fuel rise of new C-suite roles; but skills gap looms Leading Infrared Sauna Franchise Taps Seasoned Marketing Leader to Accelerate Member Growth and Franchise Expansion Perspire Sauna Studio, the country’s largest sauna franchise specializing in full spectrum infrared sauna (IR) and red-light therapy (RLT), announced the appointment of Caroline Linton as Chief Marketing Officer. Linton will oversee brand strategy, integrated marketing, consumer growth, and franchise development marketing as Perspire advances its next phase of national expansion. Linton brings deep category expertise in highgrowth, multi-unit wellness brands including Pure Barre and STRIDE Fitness. She has a track record of translating health and fitness modalities into clear, consumer-friendly narratives, including spearheading national launches for Takeya hydration products into all Target retail doors. Before her career in marketing, Linton was a Division I volleyball player at UC Irvine, an experience she credits with instilling the competitive drive and discipline that have shaped her approach to leadership and brand marketing. At Perspire, she will lead the company’s omnichannel marketing playbook, elevating the guest journey from discovery to membership, while partnering closely with operations and franchise development to support consistent studio experiences system-wide. “Perspire has built a category-defining brand by combining the latest innovations in infrared sauna technology with an approachable guest experience,” said Caroline Linton, CMO. “I’m excited to champion our members, celebrate franchisee success, and expand brand awareness of the tangible benefits of infrared sauna, red-light therapy, and contrast therapy.” “Caroline’s experience scaling beloved wellness concepts and her instinct for brand storytelling makes her the right leader to guide Perspire’s next chapter,” said Lee Braun, Founder & CEO of Perspire Sauna Studio. “As demand for recovery, stress relief, and longevity continues to surge, Caroline will help more people discover how simple, science-backed rituals fit into everyday life.” The appointment follows Perspire’s sustained growth and ongoing investments to support scale to nearly 100 operating studios. The brand continues to expand its footprint and innovate the in-studio experience by bringing science-backed wellness to communities across the country. The brand is currently seeking single-unit and multi-unit franchisees interested in new career opportunities or those looking to diversify their current portfolios. To learn more about the brand’s franchising opportunities, visit https://www. perspiresaunastudio.com/franchise/.
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Feature Ever had to take a dreaded rail-replacement bus service? When you were told the trains weren’t running, you probably wanted to know not only why, but also what time you’d reach your destination, and whether it was an ongoing problem which would affect future journeys too. Had station staff launched into a complex explanation of how the entire UK’s railways operate, or simply listed off all of their qualifications and certifications, and then expected you to hop on the bus without a further word… well, it’s a ridiculous scenario and one likely to have caused your annoyance levels to spike. So, let’s focus on change instead of trains. In the world of change management, leaders have become far too used to simply telling people things are going to be different. Even worse, they often quote models with three, five or maybe even eight steps, they share complicated frameworks, and they expect employees to understand an entire dictionary of jargon and acronyms. That’s not working. No matter how many certificates you have, change management courses you’ve attended, or books you’ve read, it simply isn’t translating because the whole process is being made unnecessarily complex, and the simple ‘why’ and ‘how’ explanations are being hidden away as if they’re state secrets. Simple but effective When any company announces there’s a change coming up – which all companies do at some point – there are some common questions shared by pretty much every employee. They want to know what’s happening, they’d like a reasonable explanation as to why, they want to know if their job will alter or even be put at risk, and they’d like a rough timescale of when they can expect this to happen. They’re probably not too concerned with knowing which model of change management is being applied – because a fancy diagram on a slide presentation doesn’t give them the answers to any of these important questions. So, here’s a novel idea: why not dispense with the hours-long explanation of exactly why an eight-step model is better than its five-step alternative in your opinion, and instead sit down face to face, and have an open and honest two-way conversation. “We’re implementing new systems because we can see your team are having to manually input data and that’s taking up the time you could be spending on more highvalue tasks. Nobody’s job is at risk, and you’ll all receive training on how best to use the new tools. We’d love your feedback on how it’s working, and the benefits you’re seeing from the changes. We’re also here to answer any questions you might have along the way.” It’s simple, concise and keeps the door open for further explanation as and when required. Keep it consistent Whilst this simple conversation is a fantastic start in opening up communications, this approach needs to be consistently applied across the duration of the project to be truly effective and keep the team on board. If employees not only understand what’s happening, but also feel that they’re a valuable part of the changes being made, then they’ll likely be more supportive – and buy-in from your teams is a The Power of Simplicity in Leading Change ‘make or break’ when it comes to change management. If they know who to approach if they’ve got a question, concern or feedback, then they’re more likely to do so; which means you understand sooner if there’s an issue you need to address, and you also gain valuable anecdotal evidence about how the project is working to supplement the data you’ll be collecting. Keep the team active Going through any change which you feel you have no control over can be stressful, and even lead to burnout when it happens continually. Implement a culture of inclusion however, where everyone feels part of the process, understands the benefits, and shares a vision of how it’ll turn out, and that sets a different tone. Employee wellbeing is a crucial factor in everything from recruitment and retention to company productivity, so it must be top of the list when it comes to the potentially destabilising impact of a shift in expectations, workload or processes. The beauty of change management is that it doesn’t need to be overcomplicated: by keeping things simple and focusing on what really matters, projects can be far easier to manage and complete successfully. It’s only by creating an air of mystery around the change – failing to engage with teams, not communicating key information, or attempting to boggle their minds with every acronym under the sun – that companies set themselves on a course towards an ‘us v them’ situation. There’s very little point in engaging in an unwinnable tug-of-war where you’re weighed down with all 60-plus change management models you’ve learned the names of, and they’re weighed down with the worry of uncertainty and a lack of understanding. Instead of relying on complex transition models, focusing on people-led change means ensuring everyone has a clear understanding of the benefits of evolution, a shared vision for the future, and is pulling in the same direction: towards project success. By Mark Green is the Founder and CEO of Change Rebellion.
Most Innovative Financial Wellness CEO 2025: Mo Radjab
CEO MONTHLY / NOVEMBER 2025 9 Jul23542 Taking control of your personal finances can be a daunting task, but one grounded in complete necessity. By creating and tracking your income, spendings, and goals, your path to financial freedom will become clearer than ever before. This is a philosophy championed by Grassfeld, a leading Dutch scale-up providing innovative personal finance management technology across Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom. Today, we celebrate Mo Radjab – the visionary CEO of Grassfeld steering the company to excellence. We heard more from Mo below, following his well-deserved recognition in the Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025. An innovator in fintech, Mo Radjab has been making significant waves across the industry. He is often described by his peers as a natural strategist and a force to be reckoned with, having played an instrumental role in driving the success of a number of emerging companies. From his expansive network to his unrivalled market expertise to his infectious energy, Mo has certainly established himself as a key player in the fintech sphere and a trusted partner for those seeking financial freedom. Mo’s journey to becoming CEO of Grassfeld was driven by a sole core belief: financial clarity creates freedom. Before founding Grassfeld, he held multiple senior management roles across large international corporate banks – gaining firsthand experience in macroeconomics, leading product teams, managing risks, and lending capital. These positions shaped his perspective on economics, technology, human behaviour, and the structural gaps within the financial system. “I began my career at Robeco,” he recalled, “a well-known private bank in the Netherlands, working with private investors and dealing with large sums of investment capital. Over the years, I noticed a recurring theme: people were not struggling because they lacked ambition; they were struggling because they lacked an accessible financial structure. The tools available were either too technical, too generic, or disconnected from people’s daily reality.” With each bank, Mo built an invaluable foundation in operational discipline, resilience, and product-market fit, all of which he draws upon daily in his current role as the CEO of Grassfeld. This makes the role truly fulfilling for Mo, allowing him to combine every element of his professional background, including product innovation, financial empowerment, scalable technology, and a relentless focus on user outcomes. “Being at the helm of a fast growing fintech company means I must constantly shift between visionary strategy and operational execution,” he shared. “My past experiences taught me how to balance the big picture with the small details, the macro and the micro, which I believe is one of the most underrated skills in modern leadership. I didn’t simply step into the CEO role; I built the foundation for it through years of trial, insight, and belief in a better way to help people manage and worship their money.” “I didn’t simply step into the CEO role; I built the foundation for it through years of trial, insight, and belief in a better way to help people manage and worship their money.” That is precisely what Grassfeld stands for: redefining how people interact with their money. This fast-scaling American and European fintech firm is dedicated to helping individuals achieve long-term financial wellbeing through innovative, automated, and hyper-personalised money management tools. To this end, the firm’s flagship product is a personal finance platform expertly designed to simplify, optimise, and empower users to manage their income, expenses, savings, debt, and investment – all in one intuitive interface. At its core, Grassfeld’s mission is clear: to give every individual the clarity and control they need to make confident financial decisions. It is with this mission that the firm aims to achieve its ambitious vision of becoming the world’s most trusted and human-centred financial platform, empowering millions of people to build a financially free future, on their own terms. As Mo aptly stated, “Our combination of automation, design simplicity, and deep personalisation provides us our unique edge.” Grassfeld serves a diverse range of users, comprising young professionals, families, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads. Though different, many of its users share similar ambitions – financially conscious individuals seeking clarity, control, and confidence in their financial life, but without the complexity of traditional finance apps. This is where Grassfeld differentiates itself from its peers: prioritising the core philosophy of blending simplicity with intelligence. Unlike traditional budgeting tools, Grassfeld offers a proactive financial assistant experience to its users, providing each with intelligent insights, future simulations, and actionable recommendations that innovatively adapt to their personal situation and goals. The platform has received widespread attention, with one of its most highly praised features being the Financial Life Simulator, a forwardlooking engine that helps users ask, “What if I…?” and instantly see the future impact of key life choices. “Financial wellbeing should not be reserved for the few with access to advisors; it should be available to everyone, every day, right from their phone.” Every element of Grassfeld’s functions is centred around the belief that financial wellbeing should be simple, accessible, and intelligently adaptable to the user’s real life. To this end, it operates as more than just a personal finance app, but as an ecosystem for financial clarity and long-term empowerment. It operates with a subscription-based revenue model, offering scalable pricing that fits both the everyday user and the more advanced financial planner. Currently active across Europe with a fast-growing user base, the firm’s strategic focus is now on expansion into North America and building key integrations with savings, credit, and investment partners. The firm’s ongoing strategy is centred around four pillars: hyper personalisation at scale, driven by advanced AI and behavioural analytics to deliver tailored financial recommendations; a crossplatform ecosystem, realised through the launch of Grassfeld Navigator to ensure seamless integration across mobile and desktop experiences; sustainable growth through data intelligence, leveraging anonymised financial data to improve predictive modelling and user experience while maintaining strict GDPR compliance; and community-driven innovation, with regular feedback loops – from surveys to beta programmes – ensuring that users don’t just use Grassfeld, but shape it. While now well-defined, each of these pillars was forged through trial, error, and unrelenting learning. “Building Grassfeld has been one of the most rewarding and demanding journeys of my life,” Mo reflected. “As with any company that aims to disrupt a legacy industry like personal finance, we’ve faced both systemic challenges and breakthrough opportunities, each shaping me as a leader and sharpening our company’s mission.” The personal finance app market is remarkably competitive, with numerous players vying for limited user attention. The biggest challenge for Grassfeld was not launching, however, but standing
CEO MONTHLY / NOVEMBER 2025 11 out. The firm overcame this hurdle by focusing on user transformation, rather than its features. This enabled the team to build Grassfeld to stand as more than a tool – as a trusted financial companion. This shift from utility to empowerment soon became Grassfeld’s shining strategic edge. From there, the firm was faced with the challenge of navigating complex compliance and data regulation. Operating across Europe meant confronting evolving regulations, such as GDPR, PSD2, and national privacy standards. This confronted Grassfeld to build smarter from the very beginning, embedding privacy and security by design – as well as consent and transparency – into each and every layer of the product. Remaining competitive following its establishment required fundraising in a shifting investment climate, and the fintech landscape has fluctuated significantly since 2022. As a result, investor expectations quickly shifted from hypergrowth to sustainable economics. As CEO of Grassfeld, Mo had to take a step back and realign the firm’s fundraising strategy, articulating a clear and credible path to profitability. In turn, this led to stronger investor relationships and healthier financial planning. That’s not to say that the journey hasn’t provided equal prosperity, however, as Mo shared with us the opportunities that have appeared along the way for the team. Grassfeld was an early adopter of AI-driven financial simulations, positioning itself at the very forefront of next-generation personal finance platforms – particularly through its unique “What if I…?” scenario engine. For Grassfeld, artificial intelligence is not merely a feature, but a core enabler of personalised financial guidance at scale. Building upon its early success, Grassfeld’s expansion into North America unlocked new growth potential. Conversely, it also forced the team to quickly adapt to different financial behaviours, regulatory frameworks, and product expectations. This has certainly been a strategic challenge for Grassfeld, but ultimately one that has strengthened its unrivalled global ambition. Now, the global demand for user-friendly, non-intimidating financial apps has never been higher. This macro trend has validated Grassfeld’s product philosophy and has continued to create expansion opportunities in undeserved markets for the firm, particularly among younger, mobile-first users. In reflection, Mo noted: “These experiences have made me a more adaptive, resilient, and userobsessed CEO. I’ve learned to lead with clarity in chaos, precision in strategy, and empathy in decision-making. Every challenge sharpened our focus. Every opportunity accelerated our vision.” “Every challenge sharpened our focus. Every opportunity accelerated our vision.” Innovation is the key to success in this industry, as the fintech sector undergoes a transformative phase marked by both accelerated innovation and heightened industry pressures. Keeping a close eye on the market, Grassfeld has observed a number of significant developments promising to reshape the sector’s development, including the ongoing revolution of generative AI; escalating cybersecurity threats calling for more robust data protection; developments to regulation and open finance; competitive pressure stemming from market maturation; and the need for global expansion and consolidation. In response to these developments, Grassfeld has adopted a number of strategies to rise above. This includes doubling down on advanced cybersecurity, automated privacy safeguards, and transparent AI; embracing open finance to integrate seamlessly with partners, all the while safeguarding user data; following a platform-enabled model that embeds budgeting, savings, credit, and planning tools into one unified interface; recognising that AI-first precision is no longer optional, but essential for delivering secure, personalised insights; and by remaining ready and equipped to scale – not just geographically, but also in offering richer financial services. “I see our industry at a pivotal moment,” Mo told us, “where breakthrough tech meets surging demand, but also stringent oversight. The leaders of tomorrow will be those who combine cutting-edge AI, ironclad security, regulatory excellence, and genuine customer value. That’s precisely where Grassfeld is positioned, and why we’re accelerating our roadmap right now.” Looking ahead, the future of Grassfeld is not just about growth; it’s about global impact. As we enter the second half of 2025 the firm’s vision remains bold: to become the world’s most trusted and human-centred financial platform, helping 100 million people build a future of financial freedom. Following Grassfeld’s successful launch across Europe, the remainder of 2025 will be focused on scaling Grassfeld into North America, into markets that present both opportunity and complexity. Through 2026 and beyond, Grassfeld aims to expand into Asia-Pacific markets, build localised AI models to serve the culturally distinct financial needs of its customers, and launch Grassfeld for SMEs – bringing the same clarity to freelancers and microentrepreneurs. The next era of Grassfeld is rooted in scale, intelligence, and impact. On a mission to do more than just building features, Grassfeld is shaping the future of financial selfdetermination, one user at a time. As for Mo, the future is bright – with a number of plans geared towards scaling both Grassfeld and his leadership capabilities, becoming a voice for ethical fintech, and promoting personal growth through mentorship and collaboration. In the long-term, he envisions the launch of a fund or foundation focused on financial wellbeing, youth entrepreneurship, and tech-for-good, aligned with the same values that fuel Grassfeld. One thing is for sure: whether Mo remains at the helm of Grassfeld or launch new ventures in the future, his core mission will remain the same – to empower people with clarity, confidence, and the tools to shape their own future. “For me, success is not a destination; it’s a responsibility,” he shared with us. “Winning Most Innovative Financial Wellness CEO 2025 is an incredible honour, but I see it as a milestone, not a finish line. My personal mission is to keep evolving as a leader, expanding not only the impact of Grassfeld but also my ability to empower others, inside and outside the organisation. “None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary people who’ve walked this path with me. I want to express my deepest gratitude to those who have not only believed in the vision but also in me, especially during the moments that tested our resolve. “To Remko Brenters, our brilliant CTO, Lackó Darázsdi, our vigilant CISO, and Ronald van IJsselmuide, our steadfast Finance Director, thank you for your unwavering commitment, sharp insight, and relentless pursuit of excellence. Your partnership has been foundational to everything we’ve built. To the entire Grassfeld team: Your loyalty, patience, and resilience inspire me every day. You are the heartbeat of this company, and I’m endlessly proud to stand alongside you as we shape the future of personal finance. “But above all, I want to thank the one person who grounds me and lifts me all at once, my wife, Demi Radjab-Blok. Through every high and low, she has stood by my side with grace, strength, and unwavering belief. She is not only my greatest supporter, but also my truest motivation. Her presence reminds me, every day, of why I strive for more, not just in business, but in life. This award is a reflection of all of you. Thank you for being part of this journey and being in my life.” Contact: Mo Radjab Company: Grassfeld Inc. Web Address: www.grassfeld.com
CEO MONTHLY / NOVEMBER 2025 12 COO of the Year 2025: Dedicated Senior Care Solutions n a world where everything is an angle, many care providers see ageing as exactly that – something they can leverage for their own financial gain. Herewith is different. It is aware that aging is real life – something we see across our parents, friends, and neighbours, as well as in ourselves. It was this awareness that led the company to begin building its flexible support platform in 2018. Designed to make senior care at home simple, the platform is easy to use, with everything managed in one place. Partnering with families, senior facilities, healthcare organisations, and Medicare Advantage plans alike, Herewith ensures that its platform reaches as many people as possible in need of its services. What these groups receive for their investment is much more than just another solutions provider. They get access to a partner who blends technology and compliance with compassion to add clear value for families and healthcare providers alike. This dual focus sets Herewith apart Aug25076 Operating out of San Francisco, California, Herewith, Inc. is a tech-powered home care platform focusing on connecting families with in-home support that is both reliable and affordable. Senior care is the main speciality for the team here, helping seniors to manage their care needs and find trusted Helpers, all whilst nurturing industry partnerships to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. With Veronica Baiz, Herewith’s COO, being featured in this programme, we sat down with her for more on these dedicated solutions and her impact across the company. I and sees it trusted by more than 1500 US families. The main distinguishing point of the platform is the Helpers it offers: background-checked individuals who work on a no-contract basis to provide nonmedical support on a flexible schedule. This diverse workforce offers support in everything from companion care and transportation to light housekeeping and meal preparation, with specialist services also available for those with conditions such as dementia, those requiring dialysis, or individuals in need of end-of-life or post-hospital in-home care support. For the millions across the US struggling to afford help caring for aging parents at home, Herewith’s provision of a fast, easy service with minimal fees sees excellent care delivered within budget, making it a lifeline for both them and their loved ones. Unlike more traditional agencies, there are no minimum hours or restrictive contracts, and all of the money earned goes right into the Helpers’ pockets, cutting out the middleman. As a result, more than 50% can be saved when comparing these services to those of a standard agency. Cost reduction is not the only benefit, and the fact that individuals can find relevant Helpers, track and manage the care they provide, and pay them safely and securely through the Herewith platform – which is available as both a website and smartphone app – makes this whole process so much simpler than it has been historically. In this way, Herewith represents the next evolution in in-home care services for seniors. “Our mission is to make caregiving accessible and dignified for every family, no matter their circumstances. Our vision is to set the national standard for in-home care, where technology removes barriers, Helpers feel valued, and patients receive the support they deserve.” As Herewith’s COO, Veronica Baiz is the woman behind the day-to-day excellence of Herewith’s dedicated solutions for senior care. Joining the brand at the start of 2023, Veronica has proven integral to its growth over the last three years, first in her work as a contracted HR business partner and then through her work as both its operations director (a role she still inhabits) and its COO. For Veronica reaching these heights represents the culmination of a more than 15-year career in the healthcare space. Beginning her journey as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Veronica’s early experiences on the frontline taught her the realities of bedside care and the many challenges faced by parents and staff. Her move to pharmacy a few years later – which marked the start of a seven-year stint – then taught her the ins and outs of the operational/ regulatory side of healthcare delivery. Subsequent roles in the Development Disabilities Administration programme and as Hospital Director empowered her further within the industry. At Herewith, Veronica combines all she learned across these experiences to deliver something truly impressive. Regardless of whether she is building scalable workflows within the business, negotiating partnerships with healthcare providers, or ensuring that the company’s Helpers feel both supported and valued in their work, Veronica is able to achieve her primary goal of blending healthcare expertise with operational execution on a daily basis. This ensures that Herewith will never lose sight of those it serves. The above is a clear reflection of the hands-on approach Veronica takes to her COO duties, something that has earned her the respect of her team and clients alike. As she so poignantly shared: “When the mission is to deliver excellent care, no task is beneath anyone.” This ethos ensures that Herewith is a company that continues to grow and evolve, going from strength to strength despite some of the hurdles many of its competitors are falling at. Skyrocketing demand as a result of an aging population and an increase in popularity of in-home care is currently
CEO MONTHLY / NOVEMBER 2025 13 defining the industry, but a lack of qualified carers and families struggling to find affordable in-home care options has left the field in a difficult position. Veronica very much sees it as Herewith’s mission to pick up the pieces, driving innovation in this space by solving these issues, bridging gaps in the market, and creating a system that honours carers, supports families, and helps healthcare providers to truly excel. Getting her message across has not always been easy for Veronica, especially in the early days, having joined an established start-up with a strong vision for their product. Nevertheless, Veronica’s dedication to showing up, listening, and empowering those around her has seen her grown not only into a decision maker, but also as a mentor/ mentee across her diverse, united team. “When people feel trusted and valued, they take ownership and push harder. It’s taught me that trust isn’t a onetime win, it’s something you earn daily, and it’s become the backbone of how I operate as COO.” Supported by an aligned team, the long-term plan for Herewith is all about scale and expansion, with the need to streamline support for those in search of help caring for aging parents/family members at home not being a challenge that is exclusive to the US. However, in the immediate future, building both its team and its national footprint are the company’s top priorities, with these set to be achieved on the back of new partnerships, technology refinements, and new career pathways for its dedicated Helper network. Concerning her own plans as Herewith’s COO, Veronica told us: “This role isn’t just about running smooth operations, it’s about building a company that transforms caregiving as an industry. The future is about growth, yes, but also about creating a movement: elevating caregivers, empowering families, and showing the world that care can be delivered with compassion and precision – at scale as well as at home.” For her effectiveness in demonstrating this, it is our pleasure to name Veronica Baiz the COO of the Year 2025: Dedicated Senior Care Solutions within these pages. On the back of this award, Veronica took a moment to thank those who have supported her along the way: “I’ve had incredible mentors who believed in me, challenged me, and gave me the opportunities to step up when it mattered most. My success is not mine alone, it’s a reflection of their investment in me, and I carry that on today by doing the same for others.” More information about Herewith, Inc. can be found at the link below, and more from Veronica can be found on her LinkedIn, which she updates regularly with all of the latest goings on from across the business and the wider sector. Contact Details Contact: Veronica Baiz Company: Herewith, Inc. Web Address: herewith.com
CEO MONTHLY / NOVEMBER 2025 14 ased in Metro Manila, VH BPO Services is a premier outsourcing partner delivering advanced IT-BPO solutions that connect global firms to top-tier Filipino talent. With deep expertise across facilities management, customer experience, healthcare, and virtual assistance, VH BPO Services empowers businesses to streamline operations, reduce costs and elevate service delivery. Offering both remote and hybrid staffing models, the company provides scalable solutions tailored to meet the evolving demands of international clients across multiple industries. Founded during the global pandemic, VH BPO Services has achieved over 600% revenue growth from 2020 to 2024, reflecting its agility and commitment to excellence. With a proven track record in customer experience, IT outsourcing, and remote staffing, the company continues to expand its footprint across North America. VH BPO Services is dedicated to delivering scalable, cost-effective solutions that empower clients to focus on core business goals while maintaining high operational standards in competitive industries. Today, VH BPO Services has carved out a niche in facilities management support, offering specialised knowledge across platforms such as ServiceChannel, Corrigo, FM Pilot, and Fexa. This technical proficiency Rising Star Award In BPO Services 2025 (South East Asia): EJ Hamodiong Founded in 2020, VH BPO Services is a fastgrowing outsourcing firm delivering remote business support to international clients across multiple sectors. Known for its precision and responsiveness, the company has quickly earned trust among global partners seeking scalable, people-driven solutions. At the helm is Founder and CEO EJ Hamodiong, whose leadership reflects a deep commitment to promoting Filipino talent on the global stage. We learned more about EJ’s journey and the values driving VH BPO Services below, as EJ is named in the Global CEO Excellence Awards 2025. enables seamless coordination for clients managing high-volume service requests and vendor networks. The company’s remote teams are trained to navigate complex workflows, ensuring timely execution and data accuracy across diverse operational environments. The company is led by EJ Hamodiong, Founder and CEO of VH BPO Services. With a background in entrepreneurship and a passion for workforce empowerment, EJ Hamodiong has built VH BPO Services on the principle of creating meaningful opportunities for Filipino professionals. His leadership style blends humility with strategic vision, fostering a culture of purpose, resilience, and continuous growth. EJ’s approach to business is rooted in problem-solving and value creation, guiding the company with a clear focus on long-term impact rather than short-term gain. EJ brings over a decade of experience in outsourcing, operations, and remote team management across the Philippines. Before founding VH BPO Services, he held leadership roles in facilities coordination and helpdesk support, working with firms in North America and Southeast Asia. His career spans industries from telecoms to maintenance, with a focus on building agile, cost-effective service teams. A certified Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and licensed professional educator, EJ combines technical expertise with a people-first mindset to drive operational excellence and global client satisfaction. As VH BPO Services continues to scale, EJ remains focused on building a company that reflects both global standards and local pride. His vision extends beyond business growth, aiming to position Filipino talent as a competitive force in the international outsourcing landscape. With a growing portfolio of partnerships and a reputation for delivering high-value solutions, EJ is shaping a legacy defined by innovation, inclusivity, and long-term impact. B Contact: EJ Hamodiong Company: VH BPO Services Web Address: www.vh-bpo.com
CEO MONTHLY / NOVEMBER 2025 15 Graham Royle: Injecting Entrepreneurial Excellence into Innovative Industries Specialising in the development, manufacture, and distribution of chemical intermediates and personal care products, GRI Group offers a comprehensive range of services to an array of clientele. Through strategic acquisitions and investments in technology and manufacturing capabilities, the company has established itself as a global player in the fields of chemical intermediates and personal care. This mission has been led by CEO and Founder Graham Royle, whose dedication and expertise has contributed significantly to GRI Group’s international advancement. We took a closer look at the group and its outstanding offerings below, following Graham’s recent recognition in the CEO of the Year Awards 2025. Situated in Sheffield, GRI Group is a manufacturer, distributor, and brand owner supplying customers from around the world. The company caters to a variety of sectors – including personal care, household care, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications – through its three associate companies: Libra Specialty Chemicals, for chemical manufacturing and distribution; Expac, for formulation, contract manufacturing, and packing; and I Love Cosmetics, for brands management and product creation. With comprehensive market intelligence, exceptional manufacturing capabilities, and extensive technical expertise, GRI Group stands out for offering a one-stop-shop to its clientele. Its operations are split into three key areas, comprising the development, manufacture, and distribution of chemical intermediates for personal care, household care, and industrial applications; the design, development, formulation, manufacturing, and contract packing of personal care, toiletries, and cosmetic products; and the brand ownership, marketing and global distribution of personal care, toiletries, and cosmetics products. Across its operations, GRI Group maintains its foundational core values of technical and operational innovation, boldness within the acquisition and investment market, and commitment to forging long-lasting relationships with both its clientele and the global supply chain. At its core, the group is driven by a “cando” approach, which enables the team to identify and secure myriad opportunities for its clientele – delivering innovative products and processes whilst ensuring a meticulous attention to sustainability, environmental control, and biodegradability. Leading the charge in this mission is Graham Royle, Owner, Chairman, and CEO of the successfully growing group of companies. A serial entrepreneur and successful strategist, Graham has successfully served as the innovator behind GRI Group since its inception. He blends creative vision and initiative to maximise business performance and growth, continually working toward his ultimate mission of creating ever-increasing shareholder value through the very bestin-class products and superior services. Graham founded GRI Group in 2001, implementing his unique vision to cultivate a vertically integrated group of companies that serve a wide range of sectors and clientele. Before GRI Group’s creation, Graham spent 17 years working within large PLCs. He refined his expertise across a variety of operational functions, acting as a Functional Director for four years and both a Managing Director and Chief Executive across various companies for a decade. Now, Graham steers GRI Group with an expert hand, guiding his team towards continued success and remaining an ever-present presence at the heart of the business. As CEO of GRI Group, Graham has led the team from strength to strength, effectively positioning the company as a global leader in its chosen markets. Graham’s leadership style is one rooted in participation and teamwork, encouraging the devolution of authority to ensure that the greater team can made decisions, deliver on those decisions, and reap the benefits and pride that comes with being allowed autonomy in their roles. He strongly believes that each member of the team possesses their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and that developing and supporting their weaknesses with additional training, tools, and peer support is instrumental in building a strong and successful team. Through this expert approach to leadership, Graham has created a legendary culture of service standards, setting GRI Group head and shoulders above other entities in the market. His drive has instilled endless enthusiasm and energy within his team, motivating each member to operate in alignment with the long-term vision of creating ever-greater success – for both GRI Group and its clientele. It is for this drive, responsible for the continual growth and divestment of multiple companies within the group, has earned Graham Royle recognition as the UK’s Chemical Products Manufacturing CEO of the Year 2025. Company: GRI Group Limited Web Address: www.grigroup.co.uk
CEO MONTHLY / NOVEMBER 2025 16 Established in 2022 as a simple yet highly effective undertaking, the unique combination of a rental/sales market for industrial equipment and a robust SaaS layer (spanning fleet management and telematics) sees Equipzilla deliver speed, transparency, and a demonstrable ROI for its service users. As Andrés explained: “We’re one of the few A first-of-its kind marketplace specialising in renting industrial machinery and construction materials, Equipzilla in Barcelona ensures companies have the right machine at the right time and the right price. As well as this, it provides industrial equipment owners with an intuitive platform on which they can rent, sell, and manage their fleets. The co-founder and CEO of this operation, Andrés Pla has been recognised here as the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Industrial Equipment Rental (Barcelona). We spoke with him for more about his role and career in this space. players blending marketplace and IoT‑agnostic fleet SaaS. That lets us close the loop – find the machine, monitor usage, and automate workflows – all in the one platform.” In just three simple steps, platform users can access any type of industrial machinery they need for their project – all they have to do is tell the system where the job is, what exactly it entails, and when it will be carried out. This is done through a short form that only requires basic information, information which is then analysed by the platform and cross-referenced against its catalogue of more than 500 high-level machines, ensuring that the most suitable machines are found from renters as close as possible to the client’s location. From here, this industrial machine-rental platform in Spain puts the client in contact with their renter of choice, allowing them to track the delivery of this used construction equipment to the desired spot at the allotted time. It really is that simple, with this seamless process reflecting Equipzilla’s core values of transparency, ownership, customer proximity, and speed with accountability. These values start with Andrés himself. As both co-founder and CEO, Andrés sees it as his responsibility to set the vision, manage the culture and allocation, and to stay close to the product, customers, and partners. This feeds into his philosophy that clarity always beats complexity and facts always trump opinions. Andrés added: “We iterate fast, and measure outcomes rigorously.” This ethos has been fine-tuned over the course of a diverse career, with Andrés establishing ProntoPiso, a VC-backed propetech which he served as CEO and later executive chairman of, before Equipzilla. The experience of building teams, raising capital, operating a national business, and managing complex transactions this role provided allowed Andrés to hone his focus on what really matters as a leader. Prior to this, his time studying business and working in growth/ operations roles gave him a strict foundational knowledge. Such an array of experience also makes Andrés an exemplary leader, as he knows what it takes to manage a successful, high-performance team. The key to doing so is servant leadership, with Andrés using this approach combined with high standards to make the most of his staff. “We celebrate learnings – not just wins”, Andrés added, something stemming from his leadership having evolved over time from ‘founder doing everything’ to creating and empowering functional leaders through delegation/ shared responsibility. On the back of this, Andrés explained: “We’re a focused, multidisciplinary team working across Spain. Our cultural pillars of ownership and transparency are explored through rituals including weekly dashboards, customer-call reviews, and ‘demo Friday’ – and I play an active role in hiring, onboarding, and keeping our roadmap tied to customer outcomes.” This sees Equipzilla overcome challenges and maximise available opportunities. Touching on the latter and the future of the company, this CEO told us of the huge potential that still awaits within the used construction equipment market, with its plans for the next 12 months and beyond including scaling EquipTrack (its fleet Saas), adding more telematics integrations, expanding its used sales workflows with finance partners, streamlining its internal operations with AI technology, and – perhaps most excitingly – launching in Portugal and deepening its burgeoning presence in the Mexican market. Finally, commenting on the next steps for his own career, this equipment rental CEO shared: “I am to keep building Equipzilla into the reference platform for used constriction equipment in Iberia and Latam, all whilst mentoring future leaders internally, and sharing learnings publicly (talks, writing) around marketplace/SaaS operations.” Deservedly named the Most Influential CEO 2025 – Industrial Equipment Rental (Barcelona), Andrés Pla signed off by saying: “We’re passionate about making equipment access simpler and safer – whether you rent, buy, or manage fleets. If readers want to discuss partnerships, integrations, or case studies, I’m always open to connect.” Contact: Andrés Pla Company: Equipzilla Web Address: https://equipzilla.com/ Leading Industrial Machinery Rental and Management in Spain
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