talent acquisition

Chinese appliance maker Gree Electric is increasing its investment in talent acquisition, onboarding over 5,400 university graduates this year, following 6,000 last year. Chairwoman Dong Mingzhu emphasizes the critical role of talent and Gree’s significant investment in young employees, estimated at $28,000 USD per graduate annually. Dong has also advocated for companies to recoup training fees from employees who leave after long-term development, sparking debate over ownership of skills and knowledge gained during employment.

A former Motorola CEO discussed the difficulties of reviving US manufacturing, citing the company’s failed 2013 attempt to assemble Moto X smartphones in Texas. Despite employing 4,000 workers, the factory closed within a year due to disappointing sales. Challenges included a fragmented supply chain reliant on Asian components, leading to high transportation costs. Crucially, talent acquisition proved difficult, with extensive training needed and a prevailing sentiment that factory work isn’t desirable, hindering recruitment and retention.

LivePerson (LPSN) filed a notice regarding equity-based incentive awards under Nasdaq rule 5635(c)(4). The grants, made via the 2018 Inducement Plan, totaled 16,000 RSUs in July and 51,000 in May, vesting over two years. These awards aim to attract and retain talent, aligning employee incentives with long-term performance in the competitive AI landscape. LivePerson’s Conversational Cloud platform supports major brands with AI-driven interactions.

KellyOCG + Sevenstep received

Meta is aggressively acquiring top AI talent, notably hiring Ruoming Pang, former head of Apple’s foundational models team. This strategic move, reportedly driven by a lucrative compensation package, highlights Meta’s drive to bolster its AI capabilities amidst intense industry competition. Pang’s departure may impact Apple’s AI team morale, as the company seeks to advance its AI initiatives.

Gree Electric’s leader Dong Mingzhu prioritizes domestically cultivated talent, citing national interests. She emphasizes mindset, innovation, and responsibility over age or origin. Marketing Director Zhu Lei clarifies Gree values loyalty, diligence, and contribution, not foreign vs. domestic status once hired. The company seeks “hard workers” and “doers” aligned with its ethos.