Semphonic Joins E&Y LLP, Expands Digital Measurement

Digital measurement & data analytics consultant Semphonic has joined Ernst & Young US. Semphonic is focused on providing Fortune 500 clients with insights into complex customer interaction challenges they may face across the digital channel. It brings an expansion of E&Y’s analytics department says Andy Rusnak, principal and leader of E&Y’s Enterprise Intelligence group. More

Rich Sernyak Joins PwC as SAP Practice Principal

Rich Sernyak brings more than 17 years of experience in the SAP market and deep industry knowledge of SAP capabilities to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ SAP practice. As principal he will guide SAP clients through complex business issues using tools such as SAP technology and solutions, says Rodney Seligmann, principal and SAP Strategic Alliance Leader at PwC. Sernyak comes to PwC from Computer Sciences Corp (CSC) where he was a Managing Partner in the global SAP practice. More

PwC Finds Private Companies Reinvesting Cost Containment Savings into Growth Plans

A PricewaterhouseCoopers survey finds that 84% of private companies have taken substantial cost-containment measures over the past several years, with 89% of them realizing sustainable savings. Seventy percent say they applied those savings to keeping their businesses afloat through the Great Recession according to PwC US’s Trendsetter Barometer survey. But 84% also say they are now reinvesting the savings in growth-focused activities such as technology upgrades, R&D, and new hires. More

Deloitte Acquires Benelux Salesforce.com Market Leader Vivens

Deloitte and IT services provider Vivens, have reached an agreement for Deloitte’s acquisition of thespecialized technology service provider focused on Salesforce.com, Microsoft SharePoint, and .Net. Vivens has a leading position in the Enterprise Applications market in the Netherlands and Belgium. More

Robert McNeill Named Managing Partner of Deloitte’s Greater Philadelphia Practice

Deloitte has named Rob McNeill as the successor to the managing partner role of its Greater Philadelphia practice, effective June 1. McNeill, a partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP, will oversee more than 1,500 employees and be responsible for the strategy and direction of Deloitte activities in the Greater Philadelphia area. He will continue as lead audit partner for several key clients and managing partner of the greater Philadelphia audit practice. More

Deloitte Receives Two SAP North America Partner Excellence Awards

Deloitte has received two SAP North America Partner Excellence Awards for 2013 in the categories Top Support Services — Technical Quality & Top Services Partner — Strategic Industries. SAP Americas presented the awards during the SAP North America Field Kick-Off Meeting Jan. 22-24 in Las Vegas. More

KPMG’s Tax Governance Institute Announces Tax Reform Webcast

KPMG’s Tax Governance Institute will conduct a webcast April 3 from 2:00-3:30 p.m. EDT to examine parts of a new proposal from House Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp (R-MI) on simplifying tax rules for small businesses. The webcast, titled “Comprehensive Tax Reform: Discussion Draft for S Corporations and Partnerships”, will focus on two options in the draft for significant changes to the rules affecting pass-through entities. More

Yahoo! Schedules 1Q13 Earnings Call for April 16

Yahoo! Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the company’s financial results for 1Q13 ending March 31, at April 16 at 2:00 p.m. PDT/5:00 p.m. DST. The webcast will be archived within 24 hours of the event and will be available for 90 days following the call. More

Google Announces Recipients of Fifth Annual CS4HS Grants

Google has announced the recipients of the fifth annual Computer Science for High School (CS4HS) grants. The program brings free computer science professional development to K-12 educators in collaboration with universities, colleges, and technical schools. To date the program has provided training to more than 6,000 teachers worldwide. This year the program has expanded to offer four free online courses to educators who are not physically close to workshop locations and has added the CS4HS Community page to support educators. More

Google Maps Provides Former Residents with Views of City Abandoned After Fukushima

Google Docs and the administration of Namie-machi, a small  city in Fukushima, Japan, that is now in the exclusion zone from the nuclear accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, have provided up-to-date images of the abandoned city that are helping former residents. In the wake of the accident, 21,000 townspeople had to leave their homes and two years later are still not able to return. Working with Google, the mayor and city administration were able to arrange to have Street View cars tour the abandoned city, providing images of the after-effects of the nuclear accident to former residents and the world. More