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Nemetschek group expands executive board with global tech leader Usman Shuja
MUMBAI: Global software provider for the construction and media (under the Maxon umbrella) industries, the Nemetschek group, today announced the appointment of Usman Shuja to its executive board, effective 1 January 2025.
Shuja, who was previously the chief division officer (CDO) of the build & construct division and CEO of Bluebeam, becomes the third member of the executive board, joining CEO Yves Padrines and CFO Louise Öfverström.
Shuja, an accomplished technology leader with extensive experience driving operational excellence in high-growth companies, was unanimously appointed by the supervisory board. Since joining the Nemetschek group in September 2023, he has successfully implemented key strategic priorities, including the subscription transition of Bluebeam and the acquisition of GoCanvas, a leading SaaS provider of field worker collaboration software.
Said Padrines: “Shuja brings extensive industry expertise and a deep understanding of how companies innovate and evolve to better serve their customers.”
Added Shuja: “We have a tremendous opportunity to drive innovation, advance the industry, and deliver exceptional value to our customers and partners.”
The Nemetschek group is a globally leading provider of software for digital transformation in the architectural engineering and construction (AEC/O) and media industries. Its intelligent software solutions cover the entire lifecycle of construction and infrastructure projects, allowing customers to plan, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure more efficiently and sustainably.
Maxon, which is part of the group, makes powerful, yet approachable software solutions for content creators working in 2D and 3D design, motion graphics, visual effects and visualisation. Among the products targeted at media and entertainment industry are: Cinema 4D suite of 3D modeling, simulation and animation technology; the creativity-on-the-go Forger mobile sculpting app; the diverse Red Giant lineup of revolutionary editing, motion design and filmmaking tools; the leading-edge, blazingly fast Redshift renderer; and ZBrush, the industry-standard digital sculpting and painting solution.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
