The Indiana Court of Appeals (the “Court”) recently reversed a regular commitment for a schizophrenic patient because the hospital failed to offer any evidence that the patient was dangerous to himself or others and that he was unable to function independently. The Court found the hospital did not present clear and convincing evidence. In re. Matter of Civil Commitment J.A., No. 26A-MH-606 (Ind. Ct. App. Sept. 18, 2026).

Background

J.A. has received care for schizophrenia since at least 2021. In October 2025, J.A. was admitted to the hospital for treatment and was discharged after a week. Three days later, he was readmitted and remained hospitalized until, on November 20, 2025, Marion County Superior Court 8 (the “Trial Court”) ordered temporary commitment because J.A. was mentally ill and gravely disabled.

J.A.’s treating psychiatrist invoked IC § 12-26-6-11 and requested the Trial Court extend J.A.’s temporary commitment to a regular commitment. The psychiatrist testified J.A. met all five of the diagnostic criteria, planned to stop taking medication at the end of the commitment, lacked insight into his condition, did not believe he actually suffered from schizophrenia and missed 11 out of 20 scheduled appointments. The psychiatrist also testified, “schizophrenia is a lifelong illness that we do not have a cure for, and so we expect he will continue to need chronic treatment.” In re. Matter of Civil Commitment J.A., No. 26A-MH-606, at 3.

The Trial Court ordered regular commitment on the basis that J.A. suffered schizophrenia, was dangerous to himself and was gravely disabled. J.A. appealed.

Analysis

An order for commitment must be premised on clear and convincing evidence that an individual is: (1) mentally ill; and (2) either dangerous or gravely disabled. I.C. § 12-26-2-5(e). J.A. appealed, arguing the hospital did not present sufficient evidence on the second prong of the test, which would establish that J.A. was either dangerous or gravely disabled. The Court agreed.

The psychiatrist focused her testimony on J.A.’s diagnosis, missed appointments, lack of medication management and symptoms. However, she did not provide testimony about whether J.A. was dangerous to himself or others. IC § 12-7-2-53. Accordingly, the Court found this testimony did not clearly and convincingly prove J.A. was in danger of coming to harm because he was unable to provide for his needs or function independently. IC § 12-7-2-96. The Court held that J.A.’s denial of illness and refusal of medication, alone, did not establish grave disability by clear and convincing evidence. Thus, the Court reversed J.A.’s regular commitment.

Practical Takeaways

- Must Present Clear and Convincing Evidence: To successfully order a regular commitment, a hospital must present clear and convincing evidence of either dangerousness or grave disability. Failure to present this evidence could result in a reversal on appeal.

- Denial of Illness and Refusal to Medicate Do Not Meet Standard: A patient’s denial of an illness and refusal to medicate do not meet the clear and convincing standard required to establish a grave disability.

If you have questions or would like more information about this topic, please contact:

- Ryan McDonald at (317) 429-3671 or rmcdonald@hallrender.com; or

- Your primary Hall Render contact.

Special thanks to Kelsey Linzell Bauer, Summer Associate, for her assistance with the preparation of this article.

Hall Render blog posts and articles are intended for informational purposes only. For ethical reasons, Hall Render attorneys cannot, outside of an attorney-client relationship, answer specific questions that would constitute legal advice.

On October 8, 2026, the Michigan Attorney General, on behalf of the State and in its parens patriae authority on behalf of the people of Michigan, sued Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (“BCBSM”) alleging federal and state antitrust violations and state claims of nuisance and unjust enrichment. The complaint alleges that BCBSM conspired with other insurance companies that make up the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (the “Association”) to reduce competition and increase prices for insurance sold to national accounts and large group commercial accounts. The complaint also alleges that BCBSM exercised “monopsony” power as a purchaser of health care services to artificially depress prices for health care providers, leading to reduced staffing, closures and a degradation of the quality and availability of health care services throughout Michigan.

This lawsuit represents a frontal assault on the rules that govern the Association. It also directly challenges the most significant aspects of BCBSM’s business, alleging that it has acted unlawfully in selling insurance to national accounts and large group customers in Michigan and used its dominant position to unlawfully negotiate with health care providers.

The Complaint

While BCBSM is the only defendant, the complaint alleges that the Association and the other Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance companies (“Blue insurers”) are co-conspirators with BCBSM. The complaint focuses on the rules imposed by the Association. The Association holds the Blue Cross and Blue Shield trademarks and licenses those trademarks to Blue insurers, including BCBSM, to use in exclusive geographic territories. Under the Association’s rules, each insurance company that licenses the Blue Cross and Blue Shield trademarks agrees that it will have exclusive rights to the Blue brand within a designated geographic area and will not derive revenue from services under the Blue brand outside of its exclusive area.

The insurance companies that own the Association can also offer insurance outside of their designated territory without using the Blue brand, which the complaint terms “green” competition. The rules of the Association, however, limit the extent to which its owners can engage in green competition.

The Alleged Restraints

The complaint focuses on three rules of the Association, which it claims constitute an unlawful agreement:

- Exclusive Service Areas. The Association assigns each Blue insurer an exclusive territory. And for “national accounts,” which are employers with 5,000 or more members spread across two states, with limited exceptions, only the Blue insurer in the territory in which a national account is headquartered can bid to offer insurance to the national account.

- The National Best Efforts Rule. The National Best Efforts Rule requires a Blue insurer to derive at least two-thirds of its net revenue attributable to health care plans and related services from its Blue brand. Although the rule was formally rescinded by the Association after a court found the rule to be anticompetitive in 2021, the complaint alleges that Blue insurers continue to abide by it and it remains in place “de facto.”

- The Local Best Efforts Rule. The Local Best Efforts Rule requires that 80% of the revenue received by a Blue insurer from within its allocated territory come from the sale of services using the Blue brand. The complaint alleges that this rule inhibits BCBSM and other Blue insurers from developing competing brands that might otherwise engage in “green” competition.

The complaint alleges that these rules have allowed Blue insurers to artificially restrict competition for national account customers, leading to higher prices and lower quality services.

BCBSM’s Dominance

The complaint also focuses on BCBSM’s dominance in Michigan. According to the complaint, BCBSM holds a 69% share of the large group market in Michigan. BCBSM also holds a 65% share of all health insurance products in Michigan and a 79% share of the Preferred Provider Organization products in Michigan, making it the dominant commercial purchaser of health care services in Michigan.

In the large group market, the complaint alleges that BCBSM has unlawfully abused its monopoly power under Section 2 of the Sherman Act and analogous Michigan law. The complaint alleges that the unlawful restraints described above have shielded BCBSM from competition and allowed it to maintain its monopoly. The result of its monopoly is inflated premiums and fees for large group accounts.

Similarly, the complaint alleges that BCBSM has abused its position as a dominant purchaser of health care services, in violation of Michigan state antitrust law. The result of this exercise of “monopsony” power—that is, monopoly power as a purchaser—has been to suppress provider reimbursement rates to anticompetitively low levels. According to the complaint, BCBSM can dictate the fee schedules that providers must accept, as providers cannot afford to be out of network with BCBSM. Further, the complaint alleges that BCBSM’s rates act as a benchmark for other commercial insurers, exerting downward pressure on all commercial rates for Michigan health care providers. This has led to reimbursement rates for providers that are among the lowest in the nation and terms that providers must accept which are favorable to BCBSM.

The result of BCBSM’s low provider rates and restrictive terms is a “degraded . . . healthcare infrastructure” for Michigan residents. This includes closures, service reductions and provider departures, which have led to “reduced access to care, increased wait times, and diminished the quality of healthcare services available to Michigan patients.” The results are allegedly particularly acute in rural areas, low-income communities and communities of color.

Practical Takeaways

- The Association is in the crosshairs. The complaint concentrates on the exclusive territories assigned by the Association, which is the model by which Blue insurers have organized themselves. The outcome of the litigation could thus have consequences that extend beyond Michigan.

- High market shares continue to attract antitrust scrutiny. BCBSM’s alleged market shares are significant, and commercial insurance markets in Michigan are allegedly more concentrated than in many other areas. BCBSM has previously attracted the attention of antitrust regulators, and that scrutiny continues with this lawsuit. The monopoly claims against Blue Cross are facially more viable than they would be against insurers in other areas that have lower market shares.

- Low prices can form the basis of antitrust complaints. Generally, low prices are favored by antitrust law. But antitrust law has long acknowledged that the exercise of “monopsony” power can be unlawful. The complaint alleges the ways in which unlawful buyer power can ultimately harm consumers and, in this case, patients. Michigan will likely need to establish those harms to ultimately prevail on its claim that BCBSM has abused its market power to harm providers.

- Providers may become the subject of third-party discovery. Because one of the theories in the complaint focuses on the harm that BCBSM has caused to health care providers in Michigan, these providers are likely to become the subject of third-party discovery once discovery opens. This could include third-party document or deposition subpoenas.

- This is likely the start of a long process. Antitrust cases—and particularly cases focusing on monopolization—can often take years to play out. The complaint likely marks the start of extended litigation.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about this topic, please contact one of the following members of Hall Render’s Antitrust Practice:

- William Berlin at (202) 370-9582 or wberlin@hallrender.com;

- Michael Greer at (317) 977-1493 or mgreer@hallrender.com;

- David Stoltzfus at (202) 780-2991 or dstoltzfus@hallrender.com;

- John Bowen at (317) 429-3629 or jbowen@hallrender.com;

- Hannah Clarke at (317) 429-3615 or hclarke@hallrender.com;

- Liza Sawyer at (303) 557-2120 or lsawyer@hallrender.com; or

- Your primary Hall Render contact.

Hall Render blog posts and articles are intended for informational purposes only. For ethical reasons, Hall Render attorneys cannot, outside of an attorney-client relationship, answer specific questions that would constitute legal advice.

Ellevio signs SEK 1 billion loan with the Nordic Investment Bank to strengthen Stockholm's regional grid

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellevio AB (publ) has signed a SEK 1 billion loan agreement with the Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) to co-finance the modernisation and expansion of the Beckomberga substation in Stockholm's regional electricity network. The project will significantly strengthen the grid's ability to meet growing electricity demand in the Stockholm region while contributing to a more reliable and resilient electricity system.

The Beckomberga substation, which currently supplies electricity to approximately 120,000 customers, has reached the end of its technical lifespan. It will now be modernised and expanded, including through a strengthened connection to the national transmission grid.

NIB offers long-term financing that strengthens competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of the Nordic-Baltic region. The bank has previously provided financing to Ellevio for the reconstruction of the substations in Skanstull and Värtan, as well as for the refurbishment and replacement of approximately 5,000 kilometres of power lines, primarily with underground cables.

- We are pleased to continue our partnership with NIB through the financing of this strategically important project. Long-term financing is essential for enabling the large-scale investments required to renew and expand the electricity network, supporting both electrification and sustainable growth in the Stockholm region, says Johan Lindehag, CEO of Ellevio.

Eva Nickull, Senior Banker at NIB, commented:

- NIB's financing strengthens the reliability and security of electricity supply in western Stockholm and contributes to meeting growing electricity demand in the region.

About the Beckomberga project

Key project investments

- New and extended gas-insulated switchgear (GIS)

- New 1,000 MVA transmission grid connection node linked to transmission system operator Svenska kraftnät's nearby substation

- New transformers

- Strengthens the connection to Sweden's national transmission grid

- Increases available power capacity

- Enhances the reliability of the regional electricity system

- Improves grid resilience and security of supply

About NIB

Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) is an international financial institution owned by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. NIB strengthens the competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the Nordic-Baltic region. The Bank is headquartered in Helsinki with a regional hub in Riga. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with S&P Global Ratings and Moody's.

About Ellevio

Ellevio is one of Sweden's leading energy companies, enabling the transition to a low-carbon economy. We distribute electricity to almost one million customers and provide energy solutions across Sweden. We enable the electrification of industry and transportation through a modern, reliable grid and major investments in the energy system. Ellevio employs more than 800 professionals, and together with our partners we provide jobs for more than 4,000 people. The company is owned by pension fund managers OMERS Infrastructure, the Third Swedish National Pension Fund (AP3), Folksam and AMF. For more information, visit ellevio.se.

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Östberg

Head of Financial and Sustainability Communications

+46 709 71 12 40

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

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Hall Render is pleased to announce that Blake Koletar has joined the firm’s Denver office.

Blake is a health care regulatory attorney who advises hospitals, health systems and other health care providers on the regulatory, employment and contracting issues that arise in their daily operations. He focuses on health care fraud and abuse compliance and helps clients navigate HIPAA privacy and security requirements.

He draws on prior in-house experience at a nonprofit health data company, where he advised on privacy compliance and employment matters, to offer practical guidance grounded in how organizations actually operate.

Blake is admitted to practice in Colorado and is a member of the American Health Law Association and the Colorado Bar Association.

The Nuclear Company Announces Prosperity One, a 6.6 Gigawatt Nuclear Power Campus in Lewis County, Kentucky

The proposed campus could deploy up to six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors along the Ohio River, establishing Kentucky's first commercial nuclear power project and marking the largest nuclear power generation site in the United States.

LEWIS COUNTY, Ky., Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nuclear Company today announced Prosperity One, a proposed nuclear energy campus in Lewis County, Kentucky, that could accommodate up to six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors generating approximately 6.6 gigawatts of electricity.

Located along the Ohio River in eastern Kentucky, the proposed development would become the largest nuclear power campus in the United States and one of the largest in the world if fully constructed. The project answers President Trump's call to accelerate American energy production and represents a major step toward restoring America's ability to build nuclear power at scale while bringing a new generation of industrial investment, skilled jobs, and long-term economic opportunity to a region that helped power the nation for more than a century.

The Nuclear Company, which has site control in the area, will partner with local landowners and community leaders in Lewis County to advance the proposed campus. The company plans to begin site development activities and pursue the federal approvals necessary to begin construction in 2028.

"For generations, communities along the Ohio River have formed America's industrial backbone," said Joe Klecha, Chief Nuclear Officer for The Nuclear Company. "We are proud to partner with the community to apply our team's collective experience to deliver lasting jobs, a stronger tax base, and reliable power for Kentucky."

Klecha, a former licensed senior reactor operator, brings 33 years of nuclear experience—from U.S. Navy nuclear submarines to operations leadership at some of America's largest nuclear fleets. At Vogtle Units 3 and 4, he held construction and operational readiness leadership roles. The Nuclear Company's Services division has performed maintenance at more than 40 percent of America's current operating nuclear power facilities.

The Nuclear Company's approach is grounded in the belief that major infrastructure projects succeed when the communities hosting them are active participants in their development.

Project planning will address transportation, housing, environmental stewardship, emergency preparedness, water use, and other considerations associated with developing a nuclear campus of this scale.

Sam Howard, a lifelong resident of Lewis County, owns the site and has partnered with The Nuclear Company to advance the project. He shares a vision for the large infrastructure buildout that would support local jobs and community economic development.

"I have nine grandchildren, and all of them live in Lewis County. I want them to have the opportunity to stay," said Howard. "For years, our county's unemployment rate has been among the highest in the state. An infrastructure project like this could provide jobs and economic opportunities for generations of Eastern Kentucky residents. I am proud to help advance this development."

Lewis County will be among Kentucky's first counties to request designation as a nuclear ready community under the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. County leaders unanimously launched the effort in July 2026, held public input meetings, and earlier this month voted overwhelmingly to submit the county's filing to the Authority.

With the proposed site identified, The Nuclear Company is preparing to advance the engineering, environmental, regulatory, and commercial work required to move Prosperity One toward construction.

Initial activities will include detailed site characterization, geotechnical investigations, environmental assessments, transmission interconnection planning, and preparation for federal nuclear licensing.

As part of the approval process, TNC will engage the Nuclear Regulatory Commission through its established licensing processes, with the objective of obtaining the necessary approvals to begin construction in 2028.

About the Nuclear Company

The Nuclear Company is America's nuclear infrastructure platform. We're building a fully integrated system to unite the nuclear deployment chain, scale new builds, and drive operations and security.

Powered by the convergence of new technologies and an unprecedented verticalization of nuclear deployment, services, and systems, we integrate the entire nuclear lifecycle around one operating model and one data backbone.

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) recently published a proposed rule on September 11, 2026, that, if finalized, would end the 60-day grace period available to H-1B and other eligible nonimmigrant workers following a loss of employment. According to DHS, the proposed rule would more closely align nonimmigrant status with the employment on which that status is based while reducing administrative burden. The rule would impact H-1B nonimmigrants, as well as individuals in E, L-1, O-1 and TN status.

Under DHS regulations implemented in 2017, eligible nonimmigrants may receive a discretionary 60-day grace period, allowing them to remain in the U.S. following the termination or resignation of employment with their sponsoring employer. During this period, the nonimmigrant may make arrangements for departure or pursue options to find a new employer to sponsor them for H-1B or change to another nonimmigrant status.

Now, DHS contends that employment-based nonimmigrant statuses (such as H-1B, E, L-1, O-1 and TN visas) exist strictly for individuals to actively perform the qualifying employment. Allowing workers to remain in the U.S. after employment ends is viewed by DHS as inconsistent with the underlying statutory framework that ties legal status directly to active work.

DHS states that the grace period creates added adjudicative and administrative complexity for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officers. Officers must frequently evaluate whether the grace period remains valid or available when reviewing subsequent extension, change-of-status, adjustment-of-status or new employer petitions filed after a worker’s employment has already ceased.

If the proposed rule is finalized, eligible nonimmigrants would be considered out of status immediately following the cessation of qualifying employment. DHS recognizes the potential strain on nonimmigrants but contends that eliminating the grace period would promote more efficient review of nonimmigrant petitions.

The comment period for the proposed rule is ongoing and will close on November 10, 2026. Individuals and organizations may submit feedback during this period, which DHS will consider before finalizing the rule.

Practical Takeaways

- Identify employees who may be impacted by the elimination of the grace period.

- Consider early notice of termination for nonimmigrant visa holders to allow for proper arrangements to be made.

- Prioritize timely filing for change of employer petitions to avoid interruptions in status.

Hall Render’s Immigration Team is closely monitoring the proposed rule and its potential impact on employers. If you have questions or need assistance evaluating H-1B sponsorship strategies or submitting comments, please contact:

- Michael Kim at (317) 977-1418 or mkim@hallrender.com;

- Lindsay Ramsey at (317) 429-3637 or lramsey@hallrender.com;

- Charlotte Fillenwarth at (317) 977-1476 or cfillenwarth@hallrender.com;

- Moncerrat Alvarez Mora at (317) 977-1477 or mmora@hallrender.com;

- Kip Coljohn at (317) 429-3626 or kcoljohn@hallrender.com; or

- Your primary Hall Render contact.

Hall Render blog posts and articles are intended for informational purposes only. For ethical reasons, Hall Render attorneys cannot, outside of an attorney-client relationship, answer specific questions that would constitute legal advice.

On October 8, Colliers hosted its annual National Healthcare Conference in Boston. It was well attended by a number of brokers, health system executives, developers and investors. Hall Render shareholder Andrew Dick attended the conference this year and presented on “Emerging Trends in Health Care Real Estate.” Andrew’s slides can be found here. In addition to Andrew’s content, there were two other presentations that caught our attention.

The first was a provider panel titled “Optimizing Healthcare Portfolios and the Evolution of Healthcare Real Estate Strategy.” The discussion was led by Kristin Blount from Colliers, along with Mike Becker from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Ron Brown from Ascension, Jason Palda from UC Irvine, Maya Plotkin from Beth Israel Lahey Health and Kristen Thompson from UC Health (Ohio).

The second was a presentation about the economy titled “What a Bifurcated Economy Means for Healthcare Real Estate.” The discussion was led by Collier’s National Director of Research, Steig Seaward.

Below are five takeaways from those presentations:

- Access to Care – Providers are hyper-focused on finding the right location for outpatient services. The mission of a health care organization is to meet patients where they live. Ideal locations are in a retail setting where patients can receive care and grab lunch in the same trip. Providers are very interested in abandoned pharmacy locations and retail end caps that can be repurposed for medical use.

Key Takeaway – Patients continue to rank location and convenience as their top reasons for visiting an outpatient facility. Quality of care is important, but is often cited as a lower priority when choosing a provider.

- Own vs. Lease – Providers prefer owning core real estate assets in proven markets. When testing new markets, providers are more willing to lease assets until the business case is made for staying in the market long-term. Once the business case has been made, providers will want to purchase or build to secure their future. For non-profit providers, ownership creates a path to secure a property tax exemption that can significantly reduce operating costs.

Key Takeaway – Providers like to control their own destiny by owning core assets. Lower operating costs and challenging landlords were cited as the primary reasons they prefer ownership.

- Financial Performance Matters – Providers cited financial performance per location as a metric they are tracking and doing more with less space. If a particular location isn’t performing, they are more inclined to close the location or to look for ways to consolidate the services with a more profitable service line.

Key Takeaway – Every location is being monitored in terms of financial performance and overhead. Providers must look for ways to drive efficiency with real estate assets.

- Workforce Challenges – Our workforce demographics are changing. Due to declining birthrates, an aging population and a stricter immigration policy, there are fewer available workers.

Key Takeaway – Providers can identify new markets and clinical opportunities for growth, but staffing those opportunities will be a challenge in the near term.

- Real Estate and Recruiting Clinical Providers – Clinical providers cited workplace location as an important factor when deciding whether to accept a job offer. Providers also want to work at a facility that has amenities or that is close to amenities like restaurants, retail and fitness centers. The space itself is important as well. The space must offer modern design and workflow.

Key Takeaway – Clinical providers want a workplace that is convenient and that offers nearby amenities. But these factors won’t make up for poor workplace culture or low compensation.

For additional information on this topic, please contact:

- Andrew Dick at adick@hallrender.com or (317) 977-1491;

- Joel Swider at jswider@hallrender.com or (317) 429-3638; or

- Your primary Hall Render or Hall Render Advisory Services contact.

Hall Render blog posts and articles are intended for informational purposes only. For ethical reasons, Hall Render attorneys cannot—outside of an attorney-client relationship—answer specific questions that would be legal advice.

S4 Capital's Monks Accelerates Regional Growth Strategy in EMEA and APAC Expanding Nirvik Singh's Remit to APAC, Names Ash Smith Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific and Fay Denis du Peage Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand

LONDON, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Monks, the purely digital, unitary operating brand of S4 Capital plc, today announced an evolution of its regional leadership across EMEA and Asia-Pacific. As global brands demand more agile, connected and AI-enabled marketing models, Monks is expanding its integrated Marketing and Technology Services footprint to help multinational clients operate at speed and scale across both regions.

Positioned as a change agent for modern enterprise brands, Monks unifies three core capabilities—Intelligence, Creation and Orchestration—through its flagship Monks.Flow platform to build brands as living systems. Across Asia Pacific, this evolution allows Monks to deliver end-to-end marketing transformation, helps clients accelerate media performance, eliminate operational silos and orchestrate intelligent marketing that turns real-time data into measurable business impact.

To lead this next chapter, Monks has expanded the leadership remit of Nirvik Singh to lead both EMEA and Asia Pacific, reporting to Bruno Lambertini, CEO of Marketing Services. Working alongside Nirvik, Ash Smith joins Monks as Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific, effective 13 November 2026. Fay Denis du Peage has been appointed Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, effective immediately.

Nirvik recently stepped down as a Non-Executive Director from the S4 Capital Board to join Monks as CEO of Marketing Services, EMEA. In the new expansion of his role to APAC, he will integrate oversight for Marketing Services across both regions, recognizing the connected growth opportunities and delivering greater value and scale for clients.

Nirvik brings more than 35 years of experience in the industry, most recently as Global Chief Operating Officer and President International at Grey Group. Nirvik has spent decades running multi-region businesses and partnering with enterprise brands including Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Company, Volvo and Haleon to navigate complex market dynamics and deliver commercial impact.

Reporting to Nirvik, Ash Smith will focus on accelerating regional business growth, strengthening client partnerships and scaling Monks' product and solutions capabilities across Asia Pacific. Ash brings more than 18 years of experience across Australia, Europe, China, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, spanning product development, client solutions, innovation and business leadership. Throughout his career, he has focused on combining human intelligence, data and technology to create value for brands, translating local and regional market insights into innovative solutions and business growth.

Prior to joining Monks, Ash served as Chief Product and Solutions Officer for JAPAC at Tag, a Dentsu company, where he led the talent, products and technology needed to address complex client challenges, including driving Tag's AI and innovation agenda. Previously, as Managing Director for Southeast Asia, he built strategic client partnerships and developed integrated, scalable solutions by bringing together expertise from across the network, delivering strong business growth.

Over his career, Ash has worked with leading global brands across technology, CPG, luxury and automotive, building long-term partnerships and delivering solutions that drive real-world impact. He has also shared his perspectives at industry forums, most recently NRF and ATS.

"We are excited to welcome Ash to our leadership team in Asia Pacific as we continue to scale our integrated offering and deepen our partnerships with clients across the region. His experience spanning client leadership, product, solutions and innovation will be valuable as we bring together creative, media, production, data and technology to deliver greater agility, efficiency and real-time relevance for brands. As we continue to advance our unitary model and the capabilities enabled by Monks.Flow, Ash will play an important role in translating our regional ambitions into meaningful outcomes for our clients and our business," said Nirvik Singh, CEO, Monks EMEA and APAC.

Ash joins Monks as the company continues to evolve its integrated Marketing and Technology Services offering, bringing together creativity, media intelligence, production, data, and technology to help brands compete in an increasingly complex and fast-moving market. Through Monks.Flow, its flagship AI ecosystem for marketing orchestration, Monks is connecting insights, creativity, and execution to enable real-time relevance and turn marketing into a growth engine. Ash's experience in product and solutions leadership, AI innovation and integrated client partnerships will support the continued development and deployment of these capabilities across Asia Pacific.

"The best agencies don't just make work, they solve problems. When people and technology come together in the right systems, we can move faster, think bigger and unlock growth for brands in ways that weren't possible before. That means bringing media, creative, production and data to the table as one team, not a set of silos. Our job is to put clients at the centre of everything we do and help them win through new ideas and experiences," said Ash Smith, incoming EVP, Monks Asia Pacific.

Based in Sydney, Fay Denis du Peage will report to Ash Smith and lead Monks' growth and market development across Australia and New Zealand. She will focus on strengthening the local offering, deepening client partnerships and bringing together Monks' capabilities across creative, media, data and technology.

Fay brings experience across media, data, digital and operations from her career at Monks and MightyHive. She steps into the role after serving as Senior Vice President, Media, APAC, where she has helped strengthen Monks' regional media proposition and drive greater integration across data, technology and media.

"AUNZ is a sophisticated and fast-moving market, and there is a significant opportunity for Monks to bring more of our capabilities together around the challenges our clients are facing, empowering them to become Real-Time Brands. The future of marketing isn't about one discipline working in isolation—it's about connecting media, creativity, data and technology with AI to create better outcomes in real time. My focus will be on making that capability even more relevant and accessible to clients, while building on the strength of our local teams and partnerships. I'm excited about what we are about to create together in the market," said Fay Denis du Peage, Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Monks.

"Nirvik and Ash bring complementary leadership experience and a strong understanding of what clients need in an increasingly complex and fast-changing market. With Nirvik's expanded regional leadership and Ash's expertise in client solutions, product, and innovation, we are strengthening our ability to drive growth, connect capabilities, and deliver greater value for clients across our markets. Fay's appointment is an important step in strengthening our presence across AUNZ, with Australia as our largest APAC market. I would also like to thank Kenny Griffiths for his leadership and the valuable contributions he has made to Monks," said Bruno Lambertini, CEO, Marketing Services, Monks.

Media Inquiry

Evelyn Hsu

VP, Marketing and Communications, APAC

[email protected]

About Monks

Monks is the global, digital-first, data-driven, unitary operating brand of S4 Capital plc. With a legacy of innovation and specialized expertise, Monks combines an extraordinary range of global Marketing and Technology Services to redefine how brands interact with the world. Through Monks.Flow, its flagship AI ecosystem for marketing orchestration, Monks transforms marketing into a growth engine, collapsing timelines and connecting brands to culture in real time. By deploying bespoke intelligent agents across disciplines and delivering culturally relevant, high-impact creative and digital solutions, Monks solves key critical business challenges across the entire brand enterprise to help brands sustain long-term impact.

Monks was named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: Global Marketing Services and a leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Global Digital Marketing Agencies. It ranks among Cannes Lions' Top 10 Creative Companies (2022-25) and remains the only partner featured in AdExchanger's Programmatic Power Players list every year (2020-24). Named Adweek's first AI Agency of the Year (2023) and The One Show's inaugural AI Pioneer Organization (2025), Monks was also awarded Business Intelligence Group's 2026 Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Award in the Human-Machine Interaction Team category. Additionally, Monks.Flow earned AI-based Marketing Solution of the Year at the 2026 AI Breakthrough Awards and a 2026 Global Generative AI Award in the Agentic Marketing Innovation category. Finally, Monks achieved a record-breaking number of FWAs and continues to hold the most of any partner.

About S4 Capital

S4 Capital is a purely digital advertising and marketing services business built for global, multinational, regional and local clients, as well as millennial-driven influencer brands. The business operates through two data- and digital-media-driven practices: Marketing Services and Technology Services, emphasising 'faster, better and more efficient' execution in an always-on, consumer-led environment. Its unitary structure positions the Company as a systems integration partner delivering real-time relevance in the post-agency era.

The Company has approximately 6,200 people in 34 countries, with approximately 82% of net revenue across the Americas, 12% across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and 6% across Asia-Pacific.

NATIONAL

ALABAMA

ALASKA

ARIZONA

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

DELAWARE

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

FLORIDA

GEORGIA

HAWAII

IDAHO

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ILLINOIS

INDIANA

IOWA

KANSAS

KENTUCKY

LOUISIANA

MAINE

MARYLAND

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

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St George's and Epsom hospitals turn to MazeMap to improve the patient experience

NHS hospital group gesh introduces digital wayfinding to help patients navigate changing hospital sites

TRONDHEIM, Norway, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- St George's and Epsom hospitals have introduced MazeMap digital wayfinding to help patients and visitors find their way to care. The hospitals are part of St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh), which secured New Hospital Programme innovation funding for the project.

Building work and service relocations can make familiar hospital routes harder to follow. The service gives the hospitals a way to keep digital location information current as departments move, while supporting patients with different navigation needs.

The implementation combines digital maps with training for hospital staff to maintain location information as departments and services change. Patients and volunteers have taken part in engagement sessions, and kiosks and touchscreens form part of the phased rollout.

"Finding your way around a large hospital can be challenging, particularly if you're visiting for the first time, don't speak English as your first language or have accessibility needs. Helping people find their way is an important part of improving the patient experience," said Paul Sheringham, Group Head of Digital Communications, gesh.

David Roskams said the intention was for the project's learning to contribute to Hospital 2.0 future designs.

After reviewing available options and seeking references from other NHS organisations, the team selected MazeMap for its capabilities within the available budget. Staff training was an important part of preparing the hospitals to maintain the service themselves.

"The experience of actually setting up, creating the maps was a very good one," said David Roskams, Group Director Digital Transformation, gesh.

The implementation included sessions in which patients were introduced to the maps, asked to use them independently and invited to share their experience. Short videos and QR-code posters supported the introduction of the service.

The service is designed to make finding an appointment one less thing for patients to worry about. By helping people navigate unfamiliar buildings and keeping directions up to date as services move, gesh aims to make visits to St George's and Epsom hospitals easier and less stressful.

Further details: https://mazemap.com/case-studies-posts/st-georges-epsom-hospital-wayfinding

About MazeMap

MazeMap provides digital maps and wayfinding tools that help people navigate complex buildings and sites. Its hospital maps support navigation for patients, visitors and staff, with tools for organisations to maintain location information.

Media contact

Karthik Kumar

Head of Marketing, MazeMap

[email protected]

+47 45355996

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SOURCE MazeMap AS

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