Inditex has reported net profit of €214 million for the second quarter, compared with a €409 million loss during the previous three months. The retail group - which owns Zara, Bershka, Pull&Bear and Massimo Dutti - still posted a net loss of €195 million though, but this was mostly put down to a previously announced €308 million provision for its advanced store digitalisation programme, without which Inditex said it would have made an overall profit of €39 million for the first half of the year.

A record 794 mergers and acquisitions (M&A) involving e-commerce software, platforms and marketplaces were closed in the first half of 2020. Data gathered by technology M&A advisors Hampleton Partners showed that after reaching peak transaction volumes in 2016, the sector saw renewed impetus in the first half of 2020 as the COVID-19 drove rapid adoption of online shopping.

Astound Commerce has announced the appointment of Michael Kahn as global chief executive, tasked with accelerating growth and developing marketplace leadership. For the last three years he was global brand president at marketing agency Digitas Worldwide, expanding its network from 27 offices in 13 countries to over 50 offices in 30 countries.

Bloom & Wild has appointed its first chief technology officer. Marta Jasinska will join the online florist in October, leaving the same position at Moo.com, where she has spent the last two years, having previously been web development director at former Moonpig parent Photobox.