Latest news with #Vuppalapati
West Australian
a day ago
- Business
- West Australian
Country Road Chief executive Raju Vuppalapati announces resignation amid tanking sales, internal culture issues
The boss of Country Road has quit a year after a scandal concerning the behaviour of executives and a steep downturn in sales. Chief executive Raju Vuppalapati announced on Wednesday he would depart, following four years in charge. Country Road is owned by South African conglomerate Woolworths Holdings, which also owns Mimco, Witchery, Politix and Trenery. 'It has been a privilege to lead our passionate team and iconic brands. I know that I am leaving Country Road Group well positioned to pursue its next chapter with compelling strategies, a strengthened culture and clear pathway to reignite profitable growth,' Mr Vuppalapati said in a statement. Audio of a tense staff meeting in 2024 was obtained by The Australian, where Mr Vuppalapati was heckled by staff over sexual harassment and bullying allegations within the company. Woolworths Holdings chief executive Roy Bagattini said Mr Vuppalapati was leaving the business in a 'foundationally much stronger position'. 'Raju and I have had ongoing discussions regarding his intent to leave CRG to pursue his personal interests,' he wrote. 'After thoughtful consideration, Raju has decided that now is the right time for him to do that.' Mr Vuppalapati will leave the company at the end of August or 'until such time as the new CEO is appointed'. Country Road called in a consulting firm to repair the company culture, two executives resigned and the Woolworths Holdings chief executive Roy Bagattini flew in from South Africa to the Melbourne offices to hear details of the allegations. Woolworths Holdings sold department store David Jones in 2022 for $120m, but retained ownership of the Country Road Group. The clothing business has been struggling to attract shoppers. Country Road's operating profit fell 70 per cent in the second half of 2024, following a 66 per cent dip in the 2023/24 financial year.
West Australian
a day ago
- Business
- West Australian
Country Road boss quits amid tanking sales, internal culture issues
The boss of Country Road has quit a year after a scandal concerning the behaviour of executives and a steep downturn in sales. Chief executive Raju Vuppalapati announced on Wednesday he would depart, following four years in charge. Country Road is owned by South African conglomerate Woolworths Holdings, which also owns Mimco, Witchery, Politix and Trenery. 'It has been a privilege to lead our passionate team and iconic brands. I know that I am leaving Country Road Group well positioned to pursue its next chapter with compelling strategies, a strengthened culture and clear pathway to reignite profitable growth,' Mr Vuppalapati said in a statement. Audio of a tense staff meeting in 2024 was obtained by The Australian, where Mr Vuppalapati was heckled by staff over sexual harassment and bullying allegations within the company. Woolworths Holdings chief executive Roy Bagattini said Mr Vuppalapati was leaving the business in a 'foundationally much stronger position'. 'Raju and I have had ongoing discussions regarding his intent to leave CRG to pursue his personal interests,' he wrote. 'After thoughtful consideration, Raju has decided that now is the right time for him to do that.' Mr Vuppalapati will leave the company at the end of August or 'until such time as the new CEO is appointed'. Country Road called in a consulting firm to repair the company culture, two executives resigned and the Woolworths Holdings chief executive Roy Bagattini flew in from South Africa to the Melbourne offices to hear details of the allegations. Woolworths Holdings sold department store David Jones in 2022 for $120m, but retained ownership of the Country Road Group. The clothing business has been struggling to attract shoppers. Country Road's operating profit fell 70 per cent in the second half of 2024, following a 66 per cent dip in the 2023/24 financial year.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Boss of iconic Aussie fashion label quits
The boss of Country Road has quit a year after a scandal concerning the behaviour of executives and a steep downturn in sales. Chief executive Raju Vuppalapati announced on Wednesday he would depart, following four years in charge. Country Road is owned by South African conglomerate Woolworths Holdings, which also owns Mimco, Witchery, Politix and Trenery. Country Road chief executive Raju Vuppalapati has resigned, effective in August. Supplied. Credit: Supplied 'It has been a privilege to lead our passionate team and iconic brands. I know that I am leaving Country Road Group well positioned to pursue its next chapter with compelling strategies, a strengthened culture and clear pathway to reignite profitable growth,' Mr Vuppalapati said in a statement. Audio of a tense staff meeting in 2024 was obtained by The Australian, where Mr Vuppalapati was heckled by staff over sexual harassment and bullying allegations within the company. Woolworths Holdings chief executive Roy Bagattini said Mr Vuppalapati was leaving the business in a 'foundationally much stronger position'. 'Raju and I have had ongoing discussions regarding his intent to leave CRG to pursue his personal interests,' he wrote. 'After thoughtful consideration, Raju has decided that now is the right time for him to do that.' Mr Vuppalapati will leave the company at the end of August or 'until such time as the new CEO is appointed'. . NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw Credit: News Corp Australia Country Road called in a consulting firm to repair the company culture, two executives resigned and the Woolworths Holdings chief executive Roy Bagattini flew in from South Africa to the Melbourne offices to hear details of the allegations. Woolworths Holdings sold department store David Jones in 2022 for $120m, but retained ownership of the Country Road Group. The clothing business has been struggling to attract shoppers. Country Road's operating profit fell 70 per cent in the second half of 2024, following a 66 per cent dip in the 2023/24 financial year.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
‘I went to a bakery, polished off half of their products': Adnan Sami on the turning point that led to his sudden 120 kg weight loss
Singer and music composer Adnan Sami recently revisited his transformational journey on Aap Ki Adalat, where he opened up about the pivotal moment that pushed him to change and lose significant weight. Recalling his father's concern for his deteriorating health, he said, 'My father was suffering from pancreatic cancer. He took me to Cromwell Hospital in London, where the doctor, after the checkup, told me, 'Mr Sami, your results are on the borderline. If you continue with this lifestyle, I will not be surprised that your parents will find you dead in a hotel room six months from now.' It was a shock to me. But I was nonchalant.' Even after receiving that warning, Sami admitted to momentarily brushing it off, adding, 'That evening, I went to a bakery, polished off half of their products, including pastry, and my father told me angrily, 'tumhe khuda ka khauf nahi hai?' That night, he told me with tears in his eyes, 'Beta, make a promise to me: I will not lay your body in a grave; you shall lay my body in a grave.' From that day onwards, I went on a weight-loss drive.' Adnan lost 120 kg in just six months in 2006 through lifestyle changes. He also addressed long-standing speculation about surgical intervention: 'There was no bariatric surgery or liposuction. A good nutritionist in Houston prepared a high-protein diet for me, and I started losing weight.' Dr Gunasekar Vuppalapati, senior reconstructive, aesthetic plastic surgeon at GVG Invivo Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals, tells 'Losing such a significant amount of weight, 120 kg in six months, is highly uncommon and would not typically be considered medically advisable under normal circumstances. A safe, sustainable weight loss rate is generally around 0.5 to 1 kg per week, depending on the individual's starting weight and health profile.' However, he adds that in certain extreme cases, under strict medical supervision, rapid weight loss can occur through a combination of very low-calorie diets, structured high-protein intake, intensive physical activity, and close metabolic monitoring, without any surgical intervention. 'It is rare and requires immense discipline, exceptional metabolic response, and professional guidance to ensure organ function, muscle mass, and nutritional needs are not compromised,' Dr Vuppalapati asserts. He mentions that while not impossible, such cases are outliers. 'For most people, a slower, more gradual approach yields safer, more sustainable outcomes and is generally preferred in aesthetic and medical practice.' Dr Vuppalapati says that it's not uncommon for individuals to overlook medical warnings, especially when the changes required feel overwhelming or when weight issues are intertwined with emotional eating or low self-worth. Some common psychological barriers include denial, fear of failure, a sense of helplessness, or even emotional attachment to food as a coping mechanism. 'Addressing these requires a multi-pronged approach. Psychosocial support, access to counselling, and non-judgmental medical guidance can make a significant difference. It's also essential to validate the person's experience rather than shame them. When individuals feel seen and supported, they are more open to making changes and sticking with them,' mentions the expert. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
‘The results were better than I anticipated': Bryan Johnson tries out hyperbaric oxygen therapy by spending 5,400 minutes in a pressurised tank for longevity
Biohacker and tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson has been known to push the boundaries when it comes to experimenting with longevity. In one of his recent attempts, he turned to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) — a treatment originally used to support wound healing and treat decompression sickness. Sharing his experience on Instagram, Bryan said, 'I spent 5,400 minutes in a pressurised tank, so you don't have to figure out how hyperbaric oxygen therapy works. It's a therapy that's used with elite athletes and stroke patients. But it's also a cutting-edge therapy for longevity.' He adds, 'You sit in a pressurised chamber, breathing pure oxygen. That extra oxygen may improve healing, boost performance, and may increase longevity. This is what I set out to do — 60 sessions in 90 days. The results were better than I anticipated. Some of the more noteworthy results is that my blood levels came back and showed I had no detectable levels of inflammation, a marker for cognitive decline, Alzheimer's reduced by 28.6%. My microbiome improved dramatically. My skin health dramatically improved and my telomere lengthened. This may be the most efficacious whole body rejuvenation therapy I've ever done.' Dr Gunasekar Vuppalapati MBBS, MS, FRCSEd, MCh, senior reconstructive, aesthetic plastic surgeon at GVG Invivo Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals, tells 'Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurised chamber, allowing the extra oxygen to dissolve in the plasma, which is then circulated throughout the body. Practically, this increases the oxygen concentration available to every cell in the body, enhancing tissue repair and supporting healing processes caused by reduced capillary density, peripheral blood perfusion, cellular oxygenation in the end organs such as extremities, kidneys, retina etc.' A post shared by Bryan Johnson (@bryanjohnson_) When it comes to longevity or broad cellular repair in healthy individuals, he says, the evidence was minimal and largely anecdotal until the year 2020, when prospective trial results were published from Telaviv University, Israel, in the National Library of Medicine. 'This breakthrough study titled 'Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases telomere length and decreases immunosenescence in isolated blood cells: a prospective trial' concluded that HBOT may induce significant senolytic effects, including significantly increasing telomere length and clearance of senescent cells in the ageing populations. However, long-term studies are required to determine the extent to which the lifespan and/or healthspan can be extended with HBOT as a supplementary therapy alongside the other regenerative anti-aging measures to slow the aging process,' Dr Vuppalapati notes. For otherwise healthy individuals, Dr Vuppalapati says, undergoing 60 sessions of HBOT in just three months is quite intensive. 'While HBOT is generally safe when administered under medical supervision, repeated exposure at such frequency can carry certain risks.' He adds, 'Known side effects include ear barotrauma (pressure-related ear pain or injury), sinus discomfort, and temporary vision changes like nearsightedness. Some individuals may experience oxygen toxicity, particularly with prolonged high-dose exposure, which can affect the central nervous system or lungs. However, this is very rare, unless the therapy exceeds the safety limits concerning pressure, the duration, and the necessary weekly breaks prescribed; and if done by unqualified personnel in facilities without a license.' There's also a theoretical risk that excessive oxidative stress, he asserts, caused by very high oxygen levels, could lead to cellular damage over time, particularly in someone without a medical need for the therapy. 'As clinicians, we always advocate for a measured and medically indicated approach to HBOT rather than overuse without clear benefit,' states the expert. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
