Archive: November 2, 2020

Business World

Top Banker Joins Carlyle as Senior Advisor

Nov 2, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Aditya Puri, #Financial Services, #HDFC Bank, #investing, #The Carlyle Group, #X.D. Yang

Global investment firm The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) today announced that Aditya Puri, former Chief Executive Officer of India’s largest private sector bank, HDFC Bank, has been appointed as a Senior Advisor to Carlyle in Asia.

Mr. Puri will advise the Carlyle team on investment opportunities across Asia. Mr. Puri will provide guidance on the evolving market landscape and new investment opportunities, while also advising Carlyle’s investment professionals and portfolio management teams on building differentiated high-quality businesses.

Mr. Puri was appointed as the first CEO of HDFC Bank when it was established in 1994. Over his 26 year tenure leading the business, Mr. Puri grew HDFC Bank into the largest private sector bank in India with over $210 billion of assets (as of September 30, 2020), and the most valuable bank in India with a market cap of over $90 billion (as of October 2020). Under Mr. Puri’s leadership, HDFC Bank became well-known for its customer-focused approach, disciplined risk management and strong consistent year-on-year growth.

Mr. Puri previously spent over 20 years at Citibank overseeing parts of the bank’s activities across India, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and mainland China, with his last role as CEO of Citibank’s operations in Malaysia from 1992-1994. He has won several awards and accolades during his tenure, including being named among Barron’s Top 30 Global CEOs in 2015 and 2018, Fortune’s Top 50 Businesspersons globally in 2016, and most recently, Euromoney’s lifetime achievement award.

Aditya puriAditya Puri, commented, “Carlyle is known for its ability to transform businesses, working closely in partnership with management teams and other key stakeholders to drive sustainable long-term growth. I am very impressed with Carlyle’s track record in a number of key industry sectors, including its leadership position in financial services, not just in India but across Asia.

Whether this is with founder-led businesses or large conglomerates, Carlyle’s focus on building better businesses is something I have a great affinity for. It will therefore be a pleasure to act as senior advisor to the Carlyle team in support of their investing activities across Asia.”

X.D. Yang, Managing Director and Chairman of Carlyle Asia commented, “Mr. Puri has been repeatedly accredited as one of the world’s leading global CEOs. We are excited to have him join Carlyle as a senior advisor in Asia, and look forward to leveraging his deep expertise and relationships to source new investment opportunities and to help our portfolio companies build better businesses.”

Sunil Kaul, Managing Director and Financial Services sector lead for the Carlyle Asia advisory team, commented, “I have had the privilege of knowing and following Mr. Puri from his Citibank years. To have someone of his stature join Carlyle as a senior advisor will add significant value to our capabilities across the region, not only in financial services but across sectors given Mr. Puri’s unparalleled experience in the business world. We’re delighted to have him join us and excited by the potential of what we can achieve by working together.”

Carlyle has a well-established history of investing in financial services, both in Asia and globally, fueled by a deep understanding of the market and an ability to create value through its operational expertise and close partnerships with management. Across Asia (ex-Japan), Carlyle has made investments of around $4.9 billion in financial services as of September 30, 2020, in companies including SBI Card, SBI Life, HDFC Limited, PNB Housing Finance, Repco Home Finance, Edelweiss, IIFL, KB Financial Group, China Pacific Insurance, Ant Group, Du Xiaoman Financial, among others.

Health

A Virtual Event to create awareness on Breast Cancer

Nov 2, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #American Oncology Institute, #Breast Cancer, #Dr Pragnya Chigurupati, #Mr Arun Daniel Yellamaty, #Mrs Neeti Sharma, #Mrs Rinky Sharma, #Youngistaan Foundation

Observing the breast cancer awareness month, Youngistaan Foundation’s, Women of Courage -Gender program has organised a virtual event called ‘Hope| Fight| Cure’ on 1st November 2020, to create awareness on the importance of early detection, and prevention in order to reduce the fatality rate of women due to Breast Cancer.

The event had a significant talk by Dr Pragnya Chigurupati, an oncologist surgeon from American Oncology Institute; a testimony by a Breast Cancer Survivor, and alive music performance Rinky Sharma, followed by questions and answers.

During the insightful session, Dr Pragnya has shed light on severe breast issues that occur in women, the importance of early detection can avoid the removal of the complete breast and possible strategies to prevent cancer. She talked about the survival rates across the globe are increasing but in India, it is decreasing due to lack of awareness on early detection. She also quoted that people at age 40 are at high risk of breast cancers.

Apart from getting a mammography test and clinical breast examination, one has to self-examination themselves from a much younger age. She said, “In order to prevent, one has to exercise for 3 hours a day, alter their lifestyle by quitting smoking, alcohol, eating healthy and managing stress to modify the risk factors”. Apart from this, She spoke on most common myths and misconceptions and cleared during the Q&A session.

Speaking on the severity of breast cancer and its symptoms, Mrs Neeti Sharma, a breast cancer survivor said, “I was 31, relatively at a younger age when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Neither any of my family members had breast cancer nor did I have High-Risk factors. But still, I was diagnosed. I was so naive and helpless for the first 2 months but later, I was able to fight it due to early detection.  Just believe in yourself and have strong faith that you would come out and fight as a winner.

Last of all, the founder of Youngistaan Foundation, Mr Arun Daniel Yellamaty said, “I  insist people, especially those above 25 years of age to be vigilant about their health and consult a doctor in case of any confusion. More number of people should voice out concerns on issues like these that have been ignored for decades”. Later, he expressed special thanks to the guests and partners of the event.

Soon after, a prominent name in the music fraternity, Mrs Rinky Sharma had intact the attention of all the participants while she was singing a few songs from her own album. The participants joined from different backgrounds such as Government Sakhicentres, youngsters from various colleges, women from corporate organizations, homemakers and many others. The event was conducted along with Cyberabad Security Council and Rachakonda Security Council.

You can watch the live recording of the event on the Facebook page of Youngistaan Foundation.

Business World

Two Nominated members to NMC and 3 other to nationally reputed government bodies felicitated

Nov 2, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #Dr Santosh Kumar Kraleti, #Dr. GSN Raju, #Dr. Santosh Kranati, #Global Illumine, #N. Ramachandran Rao, #Sree Shivaji Memorial Committee

Dr. GSN Raju, formerly NIMS, currently Director, Ashwin Hospitals and Dr. Santosh Kranati, a Senior Public Health expert, Founder Director Dhatri Mother’s Milk from Telangana who recently nominated to National Medical Council(NMC) were felicitated here in the city at a Hotel Secunderabad on Sunday morning.

The felicitation was organised by Sree Shivaji Memorial Committee and Global Illumine, a trust involved in educating underprivileged and tribal children.

Recently Central Government abolished Medical Council of India and announced setting up of historic for medical education, NMC. These two members are just nominated to NMC.

The constitution of National Medical Commission as said by many experts will steer medical education towards a transparent, qualitative, and accountable system. And these two medical professionals are nominated to the newly constituted apex body NMC are from Hyderabad.

It was a long road to the abolition of the Medical Council of India (MCI), the 64-year-old medical education body, and the constitution of the National Medical Commission (NMC) for the government is represented by these two distinguished professionals. These two got nominated because of their hard work, dedication and yeoman service.

Speaking on the occasion Dr GSN Raju, who has the distinction of being the first qualified M.Ch Cancer Surgeon, training 70 Surgical Oncologists, performing 65000 Oncology surgeries(3 Oncology surgeries a day), serving 100 million population in his 28 years of service at NIMS in his personal capacity shared some of his plans among a couple of them would be to introduce uniform standards in all 700 medical colleges located across the country. Also, ensure minimum acceptance standard by way of conducting exit exams for MBBS pass-outs seeking entry in PG level so as to enable MNC to shun PG Entrance Exam for Medicos.

Speaking further he added that besides Allopathy all other Traditional Indian Medicine and Alternative Medicine will be brought under one roof and initiate research for its efficacy; ensure clinical trials to make traditional medicine more acceptable. We will commence work with other alternative medicine he said

Another nominee who was felicitated Dr Santosh Kumar Kraleti shared his personal experience of how Yoga helped his younger brother overcome back pain. His younger brother a medico in the USA was suggested to undergo a spinal surgery as a cure that would have cost him 1,50,000 US dollars.

The new body NMC will focus on ethical, good training and unhazardous practices, Dr Santosh added. He shared how Thailand though being so small and spending just 3.6% of GDP has produced excellent hospital infrastructure on par with the best in the world.

The felicitation was graced by N. Ramachandran Rao, MLC; Elsa Chandrasekhar, Dr Vikas Bhatia Director of AIIMS Bibinagar; LV Subramanyam, IAS, retired Chief Secretary, Govt of AP; Sri Sukumaran, National Organising Secretary, SAKSHAM, Dr Krishna Kiran of Global Illumine India.

Speaking to the 50 plus select gathering N Ramachander Rao said, we neglect health running after money and then realise and blow the money earned regain the lost health. It is the irony of the life he said. We must accept what is good from our Traditional Medicine and added that today whole world is reaping good benefits from our age-old Yoga. Today it is for Yoga, not many got affected Corona, it is partly due to Yoga practices as practised by people in our country he said.

The retired Chief Secretary, Govt of AP, LV Subramanyam said, we must revive our traditional medicine, retrofit (modernise) to suit to today’s populace to address modern-day ailments. Our ancient medicinal system can be explored to make healthcare more affordable to masses.

Three Telugus appointed Honorary Board Members of three autonomous national bodies for disabled by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India were also felicitated.

They include: Dr.G Veda Prakash, Orthopedic Surgeon; Dr. Nandini Bandikatla, a Consultant Child Psychologist; Kasinadh Lakkaraju, an entrepreneur, all three city-based professionals-cum-social workers, two doctors and a software consultant appointed as a member in three different Union Government bodies such as three national organisations such as Swami Vivekananda National Institution of Rehabilitation, Training and Research, Cuttak; National Institute of Locomotor Disabilities(NILD), Kolkata and National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities(NIEPID), Hyderabad

Dr Vikas Bhatia Director of AIIMS Bibinagar was also felicitated on the occasion.

Education

Prof N Balakrishnan at the University Distinguished Lecture Series 02 organized by SRM University-AP, Andhra Pradesh

Nov 2, 2020 by Gouri Achary 0 Comments #BOTSPOT, #Indian Institute of Science (IISc), #Prof D Narayana Rao, #Prof N Balakrishnan, #Prof T Ragunathan, #Supercomputer Education and Research Centre

Prof N Balakrishnan, Honorary Professor, Supercomputer Education and Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bengaluru, delivered an enthralling talk on “Data to Discovery in Information Security” under the auspices of University Distinguished Lecture Series organized by SRM University – AP, Andhra Pradesh. Prof V S Rao, Vice-Chancellor, along with Prof D Narayana Rao, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and the conveners welcomed him. Extending his warmest welcome, Prof V S Rao emphasized on the significance of Data and Information Security and the great interest and concerns it imposes in recent times as well as the future.

He says, “In the last two decades, data security concerns have increased exponentially along with emerging data reserves. The abundance of data without proper security poses more threats than solutions.” On that note, he requested Prof N Balakrishnan to enlighten the audience on various issues pertaining to raw data security.

Prof T Ragunathan, Head of the Department of Computer Science introduced Prof N Balakrishnan to the participants.

Prof N Balakrishnan’s lecture encompassed the explosion in data and the “Revenge of Silicon”, which made the emergence of Artificial Intelligence inevitable. He emphasized on the storage revolution which is reflected in the smaller systems comprising more complex networks, as compared to the earlier version of computers which were used primarily for computing and processing.

He enlightens, “Characterized by an explosion in velocity, volume, and variety, the data generated by humans and machines coexist in the big data scenario. Earlier, we spoke of the convergence of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and now we have moved ahead with Nano, Bio, Info, and Cogno (NBIC) convergence.”

Prof N Balakrishnan dedicated the second half of his lecture by explaining the “Revenge of Silicon”. He used the periodic table to explain that although Carbon and Silicon belong to the same 4th group in the periodic table, mankind preferred Silicon over Carbon. Further, the paradigm shifted with the advent of computers which were programmed to mimic humans. In addition, the communication revolution resulted in its enhanced capability along with numbers.

Presently, 1.72 billion websites are operative, there are billions of mobile phone users, the Internet of Things (IoT) have been established, wireless networks, and other complex systems. Dr N says, “Technology has become an integral part of the society with emerging Cyber-physical systems and social networks. In the near future, computers would begin behaving more and more like humans, which is referred to as the Revenge of Silicon. Further, NBIC will enable biological complex systems (human body parts) to be replaced by silicon engineered parts, heralding towards a new doctrine.”

Drawing examples from his research sprawled across four decades, Prof N Balakrishnan expressed concerns about the tremendous data being stored and used across networking platforms. He explains, “Data storage speed doubles every 9 months. All the information known to mankind since the beginning of civilization can be stored in a single computer.

The social network of computers has its negatives in the form of terrorism which has recently entered the computer world. Security of such a world is an important issue.” Prof N Balakrishnan concluded his lecture by stating that mathematical predictive models can be used for a better understanding of the data attack detection. He established that Community Detection based BOTSPOT will provide a faster detection algorithm to estimate attacks thereby aiding concerns of data attacks.

–