Brad Banducci is dragged into legal battle as senior executive sues Woolworths and shock allegations emerge about her 100-hour weeks

Woolworths’ former boss has denied allegations one of his senior executives, who was undergoing cancer treatment, was made to work more than 100 hours a week.

Miwah Van, who previously worked at the supermarket giant as chief growth officer, accused former chief executive Brad Banducci and colleagues of demanding she work four jobs at once.

She is suing Woolworths and several executives, including Banducci, in the Federal Court over the allegations, including that she was overlooked for a promotion.

Ms Van said she was hospitalised on several occasions and that, between 2021 and 2022, she carried out the work of four full-time positions. 

When she complained, she alleges staff told her to ‘drink from a fire hose’. 

She alleges she often worked over 100 hours a week, including one instance in 2020 in which she claimed she racked up 119.8 hours.

But, in defence files seen by the Australian Financial Review, Mr Banducci strongly rejected the allegations.

He said Ms Van had not been promoted to the role of chief transformation officer as she was ‘not a preferred candidate’.

‘There were areas for her to continue developing, including leadership skills, before she would be suitable,’ he added.

Mr Banducci left Woolworths in September 2023. 

It was announced in March last year that he would take up the role of CEO at Ticketek Entertainment Group (TEG). He has been contacted via TEG for comment.

Woolworths declined to comment as the case is still before the court.

The supermarket giant has filed its defence separately from Mr Banducci. 

But it has previously described Ms Van’s court claims as ‘vague and embarrassing’.

Former chief transformation officer for Woolworths, Von Ingram, filed a defence in which she claimed the phrase, ‘drink from a fire hose’, was used often by company staff.

‘The comment was not made in reference to working hours,’ Ms Ingram claimed.

She added that she supported Ms Van to ‘take every opportunity to develop and to grow as a leader within the organisation and to learn the business’.

The Daily Mail has contacted Ms Van’s legal representation, Harmers Workplace Lawyers, for comment.

According to her LinkedIn, Ms Van has had extensive experience in workplace innovation from business consultant Unvorsum and Fitness First before joining Woolworths Group six years ago.

In a statement of claim she filed in October 2025, seen by the ABC, she said her role expanded over the years to include responsibility for several areas of the company.

Ms Van alleges that she was told in September 2020 by Ms Ingram that she would succeed her and be promoted. 

But then, in September 2022, she was told there were other people up for discussion and emailed Ms Ingram asking: ‘What’s really changed? Is it because I have cancer?’

The statement of claim noted she then emailed Mr Banducci saying she was taken aback.

‘My surprise and shock was due to the expectations that have been created through representations made to me over an extended period that clearly indicated I was considered to be the natural successor to the role,’ she said in the email, the claim notes.