Join my journey from corporate to entrepreneurship: strategies & challenges of building and growing multiple brands.” Entrepreneur | Business Consultant | C-Suite International Speaker | Featured: PeopleAsia | Franchise Asia | FUTR Asia
Group Director | Chief Business Officer - Island Tea Co. & Ceylon Coffee Club
I’m a ‘People Asia’, ‘FUTR Asia’, ‘Franchise Asia’, featured Sri Lankan entrepren
eur, award winning marketer & business professional with diverse exposure in leadership roles across FMCG, Food & Beverage, Insurance, Healthcare, Banking, Finance, Modern Trade & Retail. In a career spanning over 20 years, I have been featured on multiple business talk shows and magazines locally & internationally. I never looked back having quit a lucrative corporate career at 36 years to start Island Tea Co.®, the largest retail chain of ‘Pure Ceylon’ Tea cafes & Ceylon Coffee Club®, the only organized retail coffee concept using pure “Sri Lankan Coffee Beans”, with a collective branch network of over 90+ locations. Having started with only 1 branch in 2017, Island Tea Co.® now has a network of over 90+ branches and growing across Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Dubai | UAE, Qatar & Australia with more planned expansions in Asia Pacific & Middle East. I still continue to direct the Brand, International Franchise Development & Retail Expansion of “Island Tea Co.”® & “Ceylon Coffee Club”® globally, as the brands branch network continues to expand steadily in the largest malls & commercial establishments in the countries they operates in. I believe in passing the knowledge I acquired along my corporate and entrepreneurial journey. I consult, mentor & speak on professional growth, start-up success and entrepreneurship, focused on individuals and companies who aspire to grow beyond borders. Awards & Recognition
Became one of the youngest to achieve the “Chartered Marketer” status in Sri Lanka at the age of 26, having attained the Chartered status from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM, UK) in 2007. Was awarded for "Excellence in Marketing & Brand Leadership" amongst many professionals from Europe, Asia, Middle East & Africa at the Golden Globe Tigers Summit & Awards in KL, Malaysia. Was named the "Professional Marketer of the Year" - 2015, selected from amongst top marketers across 24 other countries in Asia Pacific & Middle East by the CMO Asia at the 6th Global Brand Excellence Awards in Singapore. Was presented the "Young Achiever" Award at the Marketing Excellence Awards in Mumbai - India in 2016; awarded to those with significant professional achievements under the age of 35. Had the rare honor of being listed amongst the "100 Most Influential Marketing Leaders" in South Asia at the World Marketing Congress in Mumbai, India.