BOC GM/CEO Gunasekara among 100 Global Sustainable Leaders

The World Sustainability Organization recognised BOC General Manager/CEO D.M. Gunasekara as one of the ‘100 Global Sustainable Leaders’ at the World Sustainable Congress held in Dubai. 

“It is a pleasure to be recognised among the 100 Global Sustainable Leaders. I have acquired knowledge, skills and experience in banking and has reached the pinnacle of my career as the General Manager/CEO of Sri Lanka’s No. 1 Bank, Bank of Ceylon. I take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues who helped me to reach this great milestone,” stated Gunasekara.

The bank received several awards to its credit, claimed its award as the only Sri Lankan brand recognised as one of Asia’s Best Brands in 2013 by the Chief Marketing Officer’s Council (CMO Council) based in Mumbai, India. Respectively in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 the bank earned global recognition as one of the top 1000 banks in the world (Country rank No.1) as listed by ‘The Banker Magazine’ (UK). Since 2008, for the last eight consecutive years Brand Finance Lanka has ranked BOC as the country’s No. 1 Brand for enhancing its brand value significantly over years.

The Bank of Ceylon won the overall Gold Award at the National Business Excellence Award Awards Ceremony 2015 with five other ‘Winner’ awards. The bank was named as the ‘Strongest Bank’ for the year 2015 in the country by the ‘Asian Banker’. 

These key achievements coupled with being endorsed as one of the ‘Asia’s Best Employer Brands’ by Employer Brand Institute for the year 2016 were gained during the term of D.M. Gunasekara. These achievements testify Gunasekera’s effort in steering the bank as the CEO spearheading the bank to meet challenges successfully and achieve remarkable heights. Gunasekara was the only Sri Lankan CEO to be selected among 100 global sustainable leaders named in 2016 by the World sustainability congress.

Other significant achievements in 2016 were the surpassing Rs. 1 trillion deposits followed by surpassing Rs. 1.5 trillion in its asset base after achieving a Rs. 1 trillion asset base in 2012. Setting a new benchmark in the Sri Lankan banking industry the bank became the highest profit earning single business entity in the country with a Rs. 25 billion PBT in 2015. 

D.M. Gunasekara counts over 33 years banking experience and commenced his career in retail banking, which enriched him with a wealth of knowledge and experience in all aspects of credit management, administration and retail and corporate banking. He served at the BOC London branch from 1997 to 2000 gaining international exposure. He joined BOC in 1983 and held several key senior positions in the bank. He is an Alumnus of the University of Colombo with a special Degree in Public Finance and Taxation (1981). 

Gunasekara is also an Associate Member of the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka and a member of the Association of Professional Bankers. He has successfully completed the program on Corporate Management for Sri Lanka (LKCM2 AOTS) in Japan and also followed an Advanced Management Programme conducted by the Wharton University of Pennsylvania, USA. 

As a leader Gunasekara has been an inspiration to the whole staff to become professional bankers who deliver the best to their customers and the community to grow together. With his global focus he has initiated many projects and policies to empower the staff and move the bank towards a fully-fledged digital change pushing it to thrive and to go an extra mile to reach excellence in banking. With the recent branch modernisation several next generation products and services were added. They include digital SMART Zones, Regional Loan Centres and centralisation of business processes. 

Internal processes and systems were upgraded by building up infrastructure that includes IT, process automation and capacity building. As a part of this process the bank activated the 5S concept within the bank and its branch network which enhanced operational efficiency and reduced wastage of resources. ‘Quality Circles’ were formed in order to ensure the sustainability of the process. In addition to these initiatives the bank incorporated ‘Green Banking’ into its business model to save the environment all of which it operates under the guidance of Gunasekera.

Gunasekara is a Non-Executive nominee Director on the Boards of Merchant Bank of Sri Lanka & Finance PLC., BOC Travels Ltd., BOC Property Development and Management Ltd., BOC Management and Support Services Ltd., Bank of Ceylon (UK) Ltd., Ceybank Assets Management Ltd., member of the Governing Board of IBSL, Executive Committee member of APRACA and serves in many other Boards including holding the post of the Chairman of Sri Lanka Banker’s Association. 

With Gunasekara’s strong ties with the community he and the bank were able to maintain a healthy relationship with the industry and the community at large, thereby adding value and assisting many stakeholders.