SLIM elects new president at 47th Annual General Meeting

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), the national body for marketing has elected Elangovan Karthik as its 39th president at the 47th AGM held on 29 March at the Kingsbury Hotel, with a new council along with the 10-member executive committee of SLIM for the year 2017/18.

The Council of Management for 2017/18 consists of prominent figures in the field of marketing, spearheaded by President Elangovan Karthik, the CEO/Director of Unisons Capital Leasing (subsidiary of Citizen Development Business Finance PLC (CDB), the CEO/Director of GAP Holdings Ltd., Pradeep Edward is the Vice President along with General Manager – Sales Lalan Engineering Ltd. Suranjith Swaris. The Secretary is General Manager – Marketing of Derena/Power House Ltd., Roshan Fernando, whilst the Treasurer is Thilanka Abeywardena, the Enterprise Marketing Manager – South East Asia New Markets at Microsoft Sri Lanka, and the role of Assistant Secretary was taken on by Ranga Perera, the General Manager – Marketing Ceylon Newspapers Ltd.

The Executive Committee also comprises experienced marketers: Senior Brand Manager of Reckitt Benckiser Lanka Ltd. – Shaminda Perera, Senior Brand Manager – Group Marketing at Dialog Axiata PLC – Lakshitha Wiesinghe, National Sales Manager at Sinwa Marketing Ltd. – Leonard Jayasinghe, General Manager – Marketing and Business Development at 4ever Skin Naturals Ltd. – Nuwan Gamage, Senior Marketing Manager – Exports at Primal Glass Ltd. – Enoch Perera, Manager – Marketing Executions at Blue Mountain Luxury Apartments Ltd. –Manthika Ranasinghe, Manager – Consumer Insights at Fonterra Brands – Sathika Wickramasinghe, Media and Marketing Consultant at Food and Nature Ltd. (FADNA) – Upali Ranjith, Sales Manager at Reliance Network – Viraj Harshana Perera, Head of Sales at Hemas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Hemas Surgical and Diagnostics Ltd. – Chinthaka Perera.

With the core objective of contributing towards the nation’s effort for economic prosperity and sustainable development, SLIM has mentored fully-fledged marketers for over five decades of its illustrious history. This is evident by the 38 top marketers in the country leading SLIM as President over the years.

Elangovan began his career as a Marketing Executive in an MNC IT Company, ascending the career ladder to Assistant Manager – Brands at CDB and later as Director/CEO of UCL over a period of 16 years. A chartered marketer, fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and a Practicing Marketer of SLIM, he has honed his professional knowledge with an MBA from PIM and further qualifications in Management Accountancy and Human Resource Management. His extensive experience in Senior Management will undoubtedly add value to the totality of the marketing fraternity during his tenure as SLIM President.

Executive Committee 2017/18

Very enthused on his appointment as SLIM President, Elangovan says he feels honoured to head the premier national marketing body in the country and pledges his commitment to elevate this august body to newer heights. “We live in a world that is constantly transforming and we marketers, have a unique ability to identify these changes, grasp opportunities and adapt dynamics to maximise the positives of these impending changes proactively. SLIM will consistently execute and develop activities to add value and further enhance the marketing fraternity.”

He added that he will strive to continue to grow the progressive footprint already created by the past presidents and ensure that the marketing fraternity will adapt to the needs of the industry in the transformative age. “I am confident that the new Council and Executive Committee will serve the Institute to the fullest during the year ahead and assist me in achieving the change I aspire to bring forth, in line with emerging new trends in marketing.”