Monday Nov 03, 2025
Monday Nov 03, 2025
Monday, 3 November 2025 05:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
|
Tanaz Pestonjee with the award
|
Abans Group Business Development Director Tanaz Pestonjee has been awarded the ‘Transformational Business Leader of the Year’ at the 15th Top 50 Professional and Career Women Global Awards 2025, held at Shangri-La Colombo on 9 October.
This international award, presented by Women in Management (WIM) celebrates exceptional female leaders who have successfully re-defined industries through their purpose-driven leadership.
Representing the third generation of leadership at Abans, Tanaz Pestonjee is a business development leader with over 15 years of experience in retail and brand management.
With a B.A. in Psychology from Monash University, her journey began as a trainee buyer at Abstract Lanka, a subsidiary of Abans, where she pioneered the creation of in-house brands working closely with local SMEs while expanding the company›s retail footprint, demonstrating her early aptitude for strategic growth and creative branding.
As Director of Business Development and former Head of Lifestyle Brands at Abans PLC, she has been a key force in transforming Abans from a consumer durables provider to a dynamic lifestyle retailer by introducing iconic international brands like Skechers, Under Armour and Hugo Boss. This wasn›t just about business; it was about elevating Sri Lanka›s retail landscape and bringing global standards home.
Pestonjee has successfully managed a variety of retail formats including international brand stores, large-scale department stores, Sri Lanka’s first exclusive luxury brand boutique, and the country’s first international-standard shopping mall. Her ability to blend global retail trends with local market dynamics has positioned Abans as a leader in premium lifestyle retail.
Her influence extends beyond corporate growth. During the 2022 economic crisis she creatively supported local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by providing them with a retailing platform within the Abans Lifestyle retail footprint, a move that ensured continued business operations during import restrictions while uplifting local entrepreneurs.
Her recognition at this prestigious event underscores Abans Group’s ongoing commitment to empowering women leaders and driving meaningful change in the corporate landscape.
The Abans Group, with a legacy that spans over five decades, was founded in 1968. Today, Abans has grown into a diversified conglomerate comprising over 10,000 employees and 400 showrooms, with a presence across key sectors such as Retail Operations, Services, Logistics, Manufacturing, Real Estate, and Infrastructure Services.
Abans, dedicated to empowering lives, said it is widely recognised across Sri Lanka, and has played a pivotal role in modernising the country’s landscape and uplifting the quality of life for countless Sri Lankans by bringing home some of the world’s leading brands.
