BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Krishan Balendra
Member of the Board since January 2019
Krishan Balendra is the Chairman of John Keells Holdings PLC. He is a Director of the Ceylon Chamber Commerce and the Hon. Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Sri Lanka. He is a former Chairman of Nations Trust Bank and the Colombo Stock Exchange. He started his career at UBS Warburg, Hong Kong, in investment banking, focusing primarily on equity capital markets. He holds a law degree (LLB) from the University of London and an MBA from INSEAD.
Krishan Balendra is the Chairman of John Keells Holdings PLC. He is a Director of the Ceylon Chamber Commerce and the Hon. Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Sri Lanka. He is a former Chairman of Nations Trust Bank and the Colombo Stock Exchange. He started his career at UBS Warburg, Hong Kong, in investment banking, focusing primarily on equity capital markets. He holds a law degree (LLB) from the University of London and an MBA from INSEAD.
Krishan Balendra
Chairperson (NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)
Suresh Rajendra
Member of the Board since August 2011
Suresh Rajendra is a member of the Group Executive Committee and the President of the property group of John Keells Holdings PLC. Also, He serves as a Director of Asian Hotels and Properties PLC. Suresh has over 25 years of experience in finance, property and real estate, travel, tourism, and business development acquired both in Sri Lanka and overseas. Prior to joining the John Keells Group, he was the head of commercial and business development for NRMA Motoring and Services in Sydney, Australia, Director/ General Manager of Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Private) Limited. Also, he served on the Boards of the hotel companies of the Aitken Spence Group. Suresh is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK. He is a director of many unlisted companies in the John Keells Group.
Suresh Rajendra is a member of the Group Executive Committee and the President of the property group of John Keells Holdings PLC. Also, He serves as a Director of Asian Hotels and Properties PLC. Suresh has over 25 years of experience in finance, property and real estate, travel, tourism, and business development acquired both in Sri Lanka and overseas. Prior to joining the John Keells Group, he was the head of commercial and business development for NRMA Motoring and Services in Sydney, Australia, Director/ General Manager of Aitken Spence Hotel Managements (Private) Limited. Also, he served on the Boards of the hotel companies of the Aitken Spence Group. Suresh is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK. He is a director of many unlisted companies in the John Keells Group.
Suresh Rajendra
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dumith Fernando
Member to the Board since August 2018
Dumith Fernando is the Chairman of Asia Securities (Pvt) Ltd, a leading independent Investment Banking, Research, and Stock Broking firm in Sri Lanka. He has over two decades’ experience in international Investment Banking, based in New York and Hong Kong, with the U.S. bank JP Morgan Chase & Co, and the Swiss Bank Credit Suisse AG., until 2013. He was Managing Director and Group Chief Operating Officer for the Asia Pacific region at Credit Suisse – a business with over USD 2.5 billion in revenues across 12 countries, and a member of that firm’s Global Leadership Council. Dumith is a Director of the Colombo Stock Exchange and Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC. He is a Senior Advisor to Tybourne Capital Management (in Hong Kong), a leading Asia-based investment management firm, and non-executive Chairman of several start-up companies. He holds a B.A. (Honors) in Physics & Economics from Middlebury College in the U.S. and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Dumith Fernando is the Chairman of Asia Securities (Pvt) Ltd, a leading independent Investment Banking, Research, and Stock Broking firm in Sri Lanka. He has over two decades’ experience in international Investment Banking, based in New York and Hong Kong, with the U.S. bank JP Morgan Chase & Co, and the Swiss Bank Credit Suisse AG., until 2013. He was Managing Director and Group Chief Operating Officer for the Asia Pacific region at Credit Suisse – a business with over USD 2.5 billion in revenues across 12 countries, and a member of that firm’s Global Leadership Council. Dumith is a Director of the Colombo Stock Exchange and Singer (Sri Lanka) PLC. He is a Senior Advisor to Tybourne Capital Management (in Hong Kong), a leading Asia-based investment management firm, and non-executive Chairman of several start-up companies. He holds a B.A. (Honors) in Physics & Economics from Middlebury College in the U.S. and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Dumith Fernando
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Stephen Appleyard
Member of the Board since January 2019
Stephen Anthony is currently the Head of Distribution AXA Asia Markets (Life and Non-Life Insurance). He has over 20 years of experience in the life insurance industry across Europe, the U.S., and Asia in CEO and Regional CEO roles at SCB Life (Thailand), AIA (Hong Kong), Allianz (Ayudhya Allianz C.P., Thailand), American International Group (Europe, U.S., and Asia). He has extensive experience in strategy, distribution, marketing, finance, and operational transformation. Stephen has served as a Consultant to AXA Regional Office (Hong Kong), Direct Money (Vietnam), and an Advisor to many Fintech companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Sheffield Hallam University and an MBA from the University of Manchester.
Stephen Anthony is currently the Head of Distribution AXA Asia Markets (Life and Non-Life Insurance). He has over 20 years of experience in the life insurance industry across Europe, the U.S., and Asia in CEO and Regional CEO roles at SCB Life (Thailand), AIA (Hong Kong), Allianz (Ayudhya Allianz C.P., Thailand), American International Group (Europe, U.S., and Asia). He has extensive experience in strategy, distribution, marketing, finance, and operational transformation. Stephen has served as a Consultant to AXA Regional Office (Hong Kong), Direct Money (Vietnam), and an Advisor to many Fintech companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Sheffield Hallam University and an MBA from the University of Manchester.
Stephen Appleyard
INDEPENDENT NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Daminda Gamlath
Member of the Board since June 2020
Daminda Gamlath holds a BSc in Engineering from the University of Moratuwa and an MBA from the University of Colombo. His areas of specialization are financial accounting, management accounting, business analysis, sales, marketing, and general management. He is a passed finalist of CIMA UK. Daminda is currently serving as President of the Consumer Foods Industry Group of John Keells and is also a Director of Ceylon Cold Stores PLC and Keells Food Products PLC. He was also attached to John Keells Computer Services (Pvt) Ltd and the IT Industry Group at John Keells. Before joining the Group, he was with Hayleys Electronics Ltd and Hayleys Industrial Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.
Daminda Gamlath holds a BSc in Engineering from the University of Moratuwa and an MBA from the University of Colombo. His areas of specialization are financial accounting, management accounting, business analysis, sales, marketing, and general management. He is a passed finalist of CIMA UK. Daminda is currently serving as President of the Consumer Foods Industry Group of John Keells and is also a Director of Ceylon Cold Stores PLC and Keells Food Products PLC. He was also attached to John Keells Computer Services (Pvt) Ltd and the IT Industry Group at John Keells. Before joining the Group, he was with Hayleys Electronics Ltd and Hayleys Industrial Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.
Daminda Gamlath
Non-Executive Director
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Jude Gomes
Chief Executive Officer
Jude Gomes was appointed as the CEO of Union Assurance PLC on 1st December 2019. He has over 27 years of rich financial services experience working across key Asian markets. Previously, Jude was heading Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Co. Philippines as CEO and President. He has been with Manulife Group since 2012, pioneering Bancassurance in Vietnam as VP and Head of Partnership Distribution. Jude was a founder member of Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance Co. as Senior VP and Head of Channel and was subsequently seconded to Hong Kong at HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Regional Business Development, working across APAC markets. He was among the pioneers at India’s first privatized Life Insurer, HDFC Standard Life, and also led Wealth Management for Centurion Bank of Punjab. Jude is the two-time recipient of Manulife’s Global Star of Excellence Award in 2013 and 2015 and Standard Chartered Bank’s Regional Award in 1999.
Jude Gomes was appointed as the CEO of Union Assurance PLC on 1st December 2019. He has over 27 years of rich financial services experience working across key Asian markets. Previously, Jude was heading Manulife China Bank Life Assurance Co. Philippines as CEO and President. He has been with Manulife Group since 2012, pioneering Bancassurance in Vietnam as VP and Head of Partnership Distribution. Jude was a founder member of Canara HSBC OBC Life Insurance Co. as Senior VP and Head of Channel and was subsequently seconded to Hong Kong at HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Regional Business Development, working across APAC markets. He was among the pioneers at India’s first privatized Life Insurer, HDFC Standard Life, and also led Wealth Management for Centurion Bank of Punjab. Jude is the two-time recipient of Manulife’s Global Star of Excellence Award in 2013 and 2015 and Standard Chartered Bank’s Regional Award in 1999.
Jude Gomes
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Executive Committee
Senath Jayatilake
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Senath joined the John Keells Group in 2007 and was the Chief Executive Officer of John Keells Logistics (Pvt) Ltd before he joined Union Assurance PLC. He is a Vice President of the John Keells Group and accounts for over twelve years of experience in Business Development, Operations Management, Sales & Marketing, Financial Analysis, and Strategy. He earned a BA (Hon) in Finance and Accounting from the University of Nottingham (UK), an associated membership from the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting, and an MBA from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Senath joined the John Keells Group in 2007 and was the Chief Executive Officer of John Keells Logistics (Pvt) Ltd before he joined Union Assurance PLC. He is a Vice President of the John Keells Group and accounts for over twelve years of experience in Business Development, Operations Management, Sales & Marketing, Financial Analysis, and Strategy. He earned a BA (Hon) in Finance and Accounting from the University of Nottingham (UK), an associated membership from the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting, and an MBA from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.
Senath Jayatilake
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
