Country needs more women at the helm-President | Sunday Observer
Appointment of Kasturi to lead Hemas Group:

Country needs more women at the helm-President

28 June, 2020
Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson
Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday congratulated Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson on her appointment as Group CEO of Hemas Holdings, becoming the first female CEO of a conglomerate in Sri Lanka.

“It is important to have more women at all leadership levels in Sri Lanka and this appt will surely inspire more women to reach new heights,” the President Tweeted.

“I wish you the best. May you inspire youngsters, particularly women to follow in your footsteps,” the PM Tweeted. Hemas Holdings PLC on Thursday announced the appointment of Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson as Group Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, succeeding Steven Enderby. As part of a planned succession, Kasturi will take on the role of Deputy CEO and be appointed to the Board of Hemas Holdings PLC, effective July 1.

“The Board decided to appoint Kasturi as Group CEO following a thorough selection process in line with our company’s succession plans, which prioritise developing internal talent. Kasturi is no stranger to Hemas, having been with us since 2002, and we are delighted that a long-standing colleague has risen to occupy the highest executive position in the Group,” Hemas Holdings Chairman Husein Esufally announced.

In a career spanning two decades at Hemas, Kasturi rose through the ranks to become the Chief Process Officer and thereafter in 2011 she took on the leadership of the aviation, travel and mobility businesses of the Group. In 2016, Kasturi was tasked with leading Hemas Pharmaceuticals, where she worked closely with all stakeholders to satisfy emerging patient needs whilst delivering sustainable growth in a challenging regulatory environment. Kasturi is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK. She has attended many leadership programmes over the span of her career, most notably the Senior Executive Leadership Program at Harvard Business School. Over the years, she has actively contributed to industry forums and committees.

She serves as a Board member of Capital Alliance Ltd and is the President of the Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Kasturi was also recognized by the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 2019 and awarded a position on its prestigious list of Women Changemakers

 

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