Experience

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  Barista Coffee Lanka (Pvt) Ltd

  • Sri Lanka
  • Food and Beverage Services
  • 100 - 200 Employee

  • Chief Executive Officer

    • Oct 2021 - Present

    ➡️ Strategy, Vision & Mission Planning: Led the transformation of Barista from the third participant in the industry to the undisputed industry leader and Sri Lanka's most preferred café chain. Transformed the brand from seven outlets in 2018 to twenty-five by 2023. Successfully implemented a strategic vision and mission aligned with the company's core values and goals.➡️ Board Governance & Stakeholder Relationships: Successfully managed and nurtured relationships with international franchise owners, focusing on Barista India. Achieved high levels of cooperation and productivity, resulting in significant business growth. Recognised as the Leader of the Year in 2022, surpassing 72 franchise owners in India.➡️Finance, Budgeting & Cost Management: Implemented effective financial strategies and optimized cost structures, resulting in the company's highest profits. Implemented strategic cost management initiatives, streamlining the business's value chain and increasing the gross profit margin. Increased the average GP margin from 55% in 2018 to 65% in 2019. Achieved 160% year-over-year growth in 22/23 and 240% EBITDA growth in 22/23.➡️ Contract Negotiations & Strategic Alliances: Successfully negotiated with Prime Lands and properties, securing strategic locations for both Barista and Ceylon Hotels Corporations. These locations include prominent landmarks such as the World Trade Centre, Southern Highway Service Area, and Bandaranaike International Airport. Developed and maintained a long-standing strategic alliance with Lavazza Coffee, securing exclusive selling rights.➡️ Sales & Marketing Leadership: Successfully executed well-defined sales and marketing functions, contributing to a remarkable 160% year-over-year (YOY) growth in the company's top line. Achieved three consecutive wins for the Best Customer Service Award by LMD magazine.

  • General Manager

    • Nov 2018 - Oct 2021

    ➡️ Business Strategy: Earned maximum profit, matching the best interests of every stakeholder of the franchise in Sri Lanka and internationally. Drove strategic vision, planning expertise, and operational leadership in the business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Transformed Barista operations to digitally driven e-commerce platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic and repositioned Barista as "an Everyday Café." Spearheaded the company vision of opening 25 outlets in 2022 and becoming the most preferred café chain in Sri Lanka.➡️ Operational Excellence: Continuously drove and directed for effective utilization and administration of the human capital, financial, and physical resources. Continuously developed outlet layouts and look and feel to maintain high-profile standards according to franchise policies.➡️ Brand Development: Strengthened brand development strategies to ensure high-level Barista brand equity in all brand-building activities. Implemented CSR and sustainability programs under business operations to ensure a stronghold in the industry and corporate space.➡️ Leadership: Served as an influencer for the entire Barista team to achieve the set business goals. Conducted continuous negotiations and discussions with related business parties and government authorities to create opportunities for expanding the chain.

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  Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association - Awanhala Restaurant Chain

  • Sri Lanka

  • Head of Operations

    • Mar 2016 - Oct 2018
    • Sri Lanka

    ➡️ Business Strategy: Built the company's overall corporate strategy and executed and controlled for the better financial performance of the restaurant chain, developed and implemented marketing strategies to build the "Awanhala" brand.➡️ Operational Excellence: Improved operational systems, processes, and guidelines supporting business. Increased the effectiveness and efficiency of all support services (HR, Finance, IT, and Marketing) and ensured healthy coordination among functions.➡️ Brand Development: Developed and executed the best food cost control, overhead management, and MIS systems.➡️ Leadership: Led the overall business functions at Awanhala Restaurant Chain. Supervised and coached outlet managers on sales targets, food cost targets, customer service, employee management, and inventory management.

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  Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC

  • Sri Lanka

  • Category Manager/ Manager - Marketing and Activation

    • Jan 2012 - Mar 2016
    • Sri Lanka

    Millers Brewery PLC➡️ Brand Manager: Handled the premium brand category after Lion Brewery PLC acquired the company. Led the NPD process of the Three Coins re-launch. Established Three Coins brand and owned and maintained the brand. Developed brand, marketing, and go-to-market strategies and drove area managers on sales targets, availability, and outlet visibility parameters. Monitored product distribution, consumer reactions, and market trends and researched consumer markets and competitors’ activities.➡️Lion Brewery PLCMarketing Manager: Established the Pubs N Places chain for breweries under a franchise framework.Achieved brand awareness, value, volume, and profitability targets. Brought new beer culture to Lion Brewery PLC to create more opportunities. Handled all ATL, BTL, and Social Media Channels for all three brands and continuous activations to keep the brand alive.➡️ Awards and RecognitionGuinness World Record for O! – Most Commercially Available Cocktails in 2013.Gold Award for Insight to Action (Machang) – Carlsberg Asia Marketing and Sales Awards 2014.Silver Award for Innovative Brand of the Year (Machang)– SLIM brand excellence 2014.

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  Richlife Dairies Limited

  • Sri Lanka

  • Manager - Brand and Communication

    • 2010 - Dec 2011
    • Sri Lanka

    ➡️ Brand management: Developed brand and marketing, and go-to-market strategies and drove area managers on sales targets, availability, and outlet visibility parameters. Established Three Coins brand, owned and maintained the brand, and moved brand promise, vision, position, and architecture to achieve business goals.➡️ Marketing strategy: Monitored product distribution, consumer reactions, market trends, research consumer markets, and competitors’ activities. Analyzed historical & current performance, trends, competitors, and market conditions for NPD projects. Developed growth targets, business objectives, and brand strategies.➡️ Product development: Led the NPD process of the Three Coins re-launch. Redressed all SKUs packaging for a consistent brand identity and more shelf visibility.

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  Asian Alliance Insurance

  • Sri Lanka

  • Manager - Brand and Channel Development

    • Jan 2008 - Dec 2010
    • Sri Lanka

    ➡️ Brand management: Developed brand and marketing, and go-to-market strategies and drove area managers on sales targets, availability, and outlet visibility parameters. Established Three Coins brand and owned and maintained the brand. Drove brand promise, vision, position, and architecture to achieve business goals.➡️ Marketing strategy: Monitored product distribution, consumer reactions, and market trends. Researched consumer markets and competitors’ activities. Analyzed historical & current performance, trends, competitors, and market conditions for NPD projects. Developed growth targets, business objectives, and brand strategies.➡️ Product development: Led the NPD process of the Three Coins re-launch. Redressed all SKUs packaging for a consistent brand identity and more shelf visibility.➡️ Digital marketing: Designed & developed the corporate website www.richlife.lk and carried out e-marketing and web marketing campaigns.

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  Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation Limited

  • Sri Lanka

  • Brand Executive

    • Nov 2006 - Jan 2008
    • Sri Lanka