Pradeep Edward appointed Executive Director/CEO at Sadaharitha Plantations

Sadaharitha Plantations Ltd. has announced the appointment of Dr. Pradeep Edward to its Board as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer.

He counts over 25 years of work experience in both local and multinational companies, of which 18 years were in the managerial capacity with over 10 years reporting at Board level in General Management/COO and CEO capacity.” I am confident that Pradeep’s wide experience, skills and interests will further strengthen our business strategies to drive innovation and business growth,” said Sadaharitha Plantations Chairman Sathish Nawarathne.”Today our green branches have spread around the world with a growth above industry norms. And we hold over 3,000 acres of sustainable forestry lands of mahogany, Sandalwood, Teak and Aquilaria (Agarwood) as an addition to our portfolio,” he added. Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Edward said: “I am delighted and honoured to be entrusted with this opportunity to join Sadaharitha and work with its passionate team of professionals to nurture and steer the company towards further growth. Sadaharitha is a unique platform, in terms of future profitability, growth and innovation and I look forward to improving consumer experience, while being at the helm of the nation’s market leader in commercial forestry.”Dr. Edward is a Certified Professional Marketer (Asia Pacific), Practicing Marketer (Sri Lanka), Chartered Marketer (CIM-UK), and a Fellow member of Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM-UK). He was awarded the Fellow Membership of the Institute of Management Specialist (IMS-UK) and a Honorary Fellow from the Institute of Marketing Malaysia and Certified Professional Finance Manager from the Institute of Professional Finance Mangers (IPFM-UK); and a Life Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing – SLIM. He also holds a Ph.D., MBA, Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing / Business Management and a Diploma in Finance.He was a council member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing, serving in the capacity of President. He is also the Current Secretary General of the Asia Marketing Federation, the Apex body in the region representing over 18 counties. He is also the Vice President of the Private Laboratory Association, Vice President of the OBU of St Peters’ College Colombo-4 and the current Chairman of the Management Club – Colombo.Dr. Edward is a Past President of the Pharma Promoters Association of Sri Lanka, and a Past President of the Buckinghamshire University MBA Alumni. Further, he has served as the Secretary of Sri Lanka Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry in association with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, held positions at the National Chamber of Commerce and is involved in activities in the Presidential Secretariat. He was a Member of the National Branding Committee to develop a strategic global campaign for Sri Lankan Exports and a Selection Committee member of the EDB. He was also a Director of CPM society at Sri Lanka and was an EXCO member of the OPA.Prior to his current appointment, he served as the CEO of Lanka Hospitals Diagnostics for 3 years where he was instrumental in turning around the LHD business into the next level by achieving an 18% revenue growth and 49% in profitability in the very first year of taking over the operations in 2018.