Eswaran Brothers poised for governance and growth

From left: Eswaran Brothers Tea Exporters Executive Chairman Ganesh Deivanayagam, Non-Executive Chairman Dr. Nalin Jayasuriya and Board Director Aruni Goonetilleke

• Aruni Goonetilleke appointed Board Director at Eswaran Brothers Tea Exporters
• The company aims to strengthen its growth plans in 2022

Top regional financial services expert Aruni Goonetilleke has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Eswaran Brothers, further strengthening an eminent team at the helm of affairs at the company. Eswaran Brothers, which has been a leader in the value-added tea industry for over 60 years, is at the forefront of innovation in the industry.

The Board of Directors of Eswaran Brothers led by Non-Executive Chairman and well-known corporate strategy expert Dr. Nalin Jayasuriya, boasts of a power-packed team that includes Ambeon Capital Chairman/ Ceylon Tobacco Company Audit Committee Chairman/ Independent Non-Executive Director Yudhistran Kanagasabai, Independent Non-Executive Director/Stratagem Partners Senior VP/ Brexit Advisory Service Provider Gabriel D’Arcy, and Global Tea Industry stalwart from Pakistan and Kenya Hanif Janoo.

To this stellar team, a recent addition was top regional financial services expert Aruni Goonetilleke, who joined the board back in June 2021. Aruni Goonetilleke, subsequently appointed as Chairperson of Hatton National Bank PLC, is also a Director at Sunshine Holdings PLC. Further, she holds the position of Non-Executive Director at several other listed companies. 

Speaking on her appointment, Goonetilleke said: “I’m happy to be part of the Board of Eswaran Brothers – one of the leading value-added tea exporting companies in Sri Lanka. At a time when the world navigates many challenges, Eswaran Brothers is embarking on an impressive program of diversification and growth. I look forward to being a part of the leadership of the company as it steps forward in new directions.”

Goonetilleke, who did her Bachelors in Law at the University of Colombo, completed her Masters in Law at Harvard Law School – USA. She was previously the Head of Corporate Banking at People’s Bank. In her 25-years as a financial services professional, she has worked in banks in Sri Lanka and Singapore. She was the Chief Risk Officer of Standard Chartered Bank – Sri Lanka and played a key role at the time of the merger of ANZ Grindlays and Standard Chartered Bank in Sri Lanka. She was also the Head of Credit – SME and Commercial Banking and held Global Audit Roles in Wholesale and Retail Banking at Standard Chartered Bank – Singapore.

As one of the premier marketers of Ceylon Tea, Eswaran Brothers works with some of the world’s leading tea brands, helping them meet their customer needs with the supply of high-quality Ceylon Tea. With over six decades of experience, this combination of versatility and customer satisfaction has made Eswaran Brothers Tea the choice source for fine teas and wellness beverages. 

“Corporate governance and growth oriented independent directors have been part of the Eswaran Brothers board for nearly a decade.  Following the directions set by our Past Chairman, the late D. Eassuwaren, Eswaran Brothers became the first Carbon Neutral-certified tea company in the world, and we are now ready to make some big moves as a corporate entity,” said Executive Chairman Ganesh Deivanayagam. 

“With Aruni joining the Board, we intend to strengthen our financial oversight to further drive the company’s diversification and consolidation.”