Executive Director/COO Dilshan to leave HNB after 19 year stint

Hatton National Bank (HNB) has announced its Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Dilshan Rodrigo will be resigning with effect from 12 January 2024 to pursue his future career plans.

He was appointed to the HNB Board in July 2020 and among positions held are Chairman of HNB Finance PLC and a Board Director in HNB Assurance PLC, Guardian Acuity Management, Lanka Financial Services Bureau and Credit Information Bureau.

When Rodrigo was made the COO in May 2013 and Executive Director in July 2020, it was anticipated that he would succeed incumbent MD/CEO Jonathan Alles. However in May this year, HNB announced that Deputy General Manager - Wholesale Banking Group Damith Pallewatte with 27 years’ experience in the banking sector, will be the new MD/CEO with effect from 24 August 2024 following the retirement of Alles.

During his near 19 year tenure at HNB, Rodrigo also served as Deputy General Manager - Retail and Chief Risk Officer. Previously he worked at Brandix and Standard Chartered Bank.

Rodrigo possesses over two decades in banking experience. He provides administrative leadership to Finance, IT, Credit, Operations, Risk Management, Banking Services, Compliance and Internal Audit functions. He is overseeing the cross functional teams involved in improving governance and compliance by serving in several Board and Management committees in the Bank. Rodrigo holds a MBA from Cranfield University UK, FCMA UK and FCCA UK.

He played a catalyst role in the bank’s transformation and cultural change by being the driving force towards centralisation, automation, outsourcing and process improvement initiatives and recognised for driving a performance culture through training, talent acquisition and introducing several break through cost optimisation initiatives.

Rodrigo has held many senior positions in multiple industries ranging from banking, insurance, investment banking and apparel. Rodrigo serves on the councils of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors (SLID) and was the Chairman Policy Advocacy Committee of Asian Bankers Association (Taiwan) during 2011/12 and 2019/20.

He has served as a lecturer and examiner on various undergraduate and postgraduate programs (CIMA, ACCA, PIM and University of Wales MBA programs) and is a Guest Lecturer for SLID, Director Certification Program. He has presented various technical papers in various forums locally and overseas on Strategy, Business Transformation and Risk Management. Rodrigo has also served on local governing councils of CIMA, APB, ACCA and Risk Professional Forum and in the latter two as President.