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Mano Sekaram (left) and Hasith Yaggahavita
99x, the global technology services company rooted in Sri Lanka, yesterday announced a leadership transition, signifying a pivotal moment in its journey.
After a distinguished tenure of 20 years, Founder and CEO Mano Sekaram, will step down from the role of Chief Executive Officer, with Hasith Yaggahavita set to assume the position of CEO effective 1 January 2024.
This transition is a key element of a planned succession strategy designed to propel 99x into a future marked by sustained growth and innovation.
99x Investment AS Chairman Dag Honningsvag, expressed deep gratitude for Mano Sekaram’s inspiring leadership over the past two decades.
“On behalf of the board and everyone at the 99x Group, I want to extend our sincere appreciation to Mano for his exceptional leadership, tenacity and dedication. His vision and strategic guidance has been instrumental in positioning 99x as a global leader in technology services and attracting foreign investors to the group,” Honningsvag said.
As Mano steps down as CEO, he will transition to the role of Chairman of the Board for the Sri Lankan and Australasian operation, continuing to serve as a 99x Group Board Member and contributing to the company’s Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) initiatives. Mano will also remain one of the single largest shareholders.
The successor, Hasith Yaggahavita, has served as 99x’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and played a pivotal role in the very fabric of 99x, serving as a founding member for 20 years. Hasith, an alumnus of the University of Moratuwa and Sheffield Hallam University, is also an entrepreneur at heart, founding IgniterSpace in 2016.
Dag and Mano both endorsed Hasith’s appointment, expressing confidence in his capabilities and vision. They remarked, “We are very grateful that Hasith has accepted to lead, develop and strengthen our position going forward. Hasith’s contributions to building our company are unparalleled, making him an obvious choice to lead us into the future. Hasith’s technical competence, profound business acumen and comprehensive understanding of every aspect of our business make him the perfect candidate to guide 99x in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Hasith will take full responsibility for the operations and performance of 99x Sri Lanka and Malaysia from January 1, 2024. We are delighted to announce this appointment and wish Hasith success in his new role”.
Incoming CEO Hasith Yaggahavita shared his thoughts on the transition, stating, “I feel both humbled and excited to lead 99x, a company that Mano has successfully brought to the world stage. Thanks to Mano’s forward-thinking approach, we’ve become a top choice for international software vendors. I am committed to building upon this remarkable legacy by continuing to innovate and providing great service to our clients. We will also maintain our culture of excellence that attract brilliant minds to work on challenging problems. My heartfelt gratitude goes to Mano not only for his tremendous contributions but also for grooming me and our team for the future.”
Founded in Sri Lanka and headquartered in Norway, 99x is a global product engineering company co-creating robust, innovative digital products for the Scandinavian market. Its expertise has been proven through a portfolio of over 150 impactful global digital products developed since 2004, together with leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs). The 99x Group employs over 600 technology and product specialists, who are high achievers, creative thinkers and team players in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Norway, Portugal and Malaysia.
