Amal ends 7-year stewardship at Unilever Sri Lanka
Monday, 26 August 2013 00:00
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After seven years of steering Unilever Sri Lanka – one of the country’s foremost companies – to unprecedented heights as Chairman, Amal Cabraal will leave Unilever in October 2013 to pursue other interests.
During his time at the helm, under Amal’s astute leadership, the Sri Lankan business more than doubled its size and delivered extraordinary results. Amal has the rare distinction of being only the second Sri Lankan to be appointed Chairman in the company’s 75-year history in the country, and has the distinction of holding this position for the second longest period.
Amal joined the company as a management trainee 31 years ago and spent a better part of his career in marketing and sales. His first business leadership role was as Director Marketing and Sales at Unilever Bangladesh in 1998. Upon his return in 2001, he joined the Board of Unilever Sri Lanka as its Marketing Director and took over the reigns as Chairman in 2006. Amal counts over 20 years of managerial experience at a senior level, both local and international. Apart from Sri Lanka, he has worked with Unilever in the United Kingdom, India and Bangladesh.
Amal leaves behind a remarkable legacy of success, growth and innovation. His business sense and marketing acumen have led to Unilever brands being present in every household in the country. Hailed as a ‘marketing guru’, he has crafted and nurtured little known brands such as Ceylonta and Laojee among many others, into billion-rupee businesses today.
A noteworthy achievement under Amal’s leadership is the US$ 50 million state-of-the-art production facility built in the BOI zone in Horana. This has secured substantial employment to thousands of Sri Lankans and today over 95% of the products marketed by Unilever Sri Lanka are manufactured locally. With this, Amal has made an indelible mark which will hold Unilever Sri Lanka in good stead in the future, enabling the company to continue contributing towards the industrial and economic success of Sri Lanka.
A strong ambassador for Unilever Sri Lanka, Amal was the driving force behind making Unilever the most respected multinational company in Sri Lanka and was adjudged as one of the top 10 ‘Business People of the Year’ for 2012. He is known for playing by the rules and has been a role model to many in the company.
Shazia Syed, the previous Vice President – Customer Development for Unilever Pakistan will move to Unilever Sri Lanka and take over as Chairperson.
Shazia joined Unilever as a management trainee in 1989. In her 24 years with the organisation, she has worked across most Unilever categories. She also spent three years with Unilever Vietnam as Business Unit Leader for Personal Care, returning to Pakistan to look after Home and Personal Care and later Refreshment as Vice President.
