Shehan Kumar joins NEXT Campus as Chief Operating Officer

Tuesday, 28 January 2025 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Shehan Kumar

NEXT Campus, a leader in Postgraduate and Executive Education with the largest UK Master’s portfolio in Sri Lanka, has announced the appointment of Shehan Kumar as its Chief Operating Officer.

A recipient of The Outstanding Young Persons of Sri Lanka (TOYP) award, Shehan brings over 25 years of extensive global corporate experience, primarily within the IT and technology sectors. He is an expert in brand development and organisational culture transformation, contributing significantly to the success of many multinational brands in Sri Lanka, including EY Global Delivery Services, Pearson Lanka, 99X, and Softcodeit Solutions. He holds an MSc in Strategic Marketing and is a fully qualified marketer from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK.

Shehan has held notable leadership roles in many industry associations, including serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of IT Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS), the apex organisation representing the ICT sector in the country. He has also served as the Deputy General Manager of the European Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka and as a member of the General Council of SLASSCOM. Currently, Shehan contributes his expertise as a member of the IT Advisory Committee of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM).

Outside of work, Shehan is Sri Lanka’s most active Quiz Master, conducting many of Sri Lanka’s biggest corporate quiz competitions. He is a visiting lecturer at many universities and is also a much sought-after corporate trainer for areas such as personal grooming and etiquette, public speaking and presentation skills, as well as personal branding.

Commenting on his appointment, Kumar said: “I am indeed honoured to join NEXT Campus, an organisation that shares my passion for ‘changing lives and changing organisations’. I look forward to working with the talented team at NEXT Campus to further elevate its standing as a leading education provider in Sri Lanka and beyond.”

NEXT Education Group Chairman Dr. Dusty Alahakoon said: “Shehan’s expertise and leadership come at a pivotal time as we look to expand our offerings and strengthen our position in the higher education landscape in Sri Lanka. Under his stewardship, NEXT Campus aims to further enhance its curriculum, foster stronger industry partnerships, and introduce cutting-edge learning methodologies that cater to the diverse needs of our students.”

Chief Executive Officer Kumudu Abeyawardane said: “With the addition of some exciting new programs for the upcoming semester, NEXT Campus is poised for exponential growth globally. We are glad that Shehan has joined us at this critical stage in the organisation’s growth.”