CDB’s HR vision delivers Silver award at HR Awards 2014

Tuesday, 31 March 2015 02:49 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Citizens Development Business Finance (CDB) was recognised as an Overall Silver award winner at the recent 2014 HRM Awards, held by the Association of Human Resource Professionals in conjunction with SHRM. CDB boasts a legacy of 20 years and continues to be a dynamic leader, powered by an energised team. With a reputation for its innovative product portfolio and financial services, CDB has been consistently recognised and rewarded with numerous awards by professional bodies, as a multifaceted employer with a reputation for its Human Resources practices. “We are exceptionally pleased to have won this award, as this award truly belongs to our people – for practicing and facilitating best-in-class people standards,” said Roshan Abeygoonewardena, Director/Chief Operations Officer of CDB.

“At CDB, we pursue excellence with a passion, with a particular emphasis on upholding our values and promoting close engagement. We firmly believe in the core human values, which are identified internally as HRCAP (Humanity, Relationships, Competencies, Aspirations, and Performance) on which we have built a foundation on firm grounds. These strategic steering points have ensured that our employees are well-equipped with skills to support organisational direction, while further developing themselves professionally as well as personally.” Even though it is a relatively young organisation in the Financial Services Industry, CDB is a corporate that has stood firmly through trying times, reaffirming its prudent and dynamic qualities. It is this balance of prudence and dynamism that has defined CDB’s commercial success over the years. “A vibrant team with a diverse background is responsible for the rapid growth of CDB. Our people consist of a dynamic blend of diverse generations, cultures, values and beliefs, and this is in essence is real diversity, because CDB is an employer that values and nurtures the right culture for all our people to thrive in,” explained Abeygoonewardena. Sourcing and retaining talent is the greatest challenge faced by the company. “Indeed, this diversity demands that in every aspect of the HR function we have to do things innovatively and differently, because we need to devise strategies and programs that are relevant and palatable to a diverse cross-section of employees – from tellers to highly technical investment advisors. We are always devising unique methods to drive the momentum, to attract and develop best talent to perform exceptionally, and to retain our staff by creating a workplace that is vibrant, challenging and yet enjoyable,” noted Abeygoonewardena. Led by a vision to be the most preferred employer in Sri Lanka, CDB is an employer of choice for candidates who are serious about developing lasting bonds, said Abeygoonewardena. “We provide opportunities and challenges to fresh graduates and school leavers and groom them to be future leaders of the organisation. Apart from compensation and benefits, it is the sense of commitment towards the well-being of our employee – mentally and physically – which has positioned us as an employer of choice as is proven by our employment engagement scores.” “Winning the Silver award at the HRM Awards 2014 is the result of our strategy to bet on our people to succeed. The belief at CDB is that HR is an all-encompassing activity that is strategically aligned with our corporate strategy. Our policies truly epitomise the reality of the concept – we believe in rigorous performance management as a means to challenge people and to expand their horizons. Of course, this win would not be possible, if not for the very dynamic HR team that understands the business needs and supports every business initiative of the organisation,” concluded Abeygoonewardena.