Ex-SLIM Chief Rohan appointed to AMF top post

Rohan Somawansa, the 2010/2011 past president of Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) was appointed the Vice President of the Asia Marketing Federation (AMF) at the Annual General Meeting, held in Tokyo, among many candidates from other powerful member countries namely Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippine, Singapore and Malaysia.

Formed in 1991, the Asia Marketing Federation (AMF) is a regional marketing body representing over 25,000 marketing professionals in the region. The AMF is a co-signatory to the charter which in 1995 formed the World Marketing Federation.

The World Marketing Federation comprises National Marketing bodies like the American Marketing Association, the European Marketing Confederation and the AMF, with the primary objective to give marketing a truly global platform and voice.

Currently, Takuya Goto holds presidency position and he is the chairman of the Japanese Marketing Association, with several key positions in five leading business conglomerate in Japan.

Somawansa is an experienced Brand Marketer currently managing a number of top Sri Lankan super brands and global sports brands. Under his guidance, many of the local brands have grown in stature to be recognised as household names in Sri Lanka. He has bagged many awards at local and international level.

He is a marketing graduate and holds several postgraduate qualifications. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), a member of Singapore Institute of Marketing (SIM) and a member of Chief Marketing Officers Forum (CMO).

During his tenor as the president of SLIM he spearheaded the initiative to have the world renowned Marketing Guru Prof. Philip Kotler in Sri Lanka for several public sessions as well as private consultations.

Rohan is also a senior sports administrator, involved in promoting of the National Sport of Sri Lanka, Volleyball, both locally and regionally.

Has also chaired the medal, marketing and publicity committee at the recently concluded first-ever SAARC Beach games in Hambantota, Sri Lanka in October 2011.

He was a member of the panel of judges at the 2011 Tourism Awards, organised by the Ministry of Economic Development and will be serving as the chairman of the same panel this year (2012). Furthermore, he served as a member of the panel of judges of the Entrepreneur of the Year award ceremony organised by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka in 2011. He is the recipient of the prestigious marketing professional of the year award for the year 2011/2012 which was adjudicated and presented at the world brand congress in Mumbai India in 2011.

He currently serves as a member of the Education Reforms Committee of the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM).

SLIM President Tilan Wijeyesekera said the appointment of Somawansa to the top post brings glory to both the Sri Lankan Marketing fraternity and SLIM.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) founded in 1970 (then called Ceylon Institute of Marketing) with a view to harness the available skills in marketing for the growth and development of the profession, was subsequently incorporated by Act 41 of 1980 of the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

SLIM has created a professional educational career path in marketing commencing from the entry level, preliminary certificate in marketing (PCM) going right up to MBA covering a gamut of disciplines in marketing such as, Brand, Sales and Pharmaceutical.  

In addition to providing professional marketing education, as the national body of marketing, SLIM encourages best practices in marketing through national level events such as Brand Excellence which recognises the most successful brands, Effie awards, the most effective advertising, NASCO, the sales excellence and Peoples Awards which recognises the “people’s choice”.

These events not only enhance the image of the marketing profession but also create pathways for more marketers to reach the boardroom level.