PickMe appoints ex-Dialog Axiata’s Isira Perera as Chief Operating Officer

Thursday, 4 January 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

PickMe, Sri Lanka’s most innovative ride-hailing service, announced the appointment of Isira Perera as Chief Operating Officer (COO) with effect from 1 December 2017. With Perera’s appointment and his proven track record in digital financial services and mobile commerce, PickMe is set for a new course of innovativeness and thrive well in Sri Lanka’s rising digital economy sphere.

Perera possesses over two decades of business experience in product development, general management, marketing, project management, sales and operations. Prior to joining PickMe, Perera was heading mobile money and international remittances at Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider. He has held several leadership positions at Dialog and was a key member of the team who launched eZ Cash, Dialog Axiata’s flagship mobile money platform. He has also worked for IFS and Informatics as an ERP specialist.

Perera holds an MSc in Information Technology, BSc is Business Studies and DipM ACIM. He is also qualified in project management. He is a visionary leader, creative thinker and a strategist.

“We’re excited to have Isira on board as COO. His prowess in the digital space and years of experience in facilitating regional consumer engagement will be powerful catalysts in PickMe’s journey towards expanding our services island-wide. As COO, he will also be playing a key role in guiding and navigating PickMe’s steadily increasing team of young talent through the challenges of growth and expansion,” said PickMe’s CEO Jiffry Zulfer.

As the largest organised taxi platform in Sri Lanka, with a taxi fleet of over ten thousand three-wheelers, mini cars, cars and vans, PickMe currently services the transportation needs of over one million passengers based in the Colombo, Negombo, Kalutara and Kandy regions. Adding to its portfolio of services, PickMe recently debuted its newest feature ‘PickMe VIP’, which is a fleet of chauffeur-driven luxury cars that cater to premium clients and corporates.

As the market leader and Sri Lanka’s most successful start-up business in recent times, PickMe is the proud product of the vision shared by the versatile fraternity that make up the Board of Directors and a warehouse of the best local talent in the country.

The Board of Directors includes Chairman Ajit Gunewardena and CEO Jiffry Zulfer as well as Ruchi Gunewardena (Managing Director, Brand Finance), Conrad Dias (Group Chief Information Officer, LOLC), Dinesh Rodrigo (CEO, Interblocks) and Tasnim Salie (Financial Consultant) as Non-Executive Directors.