Gihan Candappa

• My role bridges the gap between strategy and execution by aligning high-level vision with actionable plans that drive both growth and revenue. I work cross-functionally with leadership, sales, product, and operations teams to identify new market opportunities, shape go-to-market strategies, and accelerate pipeline performance. This includes spearheading strategic partnerships, optimising sales processes, supporting key deals, and ensuring our initiatives are not just innovative—but commercially successful. I focus on delivering outcomes that strengthen our market position, unlock new revenue streams, and scale business impact globally.

• Company Overview: Kalundewa Retreat Pvt. Ltd - An award-winning luxury boutique hotel in Dambulla, Sri Lanka that focuses on 'Regenerative-Tourism'. Kalundewa Agri Pvt. Ltd - An agricultural company focused on transitioning from inorganic to organic farming while sustaining the community and nurturing the next generation of farmers.
• Directed operational strategy, enhancing efficiency across multiple business units.
• Implemented performance metrics to drive accountability and improve team outcomes.
• Streamlined processes, resulting in reduced waste and improved resource allocation.
• Oversaw compliance with industry regulations, ensuring operational integrity and safety standards.
• Managed financial, operational and human resources to optimize business performance.

• Company Overview: Virgin Oil International Pvt. Ltd is a manufacturer of organic virgin coconut oils and other organic coconut products for the export market.
• Provided strategic oversight for corporate governance and risk management initiatives.
• Aided in crisis management situations by leveraging industry knowledge to provide informed guidance during turbulent times.
• Facilitated board discussions, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and stakeholder interests.

• Freelance, advisor on working capital and treasury solutions.

• Responsible for the strategy, management, and growth of all cash management products i.e., Internet Banking, Payments, Collections and Liquidity Management for Singapore
• Responsible for building and implementing a sales process for in-country cash management products and capabilities of the bank’s European footprint to key Asian Multinationals based in Southeast Asia. Including the bank’s home market countries (Italy, Germany, and Austria) and key Central & Eastern European markets such as Turkey, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Russia which are a part of the 22 locations the group has presence in.
• Responsible for account planning with relationship management to develop a Global Transaction Banking pipeline.
• Together with relationship management, responsible for planning new product launches to ensure that new products meet planned revenue and volume targets and develop strategies and tactics to gain market share and grow liabilities through new products initiatives.
• KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Achieved a 126% increase in transaction volume in 2015, leading to a 57% growth in fee income for the Singapore branch.
• Provided financial market expertise, economic analysis, and regulatory updates to leverage business opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Successfully managed the sales pipeline, converting prospects into revenue.
• Ensured proper governance and control to build trust with business partners, stakeholders, and employees.
• Identified and developed prospective leads, referral channels, and promoted the brand.

• Built and managed a full-service Cash Management division for Hong Kong-based customers, with connections to other Asian markets such as China and Singapore.
• Promoted Cash Management products to North Asian Multinationals, drawing from the bank’s European footprint in 22 locations, including key Central and Eastern European markets such as Turkey, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Russia.
• Collaborated with relationship management to plan new product launches, create transaction banking pipeline, and deepen customer retention strategies through product penetration and cross-sale opportunities.
• Worked closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective change management processes in line with the Group’s strategy.
• KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Established the Hong Kong cash management division branch.
• Seek investment opportunities, arbitrage strategies, cost reduction solutions to add value to the Group.

• Managed strategic and global business drivers for dbdi (global internet banking platform), ensuring Asian solutions align with the global strategy and are cost-efficient.
• Served as primary contact for Asian sales teams to structure solutions for key global/regional customer deals/RFPs, from a channel management perspective.
• Oversaw CTB budget for channel management in Asia, including dbdi, Customer Administration platforms, Host-2-Host, and Middle Layer.
• Led strategy and supported customer piloting, roll-out, and migration to new dbdi products and features.
• Represented Asia in the global User Experience (UX) project to redesign the Graphical User Interface.
• KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Designed and rolled out the first mobile based solution for Corporate Banking customers – Mobile Transaction Banking suite of products.
• Implemented Tax solutions via dbdi for India (Corporate, Customs and Excise Duty Tax), Thailand (Customs and Withholding Tax (WHT)) Vietnam (Corporate Tax and Value Added Tax (VAT)), Philippines (Corporate Tax via BancNet), Korea (Withholding Tax certificate delivery) and Malaysia (Corporate and Employee Tax (IRB) and Employee Providence Fund payments (EPF)).

• Oversaw dbdi implementation and management for transaction banking customers, including integrating financial systems or ERPs (e.g., SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards) with the platform.
• Collaborated with customers to ensure successful implementation of services, including account opening, dbdi, and service level documentation.
• Coordinated with regional teams, such as product management and IT, to execute agreed-upon solutions.
• Secondment to Singapore (September - December 2006)
• Handpicked by the Regional Head of Transaction Banking, Asia and Regional Head of Product Management, Asia to assist the Regional Head of Implementation, Asia in setting up the regional office.
• KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
• Implemented the first dbdi/ SAP Seamless interface in Sri Lanka in 2003 August for Bodyline (Pvt) Ltd (MAS Group) one of Sri Lanka’s largest garment manufacturer and exporter.
• Designed, created and automated dividend processing through dbdi, attracting public listed companies like SLT, Dialog Telekom, Caltex, Ceylon Tobacco (BAT Group), Hayleys Ltd, DFCC Bank, and the John Keells Group in 2003.
• Was awarded the first ever “The Cash Management, Corporates – Deal of the Month - Asia” for the innovation of the Seamless interface solution for Dividend Processing for John Keells Group.

• Subsequently recruited as the Software Co-ordinator responsible to maintain all software across the 7 diverse subsidiaries of the group.
• Key subsidiaries to the group included George Steuart Travels which was ticketing and reservations systems and Airline GSA systems.

As Vice President – International Sales & Marketing, I lead global sales and marketing efforts across four regions, managing a portfolio of 500+ clients in over 40 countries. I’m responsible for driving revenue growth, expanding our international footprint, and delivering market-specific strategies that build brand equity and long-term customer relationships.

• Oversaw budget planning and resource allocation for multiple high-impact projects.
• Mentored senior leadership, fostering talent development and succession planning within the organization.
• Maintained P&L and shouldered corporate fiscal responsibility.