Dimantha Seneviratne, Director/ Chief Executive Officer Banking of NDB Bank, was awarded one of the highest honours of the night as he received the CEO of the Year 2022 – Life time award.
Being a career banker for over 30 years, Dimantha has had an illustrious journey and the opportunity of working with some of the leading names in the banking sector and he attributes all his success to the experience he has accumulated on this journey. Starting off with Sampath Bank at an entry level just after graduation from University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Dimantha soon moved overseas to join the HSBC Group. From there his career path started to take form with exposure to the markets both here in Sri Lanka and the ACPA & MENA regions. He spent 17 years with the HSBC group, holding top leadership positions including the post of Chief Risk Officer for Sri Lanka & Maldives, and also Thailand and Bangladesh on secondments.
After his foreign stints, Dimantha returned to Sri Lanka to lead Pan Asia Bank, and in less than three years, he was able to transform PABC to a mid-sized player and also one of the fastest growing banks in the country. His next career phase was with NDB, where again, he was instrumental in transforming NDB Bank and Group, harnessing the synergies unique to them. The transformation saw NDB becoming a digi-savvy and agile bank, growing to be the fourth largest listed bank in Sri Lanka and winning many accolades such as the Best Bank in Sri Lanka as adjudged by prestigious entities such as Global Finance, The Banker and Euromoney. The transformational results achieved, which of course was ably supported by the many talented teams that he worked with, is his greatest career accomplishment according to him.
Dimantha being awarded this highest of honours can be attributed to the diverse and dynamic impact and contribution he has made towards the progress of the Sri Lankan Banking industry, which necessarily is not limited to his role as a CEO of a bank. He has had the passion and opportunities to share his knowledge and expertise through multiple other roles such being Chairman of the Sri Lanka Banks’ Association in 2019/2020 when the world grappled a never before seen pandemic with severe impact on the industry – where he continues to be a member, multiple responsibilities held with the Association of Professional Bankers (APB) including the post of President, directorships in corporates that are critical to the soundness of the banking sector, such as Lanka Clear Pvt Limited and the Credit Information Bureau – to quote a few.
When he took over the leadership of NDB, it was a relatively conventional and somewhat laid back bank. What struck him most about NDB during the initial days was its mammoth potential, the confidence of the public of four decades as an initial DFI and the exceptionally talented and qualified teams. With Dimantha at the helm NDB embarked on a bold strategic journey dubbed “Transformation 2020” in 2017, with a number of targets set for 2020. With meticulous strategy implementation they achieved the set targets well ahead of time. This achievement instilled within them a firm conviction of their own capabilities and set the bank on a continued growth mode, with the passion to outdo their own performance.
The far-reaching impact of all that is done at NDB is also noteworthy. Their digital journey is the best example. When NDB launches industry-first innovations, they set new milestones for peers to follow so that the industry as a whole progresses and the entire Sri Lankan banking clientele benefits. Sri Lanka Vanithabhimana for the women’s market segment, NDB Jayagamu Sri Lanka for SMEs and their corporate social responsibility initiatives, particularly in its actions against climate change all are conducted with this spirit of propelling industry-wide development.
For Dimantha, being a good leader is all about inspiring the best in your his teams. The most talented team members at times may be performing below their optimum, purely because the leadership does not inspire them. And that is why in corporate literature, you hear this saying that “people don’t leave organisations, but they leave their bosses”. Whatever the level you are at, if you are a leader with a team looking up to you, it is important that you understand their capabilities, enrich and empower them accordingly, maintain constant dialog with constructive feedback, and appreciate them for their contribution. A deep respect for them is the foundation, and empathy towards the many roles they play in life, beyond the 9-5 job role, will also mean a lot.
Dimantha hopes that he receiving this award will act as an inspiration to young entrepreneurs that smart work, commitment, will power supported by spiritual strength and chasing clear time-bound goals in what you are passionate about, can get you to great places. He adds that winning the Best Banking CEO 2022 award is definitely a defining moment in his career and he is grateful to everyone that has helped him achieve this.