With a rich history spanning over 150 years, the Aitken Spence Group is a Sri Lankan blue-chip conglomerate with operations in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Pacific region. Listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) since 1983, it has major interests in tourism, maritime, logistics, energy, plantations, services and apparel. With a growing presence across nine countries, the Aitken Spence Group maintains its cutting-edge position at the forefront of identifying opportunities and frontiers for sustainable value creation across the region, as well as by partnering with global principals in its operating sectors.

Q: In your view, how costly is it to earn and maintain corporate respect today, especially given the volatile and uncertain business environment that prevails?

A: The Aitken Spence Group has continuously striven to identify growth opportunities that align with our strategic objectives and corporate values. We carefully evaluate opportunities based on industry relevance, potential returns, sustainability and our ability to create value.

Given the uncertainty and volatility in the market at present, we have had to make tough decisions to secure the sustainability of the business, and in the interests of both our internal and external stakeholders. However, this may not always be perceived well by the general public.

Q: Do you think that environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) is claiming sufficient space in the ‘corporate respect’ equation these days?

A: ESG has grown across industries, sectors, geographies and organisational sizes. Organisations have been allocating more resources to improving ESG processes as investors – especially international ones – are increasingly paying closer attention to these measures. In the reporting helm, there have been significant improvements in terms of ESG.

Corporates need to get ahead of future issues and events by building purpose into their business models, and demonstrating that they benefit multiple stakeholders and the public. More businesses are committing to science-based targets in order to define and execute plans to realise these commitments. This indicates that ESG considerations are becoming more – not less – important in organisations’ decision making.

A core aspect of our governance framework is the steadfast adherence to the UN Global Compact and its 10 principles, which are integrated into our governance structures and sustainability policy, and its implementation framework and other policies such as our Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Q: In what ways does respect within the workplace help to nurture admiration for an organisation as an employer of choice?

A: Respect is built through empowering our employees and encouraging them to challenge conventional norms. We want to create a dynamic and innovative environment that fuels progress.

We also recognise the importance of transactional leadership, which ensures the effective management of our day-to-day operations and the achievement of specific goals through structured processes. Together, these approaches have been a key reason for Aitken Spence being one of the most respected conglomerates in Sri Lanka.

Q: In your opinion, how important are stakeholder perceptions – and why?

A: Balancing stakeholder interests is vital for a business’ sustainable growth. Stakeholder perceptions highlight unmet needs and societal trends, and identifying those perceptions can result in opportunities for growth.

Our systematic processes are attuned to receive stakeholder views, better engage with the same, understand their perspectives and address these concerns to create win-win situations.

Q: What are the main attributes of your company’s image?

A: Aitken Spence is built on the key values of reliability and honesty. The brand promise reflects our efforts to be transparent and inspire confidence by continually raising benchmarks across industries to become a reputable and sought after employer.

We are guided by a legacy founded on a spirit of togetherness. And we combine our skills and efforts, to remain steadfast and stable, maintaining our leadership in the industries and sectors that we serve; and most importantly, we continue to create a positive impact on society.

With a vision to achieve excellence – not only in Sri Lanka but across new frontiers – the Aitken Spence Group remains committed to becoming a competitive global market leader. To achieve this, the Group joined hands with global market leaders, forming mutually beneficial alliances that have lasted decades.

QUICK-FIRE ROUND

Three priorities for Sri Lankan corporates today
During this challenging time, corporates should engage with the government to ensure that the crisis of governance is addressed fully
Businesses need to increase digital maturity and achieve successful transformation
Focussing on customer experience, automation and talent development is critical

Three most vital professional values for business leaders
Being in a state of continuous learning and adaptation
Staying globally attuned
Leading employees with empathy and passion

Telephone: 2308308 | Email: info@aitkenspence.lk | Website: https://aitkenspence.com/