Chartered Institute of Marketing appoints new head for Sri Lanka and Maldives

  • CIM invests in Sri Lanka and the Maldives with new appointment and enhanced volunteer membership network

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the world’s leading professional body for marketing, has appointed Onalie Dissanayake to head up CIM in Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Onalie will lead a newly established office in Colombo supporting Sri Lanka’s more than 2,000 members and 1,500 affiliate studying members. An experienced senior figure in Sri Lanka’s education system, Onalie has also held several roles in the marketing and advertising industry. She will now take up the role of country head having previously led CIM’s marketing education programme in Sri Lanka.

CIM is also launching a new volunteers network that will allow its members to get more involved in the work of the Institute, including supporting engagement with businesses, events and marketing.

The network is headed up by three experienced marketers from across sectors such as finance, telecommunications and security. Shiraz Latiff, Dhammika N Guruge and Asitha Pinnaduwa, who are all senior business figures, will support Onalie lending over 50 years of marketing experience.

The network will provide an enhanced level of service and support to both members and CIM’s network of Accrediated Study Centres in the region. A schedule of capability-driven events and training for marketers at all stages of their career will be launched, while businesses will be able to partner with CIM to develop marketing capability of their teams and key personnel.

CIM has been operating in Sri Lanka for more than 25 years, specialising in supporting people to achieve internationally recognised professional marketing qualifications.


Chris Daly, CIM Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that Onalie will be taking over as the CIM Country Head for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Her capability, combined with our vision for the region, will help drive key benefits for all parties.

“Onalie has excelled in her role expanding our marketing education programmes in the country. With her new team and CIM’s support, I am sure she will have great success leading our efforts to support Sri Lanka’s thriving marketing community.”

Onalie Dissanayake, the new CIM Country Head for Sri Lanka and the Maldives said: “It is a real honour to be appointed CIM’s country head for Sri Lanka and the Maldives. A career in marketing represents a huge opportunity for young people and it’s exciting to be at the forefront of supporting the education of the next generation of marketers.

“My first announcement in the role is to launch our new volunteer network in Sri Lanka. We hope this will allow us to bring together leading marketers from across the country to promote the importance of our profession.”