CEO
Profile
Executive Portfolio

Athula
Dissanayake

Chief Executive Officer & Founder

A visionary business leader with over two decades of experience driving transformative growth across global markets. Known for building high-performance teams and forging strategic partnerships that create lasting value.

22+
Years Experience
$4B
Revenue Generated
14
Companies Led
About

The
Executive

With roots in finance and strategy, I have spent the last two decades building companies that solve real-world problems at scale. My philosophy centers on combining data-driven insight with bold, human-centered leadership.

I believe that the most enduring businesses are built on trust — trust between leaders and their teams, between companies and their customers, and between innovation and responsibility.

Outside the boardroom, I mentor early-stage founders, serve on advisory boards, and am a passionate advocate for sustainable business practices.

✉
Email
athula563@gmail.com
☎
Phone
+94 77 424 9030
◎
Location
Colombo, Sri Lanka
in
LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/athula-dissanayake
Career

Business
Experience

Chief Executive Officer
2018 — Present
NovaCorp Global · New York, USA
Led a full-scale transformation of a $2B enterprise, expanding into 12 new markets and growing annual revenue by 180% over five years. Oversaw a team of 4,000+ professionals across 6 continents.
Strategy P&L Management Global Expansion
Managing Director
2013 — 2018
Apex Capital Partners · London, UK
Managed a $750M private equity portfolio, successfully executing 9 acquisitions and 5 profitable exits. Built an award-winning due diligence and deal origination practice.
Private Equity M&A Portfolio Management
Vice President, Strategy
2008 — 2013
Meridian Consulting Group · Chicago, USA
Developed and executed growth strategies for Fortune 500 clients in financial services, consumer goods, and technology verticals. Led cross-functional teams and delivered $400M in client impact.
Consulting Corporate Strategy Client Advisory
Academic

Education &
Credentials

2006 — 2008
MBA, Finance & Strategy
Harvard Business School
Baker Scholar — top 5% of class. Thesis on cross-border M&A value creation in emerging markets.
2002 — 2006
B.Sc. Economics (Honors)
London School of Economics
First Class Honours. President of the Business & Finance Society. Scholarship recipient.
2016
Executive Leadership Program
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Intensive 6-week program focused on global leadership, innovation management, and board governance.
Expertise

Core
Skills

Corporate Strategy 96%
Mergers & Acquisitions 90%
Global Business Development 94%
Executive Leadership 98%
Financial Modeling 85%
Recognition

Awards &
Honours

  • 2023
    CEO of the Year
    Financial Times Business Awards
  • 2021
    Top 40 Under 40
    Fortune Magazine
  • 2019
    Global Innovator Award
    World Economic Forum, Davos
  • 2017
    Deal of the Year — EMEA
    Private Equity International
Let's
Connect

chairman.thinulakatour.com