Kavinda de Zoysa, a veteran banker with over 30 years of industry experience, has been appointed as the Chairman of Bank of Ceylon (BOC), effective 4 November 2024. Known for his deep expertise in both local and international markets, de Zoysa is set to bring strategic leadership to the bank as it navigates a changing financial landscape.

With 25 years in management, de Zoysa has a reputation as a team-oriented leader and innovator committed to ethics, compliance, and diversity. He has consistently championed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, agile execution, and a meritocratic work culture.

Prior to his appointment at BOC, de Zoysa served as the Director and Country Business Head of Citibank N.A., Sri Lanka. Over nearly two decades at Citi, he held key roles in Corporate and Investment Banking, Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Risk Management, and Advisory services. His strategic approach led to significant corporate finance and capital market transactions and advancements in digital banking.

De Zoysa’s extensive banking career includes experience with major financial institutions such as NDB Bank, Nations Trust Bank, Seylan Bank, and National Development Bank, where he began his career as a banking assistant at 18. His diverse expertise spans Retail Banking, Project Finance, SME Lending, Strategic Planning, Marketing, and Operations.

Currently, he serves as a Global Council Member of CIMA UK and has held roles as Chairperson of the MESANA Region Regulatory Engagement Group (REG) for AICPA. He is also a Senior Global Membership Assessor for CIMA/AICPA, a visiting lecturer at the University of Colombo and the University of Ruhuna, and previously served on the board of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka.

De Zoysa holds an MBA with a Merit Pass from the University of Colombo and several prestigious qualifications, including Fellowships with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the Institute of Bankers of Sri Lanka, and the Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka. He is also an alumnus of St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa.

In his free time, de Zoysa enjoys reading, running, and playing tennis. A former national-level Wushu athlete, he continues to practice and coach Wushu and Qigong alongside his son.