KUALA LUMPUR: Axiata Group Bhd
has announced that Hans Wijayasuriya, CEO of telecommunications business and group executive director, will step down from the company on Jan 15, 2025, to accept an invitation to be chief advisor to the President of Sri Lanka on the digital economy.
In a statement, Axiata said in the interim, Wijayasuriya's responsibilities in Axiata will continue, including the execution of a transition program while he makes himself available for the Sri Lanka government's digital transformation initiatives on an advisory and non-executive basis.
Axiata chairman Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said Wijayasuriya's 30 years with Axiata has been pivotal in shaping the company's strategic direction.
"He has also played an integral role in nurturing a deep reservoir of talent within the organisation," he added.
Meanwhile, Axiata group CEO and managing director Vivek Sood said Wijayasuriya's extensive expertise in telecommunications, technology transformation, and digitisation will bring tremendous value to Sri Lanka.
Wijayasuriya heads the pan-region telecommunications operations of Axiata spanning the markets of Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.
He also served on the board of directors of the GSMA, the governing body of the global mobile industry.
An active contributor and champion of technology as well as developmental advancements in the mobile industry, Wijayasuriya was honoured with the GSMA Chairman’s Award in 2024, the highest recognition by GSMA, for his outstanding contributions to the global mobile industry.
