Aitken Spence among CPM’s Top 10 Companies with ‘Best Management Practices’

Aitken Spence PLC Group Chief Human Resources Officer Suresh Muttiah (centre) and Asst. Vice President Human Resources Dilani Jayalath accepting the award from the Founder and President of CPM Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala

The Institute of Chartered Professional Managers of Sri Lanka (CPM) recognised Aitken Spence PLC among 10 best managed companies in Sri Lanka in a programme themed ‘Back to Business in the New Normal’. 

The awards recognised companies with proven best practices for demonstrating back-to-business resilience and employee welfare in the Covid-19 transition within the Sri Lankan business community. 

Apart fromrecognising novel and value-adding best management practices that have evolved from Sri Lankan organisations, it is expected to fill the lacuna that prevails in the sphere of literature on best management practices in the country.

From the onset of the pandemic, Aitken Spence companies rolledout procedures to ensure the safety of all employees and its stakeholders. For example, a new HR architecture was launched at Aitken Spence companies for ‘Semi-Virtual Mobility (SVM)’ where employees were given support systems to work from home and from the workplace on rotation to ensure the employees were engaged and motivated during the time. 

Despite the pandemic, the company launched the country’s first waste-to-energy project at a crucial juncture where domestic, municipal solid waste generation was escalating due to the lockdown in the country. 

Aitken Spence also expanded its renewable energy portfolio by increasing their investments in hydropower and launched a new brand for locally grown berries, the first in Sri Lanka to grow four types of berries in the country. The Group also took strategic measures to ensure financial stability by working closely with longstanding partners and form new partnerships beyond Sri Lankan borders.

Aitken Spence’s proactive diversification strategy also cushioned the blow as its non-tourismsectors reported the strongest performance in the lastfive years. 

The tourism sector also bounced back showing positive momentum. Another driving factor is the Group’s integrated strategies led by the top management and itswinning teams that have executed them well by demonstrating purposeful leadership.These best practices have enabled the organisationto be among the best in business.