Financial Times - Ad agency Leo Burnett grooms 5 new leaders

Leo Burnett Solutions Inc. (LBSI) recently promoted five executives to positions of Manager, by grooming them through the paces from interns, trainees and juniors, in what is seen as a unprecedented achievement in the advertising industry.

The company's strongest desire has always been to promote-from-within. Many of the advancements were for people who have been with the agency since the start of their careers. Their stories showcase the efforts of the company to create a strong meritocracy and of grooming tomorrow's leaders, Leo Burnett said in a statement.

All five have worked for the company for at least four years, which is indeed a unique situation for this advertising industry, and their seamless integration into management positions heralds positively for the long term strategic point of view of a company which is both young, at seven years old, and relatively medium sized, at 60 professionals.

Ranjith Perera joined Leo Burnett Solutions as a Digital Graphic Artist in 2000. Through the last 5 plus years he has risen up the ladder from Digital Graphic Artist to Senior Digital Graphic Artist to Group Head - Digital Art Production. With this promotion he takes up the position of Manager - Digital Art Production.

Mehnaz Ilhamdeen was a pioneering member of the Burnett team in Sri Lanka. He counts nearly 9 years of experience in AV Production and has risen up the ladder from the very bottom starting as an Assistant. He joined Leo Burnett as an Executive and today, he is a well accomplished AV Production professional not just at Leo Burnett but in the industry. He was promoted to Manager AV, Print and Outdoor Production.

Jagdish Hathiramani originally joined Leo Burnett to gain work experience whilst studying for a Diploma in Public Relations. He later joined as an Assistant in PR at Solutions. He was later promoted to Consultant. He is well versed in the subject of PR and was promoted to Manager, Public Relations.

Thushari Palipane has been with Leo Burnett for nearly 5 years. She first joined the company as a Trainee Brand Planning Executive in the planning cell. She then rose step by step in her chosen field in Brand Management. Her dynamism is reflected in the range of brands that she handles and the multitude of tasks that she fulfills. She was promoted to Brand Manager. Murtaza Tajboy started his career at Leo Burnett as a trainee in the retail division. He has handled a wide range of brands and managed a variety of tasks. He grew within the company from Trainee Brand Executive to Brand Executive to Senior Brand Executive to Brand Group Head.

He later found his forte and proved that he had the passion, commitment and energy for planning. In the last few months he has made invaluable contributions in this capacity.