Virtusa’s Kris Canekeratne named ‘CEO of the Year’

BANGALORE, INDIA:Virtusa Corporation, a global business consulting and IT outsourcing company that combines innovation, technology leadership and industry solutions to transform the customer experience, today announced that its CEO Kris Canekeratne was given the ‘CEO of the Year' award by World HRD Congress-Thought Leaders International at a grand awards ceremony in Mumbai.

The ‘CEO of the Year' award by World HRD Congress-Thought Leaders International recognizes business leaders who have excelled professionally, established a futuristic vision for the organisation, set example as the leader of the organisation by guiding and inspiring peers, and who have led with firm values.

"Innovation is a core part of our culture and is deeply embedded in our core values. Our team members work closely with our clients to question status quo, stretch the contours of what is possible, create distinctive millennial solutions and improve internal IT efficiencies. I am greatly humbled to receive ‘The CEO of the Year' award made possible by a highly empowered and motivated global team who consistently demonstrate our ethos day-in and day-out," said Kris Canekeratne, chairman and CEO at Virtusa.

"Virtusa's growth story has been very fascinating with the company demonstrating consistent growth over the last few years and experiencing double-digit revenue growth and profitability even in a recessionary period. It takes strong and visionary global leadership to achieve this and Kris Canekeratne has been instrumental in leading Virtusa from the front", said Dr. R. L. Bhatia, Founder, World CSR Day and World CSR Congress & Project Director - World HRD Congress.

Kris co-founded Virtusa 18 years ago to address what he saw as an unmet need: a technology partner with the right people and processes to help clients solve challenging business problems, develop innovative solutions, accelerate time-to-market and deliver dramatically better service their customers. His stewardship has been the driving force behind one of the fastest growing software services firms. Today, Virtusa employs more than 8,000 people worldwide.

In the past, Kris has been honoured with ‘Business Leader of the Year' by Worcester Business Journal in 2013; ‘The Most Outstanding CEO' award in the IT/BPO industry, presented by the Information and Communication Technology Association of Sri Lanka (ICTA), 2007; Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist for New England-Ernst & Young, 2006; and Sri Lanka Sikhamani Honor in 2005.

This recognition joins a number of accolades Virtusa has achieved including being named to Forbes' 2012 and 2011 Best Small Companies in America, prestigious ranking by Dataquest-CMR as one of the Best IT Employers in India for four consecutive years (2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009), inclusion on the 2012 GS100 list and 2012 FinTech 100 list, and recognition from Stevie's American Business Awards and International Business Awards for HR department of the year, Britain's Top Employer Award, Golden Peacock Award and Asia' Best Employer Brand Award.

The World HRD Congress held in Mumbai every February for the last 18 years, is possibly the most significant event with HR as the theme. Over the years the World HRD Congress has emerged as an important platform for those in the HR and business community to share research, knowledge, and experience. Moreover, such events are fast-becoming turning points for the emergence of HR by allowing one roof to discuss burning issues facing HR in the global context.