Thimira Manamendra is an award-winning business strategist with over 24 years of experience specializing in partnerships, distribution management, and international market development. He currently holds the position of Deputy General Manager – National Bancassurance, at Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd, and a member of the company’s leadership circle. Throughout his career, Thimira has made significant contributions across various industries, both locally and internationally, with a particular focus on niche segments development.

At Allianz, he has led several innovative digital partnerships, transforming the company’s insurance offerings through collaborations with notable brands such as Sri Lankan Airlines, Uber, BIMA, and Pay & Go. Before assuming his current role, Thimira held key positions including Zonal Sales Manager, Head of Affinity, and Head of Alternate Channels & Bancassurance. His extensive leadership experience also includes roles at Janashakthi Insurance, Sadaharitha Plantations Ltd, TVS Lanka, United Motors, and David Peiris Motor Company, where he focused on driving market expansion and refining corporate strategy.

As an expert in startups, business transformation, distribution strategy, branding, and digital marketing, Thimira is also a passionate leadership trainer. He has conducted global training programs across 60+ countries within the Allianz network, sharing his expertise and insights with global leadership teams. Beyond his professional engagements, Thimira serves as a visiting lecturer and examiner at various academic institutions, such as ICBT, London Metropolitan University (NEXT Campus), the University of Visual and Performing Arts Sri Lanka, the ICA Campus, CIPE, and SLIM.

Thimira earned his MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management (PIM), Sri Lanka, in 2012. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK, as well as the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM), holding professional marketer status. Additionally, he is a Certified Management Accountant from Certified Management Accountants (CMA), Australia, and a Certified Digital Marketing Practitioner from the Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing (APIDM), Sri Lanka. He is currently pursuing his PhD at Girne American University, demonstrating his commitment to continuous learning and academic growth.

Thimira’s professional journey is marked by various affiliations and contributions. He served as a Council Member of the Post Graduate Institute of Management (PIM), Sri Lanka from 2020 to 2023, and as an Executive Committee member of the same institute during 2019/20. He also held an EXCO position at the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing in 2009 and at The Institute of Certified Management Accountants (CMA), Sri Lanka in 2017. His involvement extends to the SLIM Brand Excellence & Effie Committee from 2009 to 2014, and he remained an active member of the SLIM Brand Excellence Committee in 2019. Additionally, he is an examiner and Industry Insight Panelist at the Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing Sri Lanka (APIDM) and has facilitated global and local leadership and knowledge sharing programs. His dedication to leadership excellence was recognized when he won the ‘Great Managers Award’ at the Colombo Leadership Academy in 2020 for his exceptional skills in driving results and execution excellence.

Outside of his professional endeavors, Thimira is an adventurous traveler, exploring destinations both locally and internationally. He is deeply committed to contributing positively to society and actively seeks opportunities to make a meaningful impact through his leadership.