ROLE PLAYERS 2017 - Azam Bakeer Markar


Azam Bakeer Markar

Head of Sustainability and General Manager- Group Business Development
Aitken Spence PLC

Azam Bakeer Markar is the Head of Sustainability and General Manager, Group Business Development of Aitken Spence PLC. He manages the sustainability, communications, branding and new ventures functions of the Colombo-listed diversified business group with operations in three continents.

Aitken Spence is the only company in Sri Lanka to be recognized as a 'Best Corporate Citizen' by the country's leading business chamber for ten consecutive years. The team led by Azam is credited with conceptualizing and developing the company's sustainability strategy and the policy framework, which was ranked 'Best in Class' by the STING Corporate Accountability Index.

He is a member of the Board of Management of the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute for International Relations & Strategic Studies that functions under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka. Azam was a founding Director of the United Nations Global Compact Network Sri Lanka, which advocates the adoption of corporate sustainability practices and alignment with global development goals amongst the country's corporate sector.

He holds leadership positions in several civil society organisations focused on youth, community relations and political mobilisation. Azam holds BSc (Hons) in International Economics from Loughborough University (UK) and a Diploma in International Relations.