Isuru Kiribathgala
Auckland,New Zealand
Summary
Results-driven Team Lead experienced in freight services, marketing, and business development. Achieved revenue growth of up to 30% by securing new customers and negotiating commercial agreements. Focused on developing business development plans for logistics services and enhancing brand visibility while managing key account relationships and identifying new sales opportunities.
Overview
1
1
Certification
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Marketing and Business Development Manager
Militzer and Münch
Auckland, Hobsonville
09.2026 - Current
- Identified target markets, developed effective positioning strategies, and created campaigns to promote products or services.
- Developed business development plans for Militzer and Münch freight forwarding services.
- Identified new sales opportunities in transport, customs, and warehousing markets.
- Managed key account relationships across logistics and supply chain clients.
- Prepared commercial offers and tender responses for international logistics customers.
- Analyzed market trends, competitor activity, and customer needs for growth planning.
- Built partnerships with carriers, agents, and logistics network contacts.
- Led cross-functional discussions on pricing, service scope, and customer requirements.
- Conducted market research and analysis to identify potential business opportunities.
Team Lead Freight Services
Clarion Shipping Pvt Ltd (Hayleys Group)
, Sri Lanka
10.2024 - 06.2026
- Spearheaded 30% revenue growth through strategic consultative selling and business development across multiple international markets.
- Orchestrated customer acquisition strategy, securing 5 new regular customers monthly through needs-based solution selling.
- Cultivated relationships with global partners and key accounts, enhancing customer satisfaction and retention.
- Engineered customized freight solutions to meet diverse customer requirements across ISC, GCC, East Asia, US, and Europe trade lanes.
- Managed and mentored a high-performing team of 5 members, driving service excellence and sales performance.
- Negotiated commercial agreements with service providers, resulting in NZD 10,000 cost savings per quarter.
- Partnered with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless service delivery and an exceptional customer experience.
- Instituted ISO-aligned quality processes to elevate service standards and enhance customer satisfaction.
- Oversaw freight service operations, ensuring timely and efficient delivery of goods.
- Led shipping operations for Clarion Shipping and Hayleys Group client accounts.
- Supervised cargo handling, loading, and dispatch activities.
- Monitored compliance with shipping procedures, safety rules, and trade regulations.
- Communicated with clients, agents, and vendors on delivery requirements.
- Trained staff on documentation checks, workflow steps, and service standards.
- Resolved operational issues across shipping, warehouse, and transport coordination.
Marketing Lead – Marketing & Business Development (Freight)
Hayleys Advantis Freight
, Sri Lanka
09.2019 - 09.2024
- Generated 20% revenue growth through strategic customer engagement and solution-based selling across 6 trade lanes.
- Managed a diverse customer portfolio, including major international brands (Nike, Nautica, Lululemon), by delivering tailored logistics solutions.
- Directed the consultative sales process from discovery to close, identifying customer needs and presenting appropriate product solutions.
- Established and maintained strong relationships with global agents and key accounts across NZ, APAC, Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
- Coached and developed team of 3 to enhance customer service delivery and achieve sales targets.
- Analyzed customer data and market trends to optimize pricing strategies and improve sales conversion rates.
- Collaborated with integrated logistics teams to ensure customer expectations were consistently met and service quality was maintained.
- Strengthened ISO-based quality processes to enhance service delivery for international clients.
- Executed daily operational tasks to ensure smooth workflow.
- Proposed and implemented innovative ideas and solutions that improved team performance and outcomes.
- Identified the needs of customers promptly and efficiently.
Senior Marketing Executive – 3PL & Logistics
Hayleys Advantis 3PL Plus
, Sri Lanka
08.2015 - 08.2019
- Directed integrated marketing strategy for 3PL supply chain services across key markets.
- Developed brand messaging for logistics solutions and contract logistics offerings.
- Negotiated and finalized contracts valued between NZD 50,761 and NZD 253,807 per annum with major brands including MAS, Brandix, GSK, Philips, SPAR, and Nestlé.
- Drove 25% revenue growth through strategic customer relationship management and consultative selling across a portfolio of over 30 clients.
- Oversaw the B2B sales cycle, encompassing needs assessment, solution development, contract negotiation, and ongoing account management.
- Liaised with legal and commercial teams to develop contract terms and pricing structures, ensuring alignment with service level agreements.
- Conducted customer and market research to identify emerging opportunities, shaping targeted sales strategies.
- Identified customer opportunities and presented tailored logistics solutions spanning warehousing, transport, and value-added services.
- Conducted customer and market research to identify emerging opportunities and inform sales strategies.
- Built collaborative relationships with sales, operations, and customer teams to enhance effectiveness of marketing plans.
Marketing Assistant
Wintergreen Healthcare Specialist (Insurance)
, Sri Lanka
07.2013 - 07.2015
- Executed customer-centric marketing strategies for healthcare and insurance products in UK and Sri Lankan markets, enhancing brand awareness.
- Formulated sales and marketing plans for foreign traveler insurance products, aligning customer needs with key value propositions to drive engagement.
- Managed customer feedback and satisfaction surveys to enhance service quality and retention rates.
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to ensure a consistent customer experience and effective service delivery.
- Coordinated email, print, and digital promotions for Wintergreen Healthcare Specialist, increasing customer outreach and campaign visibility.
- Updated campaign lists, contacts, and lead records in marketing systems.
- Tracked marketing requests and routed approvals for healthcare insurance materials.
- Collaborated with marketing team on new ideas and directions to support events and customer communication projects.
Research Executive / Management Trainee – Market & Social Research
TNS Lanka Pvt Ltd
, Sri Lanka
12.2008 - 06.2013
- Directed customer insight and market research projects for prominent clients such as Fonterra, Red Bull, and Mobitel, covering areas like brand equity, customer satisfaction, and product testing.
- Conducted needs analysis and gathered customer feedback to shape product development and marketing strategies.
- Managed the complete research lifecycle, including client presentations, and showcasing strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Managed the complete research lifecycle, including client presentations, and showcasing strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Executed island-wide surveys, ensuring data quality and applying robust methodologies for effective customer intelligence gathering.
- Managed client correspondence and maintained professional communication records.
Education
MSc - Business Psychology
London Metropolitan University
London, United KingdomCIM - Marketing
Chartered Institute of Marketing
London, United KingdomHigher Certificate - Market Research
Market Research Society
London, United KingdomSkills
- Consultative selling
- Solution selling
- Customer needs analysis
- Value proposition
- Sales target achievement
- Revenue growth
- KPI achievement
- Customer relationship management
- CRM management
- Contract negotiation
- Commercial terms management
- Pricing strategy
- Market analysis
- Data-driven decision-making
- Customer insights
- Proposal development
- Service excellence
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Stakeholder engagement
- Team leadership
- Effective communication
- Presentation skills
- Product knowledge development
Certification
07/2019 Personality Development and Coporate etiquette, 10/2019 Customer Service in 21st Century, 11/2018 Customer Complaint Handling, 07/2019 Building a Resilient Supply Chain, 10/2017 Leveraging Supply chain management to enhance sustainability, 07/2019 BOI Procedures relating to imports and exports
Timeline
Marketing and Business Development Manager
Militzer and Münch
09.2026 - Current
Team Lead Freight Services
Clarion Shipping Pvt Ltd (Hayleys Group)
10.2024 - 06.2026
Marketing Lead – Marketing & Business Development (Freight)
Hayleys Advantis Freight
09.2019 - 09.2024
Senior Marketing Executive – 3PL & Logistics
Hayleys Advantis 3PL Plus
08.2015 - 08.2019
Marketing Assistant
Wintergreen Healthcare Specialist (Insurance)
07.2013 - 07.2015
Research Executive / Management Trainee – Market & Social Research
TNS Lanka Pvt Ltd
12.2008 - 06.2013
MSc - Business Psychology
London Metropolitan University
CIM - Marketing
Chartered Institute of Marketing
Higher Certificate - Market Research
Market Research Society