User:Zarookmarikkar

ZAROOK MARIKAR FIMgt. FFA, MCIM, MIPD, MIEEE

After studying Engineering at the South East London College of Technology, he was involved in Computing services, IATA Travel Agency and Outbound Tour Operations in the UK. He headed these businesses until his return to Sri Lanka permanently in 1984 to take over my Computer business. In 1992 as the founder Editor-in-Chief of Sri Lanka’s only IT Magazine-“Infolink PC World” & “IT World” he started a IT publishing business which later became a franchise of IDG USA, He has over 37 years of Business Management experience both here and abroad including UK, USA, Singapore and Brunei, with the last 25 years in the Telecom & Information Technology Industries. He is the Secretary General of the Grassroots Foundation a charitable organization to help and empower the poor, which he started was incorporated by an Act of Parliament.

An Engineer, Accountant, Management, HR and Marketing Professional and has held a number of Directorships and these include GoTel Network Ltd. - a licensed telecommunications company, Interlink Holdings Ltd, Grant Cable Ltd.-Cable TV Network, Dot Com Ltd.-IT Outsourcing Company, Divyaa Resorts, Interlink Money Ltd. He has the distinction of having designed and build the first ever computer in Sri Lanka in 1982. Other areas of specialization are Software Engineering, Network Systems, Financial Management & Accounting, Software Development and Management. He was the Founder President of the Sri Lanka Branch of the Chartered Institute of Management U.K., Past President of Sri Lanka Computer Vendors Association, Past President of the Federation of Information Technology Industry of Sri Lanka, Past President of Rotary Club of Colombo West, Founder Treasurer of Sri Lanka U.K. Society, Sri Lanka Coordinator of Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers – U.S.A. and past Committee Member of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. He is a Former Council Member of CINTEC - Council of Information Technology, a former Member of the Board of Governors of Zahira College, Colombo.

He is a member of several Professional Bodies including Chartered Institute of Marketing, Fellow of the Institute of Management-U.K., Fellow of the Institute of Financial Accountants, Member of Institute of Personnel Development – UK and Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers – U.S.A. Founder Member of Sri Lanka Institute of Directors. He is also member of the MENSA - International the High IQ worldwide Institute. During his Presidency of Rotary in 1999 he spearheaded the program for nation building, working to create an environment for all communities to live together in dignity and peace improving racial amity. This propelled him to be the coordinator of the Multi-party Parliamentary Leadership Group of Sri Lanka which is part of the US Congress Leadership Breakfast Group with a network of small groups in several Parliaments around the world and in the US Congress.

His wife Neela is the Chairperson of Sri Lanka’s largest Advertising Agency-Grant McCann Erickson, and Minds FCB (family business) and they have two daughters, Leah – Managing Partner at “Cunning Asia” an Experiential Marketing Agency in London and Tasha, Graduate from LSE - London School of Economics.