Professional Background
Dr. Darshana Jayasinghe is a senior marketing leader, practising marketer, academic, and influencer marketing specialist with over 20 years of experience spanning banking, FMCG, telecommunications, healthcare, and digital marketing.
He currently serves in a senior leadership role in marketing, where he is part of the executive leadership team and plays a critical role in driving integrated marketing strategies and digital transformation initiatives. Under his leadership, organizations have delivered award-winning campaigns recognized both locally and internationally, reinforcing their position as digitally progressive brands.
In addition to his corporate role, Dr. Jayasinghe is a Professional Chartered Marketer and a Fellow of a globally recognized professional marketing body in the UK, reflecting his international standing and professional credibility in the marketing discipline.
Local & Global Exposure
Dr. Darshana Jayasinghe brings extensive regional and international exposure, having worked across more than 20 countries in Asia and the Middle East. Through his engagements, he has contributed to developing and mentoring over 100+ fellow marketers, supporting the growth of marketing capabilities and professional excellence across diverse markets.
Dr. Jayasinghe’s career reflects a rare balance of strategic leadership, hands-on execution, and regional exposure.
He began his professional journey in sales and marketing before moving into leading multinational organizations such as SLT Mobitel, Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka, and GSK Consumer Healthcare, managing iconic brands including Anchor, Ratthi, Anlene, Horlicks, Viva, and Sensodyne.
His regional experience includes roles in Singapore and India, where he led cross-market initiatives across Asia and the Middle East. These roles strengthened his expertise in brand strategy, consumer insights, media, and large-scale activation programs.
Returning to Sri Lanka, he held senior leadership positions at MD Lanka PLC and Citizens Development Business (CDB) PLC, where he built strong marketing functions, launched award-winning digital platforms, and elevated brand performance. At CDB, he was instrumental in positioning the brand among Sri Lanka’s Top 30 Businesses and Top 50 Brands.
At NDB Bank, his leadership has resulted in multiple prestigious awards including SLIM DIGIS, Effie Awards Sri Lanka, Dragons of Sri Lanka, Digis Grand Prix, and the YouTube Silver Creator Award, showcasing his ability to deliver measurable impact in highly competitive environments.
Dr. Jayasinghe holds a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Kelaniya, where his doctoral research focused on the impact of social media influencers in the branded fashion industry. This research laid the foundation for the development of DJ’s Model, Sri Lanka’s first scientifically validated influencer marketing framework.
His academic journey also includes:
- Master of Business Studies (Merit) – University of Colombo
- Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing – CIM, UK
- B.Sc. Marketing Management (First Class Honors) – University of Sri Jayewardenepura
He has been recognized for academic excellence through:
- 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) Award – ICOME 2022
- Gold Award for Empirical Research – ICAM (Taylor’s University, Malaysia)
Dr. Jayasinghe actively contributes to academia as a part-time lecturer at the Institute of Management of Sri Lanka (IMSL) and as a visiting lecturer at several state and private universities.
Beyond corporate and academic roles, Dr. Jayasinghe is deeply committed to developing the marketing profession in Sri Lanka.
He served as the President of the Marketing Alumni Association (MAA) at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (2022–2026), where he mentors undergraduates and strengthens industry-academia collaboration.
He is also a respected jury member for prestigious award platforms including:
- NAS Awards (2021–2023)
- SLIM Brand Excellence Awards (2024 / 2025)
He also serves as a member of the advisory panel of the Asia Pacific Institute of Digital Marketing (APIDM). Over the years, he has mentored numerous marketing professionals who now hold senior roles across multinational and local organizations.
Why he is the
Influencer Marketing Catalyst
He empowers brands, marketers, and influencers to move beyond vanity metrics and create meaningful impact through authentic engagement.
Through his Influencer Effect Model, his purpose is to facilitate the development of impactful influencers, build highly engaged communities, and deliver measurable, high-value outcomes for businesses both locally and internationally.
Practical industry
leadership
Deep academic
research
Experience Influencer Marketing
To discuss consulting, training, research, or collaboration opportunities
(+94) 77 296 2520
darshanaj@afficacy.org