Mrs. Aban Pestonjee, Chairperson and Founder of Abans Group of Companies, was bestowed the honour of being one of the most admired leaders of Sri Lanka at the Most Admired Companies Awards held at the BMICH recently.
The third edition of this event was organised by the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ICCSL), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Daily FT, and is recognised as the only one of its kind in Sri Lanka. The Most Admired Companies Awards cater especially to companies that are a cut above the rest, based on their financial performance and other vital aspects such as creating an ethical and sustainable working environment for all employees, customers, investors and the local communities.
These laurels were conferred in light of Pestonjee’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey from commencing her business as a modest corner store at Galle Road, Bambalapitiya in 1968, to the massive expansion into a renowned conglomerate spanning several industry sectors.
Sparking from the fierce desire to make easier the daily lives of homemakers such as herself, Mrs. Pestonjee set forth upon her goal by purchasing home appliances at auctions and then reselling them with a trusted guarantee, which emerged as the core of her business.
When Sri Lanka converted into an open economy in 1978, Mrs. Pestonjee began writing regularly to large British companies that distributed popular global home and kitchen appliance brands. Despite facing many setbacks, her determination and persistence gained the trust and confidence of Electrolux, which became the first international brand to team up with Abans to enter the Sri Lankan market.