EY promotes Harsha Basnayake to Asia-Pacific TAS leader
EY has promoted Harsha Basnayake to the head of its Asia-Pacific Transaction Advisory Services practice. Basnayake takes the lead over 250 partners and 2,000 staff; he is tasked with further expanding the firm’s regional footprint.
Harsha Basnayake joined EY Sri Lanka in 1987, as a trainee. The intervening years have seen Basnayake take on an international career with the firm, whereby, since 2009, he has been the firm’s ASEAN regional Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) practice leader. In the role, Basnayake brought the practice up to a strength of more than 600, by building out its deal origination, execution, strategy and operations capabilities. Previously, Basnayake worked in valuation establishing the firm’s Valuation and Business Modelling practice in the Far East as well as serving on the firm’s Global Valuation & Business Modelling Steering Committee. Earlier roles include TAS practice leader in Singapore, from 1997. Basnayake is a Fellow Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor and a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka and CPA Australia.
Basnayake has again been promoted by EY, this time to the head of the firm’s Asia-Pacific of TAS practice. In his new role, effective from the start of July, Basnayake leads a team of more than 250 partners and 2000 staff. Basnayake takes responsibility for further expanding the firm’s practice into regional markets as well as continuing to grow its footprint within markets into which it has already taken steps.
Steve Krouskos, EY Global Vice Chair of TAS, says, “The Asia-Pacific region holds enormous opportunity for us and we will continue to invest and expand our transaction and capital management capabilities – from strategy to execution. Under Harsha’s leadership we will continue to extend our strong position in Asia-Pacific markets and I am confident our clients will benefit from his wealth of experience.”
Basnayake says that he sees “tremendous potential” in Asia-Pacific markets for the TAS business. He further adds, “We have a solid footprint across all of our markets, a strong sector focus and amazing creative discipline in the teams that we carry. These attributes will allow us to focus on our clients’ needs while asking the right questions and helping them to make smarter decisions around deals, strategy, planning, turnaround and restructuring.
In his new role, Harsha will become a member of the Asia-Pacific Operating Executive and the Global Practice Group and will continue to serve as a member of the TAS Global Executive Committee. Harsha succeeds John Hope, who is returning to the Oceania practice. He will also work with the TAS Executive leadership team to help accelerate specific global growth initiatives.
