Seelan Gobalsamy 2024 Speaker

Group Chief Executive Officer

Omnia Holdings

Biography

Seelan Gobalsamy is a highly accomplished and experienced business leader with a distinguished career spanning over 20 years. He has held prominent C-suite leadership roles in various blue-chip companies across emerging markets, including the Old Mutual Group, Liberty Holdings, STANLIB asset managers, and, most recently, Omnia Holdings. In these roles, Seelan has showcased his expertise in managing large and complex organisations, leaving a tangible impact by successfully guiding his teams to achieve increased sales, expanded market share, and heightened industry relevance.

In 2018, Seelan assumed the role of a non-executive director at Omnia. In 2019, he took on the role of Group Financial Director and shortly thereafter, was appointed as the Group CEO. Under his leadership, he has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the company, ensuring sustainability by transforming the business model, fortifying its financial position, and enhancing overall operational efficiency. Omnia’s global presence spans 25 countries, with expansion plans extending to Canada, Indonesia, and Australia. Notably, the market capitalisation of Omnia has tripled under his stewardship.

Seelan is a values-based leader, characterised by his passion, purpose-driven approach, and a commitment to placing people at the forefront of his leadership philosophy. While demanding excellence, exceptional performance, and global competitiveness, he deeply cares about the well-being of individuals. His unwavering focus on safety, employee well-being, and his encouragement of lifelong learning and development are further hallmarks of his leadership style. He firmly believes that an organisation’s long-term impact and purpose are critical for its sustainability and has embedded this vision into his strategies.

In addition to his role at Omnia Holdings, Seelan serves as a non-executive director of Momentum Metropolitan Holdings Limited and Momentum Metropolitan Life Limited. He is a Chartered Accountant (SA) and an alumnus of Harvard Business School, reflecting his commitment to excellence and continuous personal development. Seelan’s multifaceted leadership journey and unwavering commitment to driving growth and positive change have solidified his position as a respected and influential figure in the world of business and finance.