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Sysco LABS Sri Lanka appoints Thushera Kawdawatta as its Managing Director

Sysco LABS Sri Lanka, the largest Global Innovation Center (GIC) of the world leader in food service, Sysco, has appointed Thushera Kawdawatta as its managing director, marking the start of a new era of growth and innovation.

Commenting on the appointment, Tom Peck, Executive Vice President & Chief Information and Digital Officer at Sysco, said: "We are proud to welcome Thushera to lead Sysco LABS Sri Lanka into its next phase of growth.”

“Thushera’s forward-looking approach to business and technology, and responsible AI adoption, aligns perfectly with our ambitions. Sysco LABS’ depth of expertise and engagement are integral to our global success, and this appointment underscores our continued commitment to Sri Lanka,” Peck said.

Thushera is an industry veteran with nearly three decades of experience who is recognized for his thought leadership in artificial intelligence, large-scale technology strategy and enterprise transformation. His career spans senior leadership roles at global and regional technology firms, including Virtusa, and as the founding CEO of Axiata Digital Labs. Most recently, he served as CEO and chief AI officer at COHEAD Therapeutics.

"I am excited to join Sysco LABS, where my vision is to harness Sri Lankan ingenuity to drive even greater value for Sysco,” said Thushera Kawdawatta. “Guided by our purpose of Connecting the World to Share Food and Care for One Another, I am committed to investing in our people and cultivating a thriving workforce that will use innovation and tech-driven mindsets to impact the global foodservice industry.”

“As our largest GIC, Sysco LABS Sri Lanka plays a pivotal role in advancing Sysco’s global technology strategy. Thushera’s technical expertise and people-first leadership style will strengthen our ability to scale capabilities, foster innovation and create an environment where top talent thrives,” said Lise Monahan, Sysco’s Vice President of Technology, Enterprise Solutions, Global Centers & OCIDO.

Thushera holds an MSc in Information Technology from Keele University and has completed executive leadership programs at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Harvard Business School.

About Sysco:

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food and related products to customers who prepare meals away from home. This includes restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments, entertainment venues, and more. Sysco operates 340 distribution centers, in over 10 countries, with 76,000 colleagues serving approximately 730,000 customer locations. The company generated sales of more than $78 billion in fiscal year 2024 that ended June 29, 2024.

As the world’s largest food-away-from-home distributor, Sysco offers customized supply chain solutions, bespoke specialty product offerings, and culinary support to drive customers to innovate and optimize their operations. We act as a trusted business partner to our customers, helping them grow through our industry-leading portfolio that includes fresh produce, premium proteins, specialty products, sustainably focused items, equipment and supplies, and innovative culinary solutions.

For more information, visit www.sysco.com. For important news and key information for Sysco investors, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s website at investors.sysco.com.

About Sysco LABS:

Sysco LABS is the Global Innovation Center (GIC) of Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY), the world’s largest foodservice company.

Sysco LABS Sri Lanka delivers the technology that powers Sysco’s end-to-end operations, enabling the sourcing of food products, merchandising, storage and warehouse operations, order placement and pricing algorithms, the delivery of food and supplies to Sysco’s global network and the end customers’ in-restaurant dining experience.