Balendran Kandeban (KANDEE)

CEO/ Director Sparks, Sri Lanka

Renowned for his integrity and leadership, Balendran Kandeban (Kandee) is a corporate business leader and one of the most celebrated media personalities of Sri Lanka.                                        

An Alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School, PLD/ Executive MBA graduate and MBA from Victoria University, Australia. He also attended the Programme for Creative Leadership by the Berlin School of Creative Leadership.  

Over the past two decades, Kandee has been a pioneer in the world of media, sales, marketing, and advertising in both Sri Lanka and India. 

He is currently the CEO/Director of Sparks Sri Lanka, a fully integrated Creative, Media, Advertising and Digital Marketing Company, CEO of Brandcom (Former Rediffusion Y&R Sri Lanka) and also the Celebrity Host of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” in Sri Lanka. 

He was also the former Marketing & Sales Director of MTV Channels Network in Sri Lanka,  Director, Business Development of MBC Radio Networks, Digital Head of MTV & MBC Networks, Channel Head of Shakthi FM, Head of Sales MTV & Shakthi TV,  Head of AAHAA 91.9 FM, NBC, India.

Kandee was also the mastermind behind many successful campaigns which includes #LoveLifeHIV Awareness Campaign, #SafeRoadsSri Lanka – a National Road Safety Project, Diabetes Free Sri Lanka, “Fight Dengue. Save Lives” Campaign which reached out to millions around the country. He is currently spearheading #SafeChildSriLanka, an yearlong National Child Safety Campaign together with the Pediatric College of Sri Lanka.

He was recently interviewed by the Harvard Business School, and was also featured titled “Dreamer” among selected young global leaders who are making a difference around the world. Kandee was listed among the 20 most inspiring young global leaders as part of #FutureChasers campaign by the government of Australia, recognized by Austrade with the Australian Alumni Excellence Award for Business Administration and Leadership, Young Alumni Achiever Award winner of Victoria University, listed among 10 most influential young global leaders of Tamil Community by Canada based Tamil Culture magazine, and he is the only Sri Lankan on the Grand Jury panel of the prestigious New York Festival’s Radio Awards since 2012. He is also a visiting lecturer and a course advisory board member of Victoria University, Australia.