Shemara Wikramanayake appointed as investment giant Macquire Group's first female CEO

A  Sri Lankan Australian woman  has made history by becoming the first-ever female CEO of investment giant, Macquarie Group, in a move welcomed by multicultural groups.

According to SBS News, Shemara Wikramanayake was on Thursday appointed to lead the investment giant after heading the company’s asset management arm for more than a decade.

"I look forward to working with the Board, management and our entire Macquarie team to build on Nicholas' remarkable legacy for the benefit of all our stakeholders," she said in a statement.

Born to a Sri Lankan father, Ms Wikramanayake attended school in London, before her family moved to Sydney.

She attended Sydney’s prestigious Ascham girl’s school, then went on to study commerce and law at the University of New South Wales.

Ms Wikramanayake, 56, has worked at Macquarie since 1987. She has long been considered a natural successor to current chief executive Nicholas Moore, who will hand over the top job in November.

Mr Moore said he had worked with Ms Wikramanayake for more than 30 years and was confident he was leaving the company "in a strong position and in safe hands". Macquarie Group posted a record $2.56 billion in annual profit between 2017-2018. 

For Macquarie Group, Ms Wikramanayake has worked in six countries across several business lines.

The announcement was made prior to Macquarie's annual general meeting on Thursday.

Chairperson of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia, Mary Patetsis, told SBS News the appointment was a recognition of the calibre of professional women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. 

"FECCA believes that highly skilled people from diverse backgrounds with high levels of corporate and professional experience should be appointed at all levels, including at the CEO and as Non-Executive Directors," Ms Patetsos said.