In this issue

The notion that white lab coated researchers in secretive facilities, accessed only by a chosen few, are advancing companies and building next generation products, were never really accurate. Research and inventions are critical in a few sectors like pharma and important for others. However, the vast majority of modern companies are successful due more to their knowledge networks and open business practices.

Inventions and patents are a crude measure of scientific and technological achievement. They are also much less important nowadays than brands and the speed at which products can be got to market. World over, less than two percent of patents are commercialised.

Our cover story looks at the leadership of MAS Holdings a giant but nimble Sri Lankan manufacturing company of apparel. They are now casting their net wide, searching for ideas and potential partners to build next generation products. Sure, MAS Holdings is rich enough to employ the best and brightest minds, however that won’t propel them to success, they have understood. Their open approach to innovation is a contrasting success to the closed one they have now abandoned.

Echelon Magazine Description:

Intelligent Storytelling

The one thing that will define the Echelon magazine will be the quality of the storytelling. Echelon,published monthly, will cover in depth Sri Lanka’s most successful businesses, examine their winning strategiesand profile their leaders in immersive stories. Great stories are also never limited to words, and our approach includes rich photography, bold graphics and leading edge design which together will make for a compelling read.

But business doesn’t start and end in a boardroom;it extends to the golf club greens, to international travel and to pursuits that blurthe lines between commercial venture and sheer passion. The Echelon team will present the best in business and lifestyle coverage that will appeal to an exclusive and affluent readership: an otherwise hard to reach demographic.

Content will be developed by one of the most experienced and proven teams of editors, financial journalists, photographers and designers in the country.This team has already raised the bar for powerful and expertly crafted business news. Shamindra Kulamannage, will lead the editorial team.

The reputation of Echelon is being built on the separation between editorial and advertising. However we are also looking for the most creative and impactful new formats that can be applied in our magazines, iPad app as well as website to help our clients reach our audience. We are flexible and creative and we will have a solution for every single advertiser who wants to reach our audience.

We are passionate about creative results and about working with our advertisers to help them create bespoke multi platform creative solutions with our in house creative team and of course our sales team.

Echelon will be a great place to show off the products and capabilities of our clients because they will be surrounded by an editorial product that is expertly crafted, full of integrity and intelligence.