For Ihthisham Lye, the power of marketing lies in the seamless integration of traditional brand building and high-velocity digital transformation. A strategic marketer with 13 years of cross-functional experience, Ihthisham specializes in bridging the gap between ATL (Above the Line) brand presence and BTL (Below the Line) tactical execution. As the Head of Marketing at Ebony Holdings, he is a specialist in omni-channel strategy, ensuring that a brand’s story remains consistent, whether a customer encounters it on a billboard, a retail shelf, or a social media feed.
Ihthisham’s career is defined by his ability to accelerate brand growth and optimize marketing operations. Currently leading the marketing division at Ebony Holdings (PVT) Ltd, he achieved a complete overhaul of the brand’s presence within just six months of taking the helm. His expertise covers the entire marketing funnel, from sponsorship strategy and high-level campaign planning to the technical nuances of Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) and marketing automation. He is recognized for his hands-on approach to integrated retail marketing, making him a vital asset for brands looking to merge their offline heritage with an e-commerce future.
Ihthisham is highly regarded for his data-driven approach to budget optimization and campaign measurement. In a fast-evolving market, he has successfully implemented full-funnel marketing strategies that don't just generate reach, but drive measurable ROI. His transition from high-level strategy to lecturing in Digital & Social Media Marketing highlights his status as a "scholar-practitioner," capable of translating complex cross-channel execution into understandable, actionable frameworks for the next generation.
Ihthisham holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing from the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management. Furthering his technical edge, he is a certified CRO Specialist, a qualification that allows him to fine-tune digital touchpoints for maximum efficiency. This blend of traditional management logic and modern technical specialism ensures his marketing strategies are both commercially grounded and digitally optimized.
"Share my experience to the next generation"
Ihthisham is driven by the belief that a marketer’s greatest skill is the ability to connect the dots between diverse data points and human behavior. As a trainer, he brings the same intensity he uses to build national brands, focusing on clarity, precision, and the "why" behind every campaign. He views every lecture as an opportunity to multiply impact by empowering others to move beyond siloed thinking and embrace a truly integrated marketing mindset. For Ihthisham, success is measured not just by a brand’s growth, but by the confidence and capability of the professionals he mentors.