30-SECOND CV

is quite complicated. Even though in China there are 100 transactions, not many people are using a lot of them, so the business case can be questionable. Having said that, branches are a big problem as they’re very expensive to keep open.”

Korala says the answer could be what KAL, which he founded in 1989, calls remote teller-assisted transactions.

“We believe that, even if you can do some of these transactions on an ATM, people don’t like doing them if it’s too difficult or something they do rarely. But it’s not just about the simplicity – it’s about service.

“The halfway house is a machine where you can get someone to hold your hand. You could press a help button to get an online video connection, say with a mortgages ● Role: Founder and chief executive, KAL ● Born: Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1958 ● Education: Royal College, Sri Lanka; BSC in electronic engineering, King’s College London; PHD in artificial intelligence, University of Edinburgh ● First job: Product design consultant at PA Technology in Brussels ● Ambition while at expert, and get an experiencethat’salmostlikebeing in the branch. The person could be on the other side of the world but it could be 24/7, in your language.” school: To become an engineer, just like my dad ● Car: BMW 5-series ● Favourite mode of transport: By air ● Music: Rock ● Reading material: The Economist ● Can’t live without: My close family ● What makes you angry: People doing dumb stuff ● What inspires you: Successful business leaders ● Favourite place: Paris ● Best thing about your job: I get to choose what stuff is fun to do

Sri Lanka-born Korala says there is a “lot of excitement” in the banking industry about remote teller-assisted transactions, which he believes