UK-headquartered INEOS Automotive has appointed Sanka De Silva as regional director for the UK and Ireland, tasking him with leading commercial operations, retail network expansion, and fleet growth as the Grenadier manufacturer moves to capitalise on its strongest quarter to date.

Motor Trade News reported that De Silva joined the company in May 2026, replacing Tom Johnson who has left the business. He will oversee the appointment of new sales and service points, alongside supporting growth for the recently launched MY26 Grenadier range.

De Silva brings 15 years of automotive industry experience, having started his career on Nissan UK's graduate scheme before progressing through senior management roles at Kia UK, where he served as both marketing director and sales director over the past five years.

INEOS Automotive recorded a 20% increase in Grenadier orders during the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period the previous year, with fleet enquiries and supply agreements accelerating significantly over the past six months. More than 36,000 vehicles have been delivered globally across three full years of production.

Mike Whittington, chief commercial officer at INEOS Automotive, said: "We welcome Sanka to the team. His well-rounded experience across sales, marketing and network development in the UK will be extremely valuable as we consolidate recent successes. With existing customers now returning for updated Grenadiers and fleet managers trusting our product across a huge variety of use cases, it's a very exciting time to come aboard."

Access the full details of INEOS Automotive's UK and Ireland director appointment here.