SANKA DE SILVA JOINS INEOS AUTOMOTIVE TO LEAD UK AND IRELAND
- De Silva brings 15 years of experience in Product, Sales and Marketing
- INEOS Automotive enjoys best quarter yet, having seen a 20% year-on-year rise in sales through Q1 2026
LONDON, 26 May 2026 – INEOS Automotive has appointed Sanka De Silva, who takes the wheel to lead its commercial operations in the UK and Irish markets as Regional Director UK&I.
Joining the team in May 2026, Sanka will lead the brand in its home market, driving commercial growth and network development.
De Silva brings to INEOS Automotive 15 years of experience in the automotive sector, having started his career on Nissan UK’s Graduate Scheme. Following various product, sales operations and marketing roles with the Japanese brand, he went on to senior management positions at Kia UK, including Marketing Director and Sales Director for the last five years.
With full commercial responsibility for the Grenadier’s home market, De Silva will focus on strategic development and expansion of INEOS’s retail network, overseeing the appointment of new sales and service points over the coming months. With the newly launched MY26 now on sale, and substantial new fleet sales already showing solid growth, providing strong strategic leadership will be a key driver in unlocking further UK market potential.
“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.”
Mike Whittington - Chief Commercial Officer, INEOS Automotive
"It’s an exciting prospect to step away from large legacy OEMs and join a business seeking to break down barriers with its highly differentiated, distinctive product and an incredibly dedicated team. Growing our footprint here will anchor the efforts being achieved already with our latest model upgrades and a growing fleet order bank. While mud might be new to me, the end goal is not, and I look forward to being part of the journey.”
Sanka De Silva - Regional Director UK&I, INEOS Automotive
INEOS Automotive received a record number of orders for its Grenadier 4X4 in Q1 2026, up 20% on the same period last year, as sustained strong retail sales are accompanied by an increase in significant new fleet supply agreements.
After three full years in production, multiple award wins and more than 36,000 vehicles delivered around the world, primarily to retail customers, interest and enquiries from fleets have significantly grown over the past six months and continue to accelerate.
To find out more about the INEOS Grenadier range, visit www.ineosgrenadier.com.
-ENDS-
INEOS Automotive contact details:
Viktoria Kirkova-Fane
Global PR Manager
viktoria.kirkova@ineos.com
+44 (0) 7733 150 023
Lois Brooks
Senior Account Manager, PFPR
+44 (0) 7596 857457
lois.brooks@pfpr.com
ABOUT INEOS AUTOMOTIVE
In 2017, INEOS Chairman Jim Ratcliffe, a car enthusiast and experienced adventurer, identified a gap in the market for an uncompromising 4X4 engineered for modern day compliance and reliability. INEOS Automotive Limited was formed and a senior team of automotive professionals assembled to bring the vision to reality with a fresh perspective of 4X4 development and manufacturing.
In 2022 the INEOS Grenadier was launched: a truly global 4X4 built from the ground up that combines rugged British spirit and design with German engineering rigour. The Grenadier provides best-in-class off-road capability, durability, and reliability with the modern comfort and refinement customers expect wherever they are in the world. In 2023 a double-cab pick-up variant of the Grenadier was launched called the Quartermaster.
INEOS Automotive is a subsidiary of INEOS, a leading manufacturer of petrochemicals, specialty chemicals and oil products. It employs 24,500 people across 29 businesses, with a production network spanning 154 sites in 27 countries. From paints to plastics, textiles to technology, medicines to mobile phones, materials manufactured by INEOS enhance almost every aspect of modern life. In 2025, INEOS had sales of $55bn. To find out more about INEOS Automotive, visit www.ineosgrenadier.com.
