GRI announces the appointment of Mr Ydo Doornbos as director of North America

Colombo, Sri Lanka – GRI announces the appointment of Mr Ydo Doornbos as Director of North America. With an illustrious career spanning 29 years in the tire industry in various management roles, Ydo brings with him a wealth of expertise and leadership to GRI’s North American business operations.

Mr Doornbos’ journey in the tire industry began in 1995 with a 6-month internship at Monarch Industrial Tires in the USA, after which he commenced his extensive career at Trelleborg Wheel Systems (TWS) as the Regional Sales & Operations Manager in Europe for the Monarch brand. He was then promoted to Marketing Manager Europe for the TWS Industrial Tires division.

In 2005, Ydo returned to the United States, where he served as Director of Marketing, Customer Service & OEM Sales at TWS before being appointed Managing Director & Product Area President for Industrial and Construction tires. Over the course of thirteen years, he spearheaded strategic initiatives that enhanced product integration and service excellence. In 2019, Ydo was promoted to Regional President North & Central America – AG/MH/CON, where he steered the company through unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic.

In 2022, Ydo embarked on a new chapter in his career, assuming the role of VP Business Development at American Pacific Industries (API), a renowned tire engineering company. His strategic vision and business acumen contributed to API’s growth and expansion in the automotive and commercial tire sectors.

Now, Ydo returns to his roots in Specialty Tires with GRI, driven by a commitment to sustainability and innovation. As Director of North America, he will lead GRI’s efforts to expand and drive GRI’s success in delivering sustainable Agriculture, Material Handling, and Construction tires to the North American market.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Ydo Doornbos expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am thrilled to join GRI, a company synonymous with excellence and innovation in the tire industry. I look forward to leveraging my experience to drive growth and success in North America.

Mr Prabhash Subasinghe, Managing Director of GRI, welcomed Ydo to the team, saying, “Ydo’s extensive industry knowledge and leadership will be invaluable as we strengthen our presence in North America. We are delighted to have him on board.”