Riyad to take United Tractors to next level as new CEO

United Tractors and Equipment Ltd has announced the appointment of Riyad Ismail as CEO of the UTE group of companies.

Ismail was workings as the General Manager of United Tractors and takes over from Priath Fernando who stepped down from the post but continues on as Chairman of the company.

UTE is the local dealer for Caterpillar the world leader in construction and earthmoving equipment, engines and power generators.

Ismail has been a long time member of the UTE team, joining back in 1997 as the head of the spare parts division and moved onto become the General Manager of the Product Support Services Division. Promoted again he served for more than two years as the General Manager of UTE, the role he was playing till his appointment as CEO. The division is a key area of business, spanning a diverse plethora of activities ranging from spare part sales, to service and customer support. Ismail played a key role in providing unparalleled after sales support to UTE customers during his tenure.

Speaking about this appointment UTE Group Chairman Fernando said, “As much as the country is going through a phase of change UTE too has entered a phase of change and growth as the leading engineering solutions provider in Sri Lanka. Riyad is the ideal person to spearhead this change and to take UTE to the next level.”

Speaking of his new appointment Ismail said, “I have been a part of UTE for a long time, and I’m honoured to be selected to take on the reigns of a company of this calibre. During this period of economic growth in the nation, UTE has prospered, and I am very confident that UTE will continue to grow through the building of strong relationships with our clients.”

UTE Group of companies includes United Tractor and Equipment Ltd, UTE Projects Ltd. and Ecologic Systems Ltd.

In addition to his professional career, the past pupil of St. Thomas’ College Ismail has won numerous awards as an inventor, winning the Presidential award for Science and Technology in 2008. He is a qualified chartered management accountant, and completed his higher studies from the University of Colombo and the Post Graduate Institute of Management at Sri Jayawardena University.