Apparel industry veteran Dinesh de Silva joins PMF Board

PMF Finance has appointed Dinesh de Silva to its Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

With more than 30 years of leadership experience, Dinesh de Silva has built a distinguished career transforming organisations into agile, diversified, and high-performing enterprises. His leadership philosophy centres on unlocking human potential, fostering innovation, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement. 

He has successfully guided organisations through complex transitions, expanding product portfolios, entering new markets, and building resilient operational ecosystems. His expertise spans strategy, finance, operations, innovation, sales and marketing, HR, and governance, underpinned by a proven record of delivering measurable business growth and cultural transformation.

As Group Director of Lean Enterprise at MAS Holdings, de Silva pioneered the establishment of the Lean Enterprise Division, reporting directly to the Chairman and the Apparel Board. He developed and implemented world-class Lean governance frameworks, policies, and standards across global operations, while launching the LIME (Leaders Intense MOS Experience) program to cultivate Lean leadership among senior executives. His initiatives trained and mentored over 1,500 leaders, embedding a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement across the group.

Beyond his corporate roles, de Silva serves as a Director at MAS Holdings Ltd., and as a Board member of MAS Legato Ltd., the shared services and BPO arm of MAS Holdings. He is also the Founder and Managing Director of Fortitude Venture Ltd., a venture capital firm dedicated to inspiring, innovating, and igniting the potential of emerging startups. Through Fortitude Venture, he provides strategic investments, mentorship, and hands-on support to early-stage businesses, fostering innovation and sustainable growth in dynamic markets.

A Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK, de Silva has also completed executive education programs at globally renowned institutions including the Centre for Creative Leadership, The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, The Wharton School, the National University of Singapore, INSEAD, Henley Business School, and Hult Ashridge Executive Education. These programs have equipped him with advanced skills in strategic leadership, organisational transformation, and innovative business design.

He has held several senior executive and board-level positions within MAS Holdings, one of South Asia’s largest apparel and manufacturing conglomerates. 

As Chief Executive Officer of Bodyline Ltd., and Intimate Fashions India Ltd., he led over 11,500 employees across Sri Lanka and India, managing an annual turnover exceeding $ 200 million. Under his leadership, the organisation diversified its customer portfolio to include global brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Nike, Triumph, lululemon, and Levi’s, generating over $ 80 million in new revenue within four years. His strategic direction strengthened profitability, enhanced innovation capabilities, and embedded Lean and sustainable business practices that improved efficiency by 20%.

Earlier in his career, as Director of Operations at MAS Active, Dinesh oversaw a network of manufacturing units with over 10,000 employees and a turnover of $ 150 million. He was instrumental in driving operational efficiency and doubling business growth through advanced production systems and Lean methodologies. His tenure as General Manager of Finance and Administration at Bodyline further strengthened his reputation for strategic financial management, human capital development, and process excellence, achievements that earned multiple national awards, including the National HRM Award and CIMA Sri Lanka’s Best Finance Team Award.