Rehan Grero: From Global Banking to Digital Procurement—A CEO Transforming Sri Lanka’s Tender Ecosystem
- S. Adam
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Adam S, Jadetimes Contributor
Adam is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA
Colombo, Sri Lanka — In an era where digital transformation is redefining governance and enterprise, Rehan Grero stands out as a rare cross-industry leader who has successfully bridged global finance and technology to modernise Sri Lanka’s procurement landscape. With nearly two decades of experience across investment banking, information technology, and consulting, Grero currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of eTenders.lk, the country’s leading online tender information platform. Armed with international exposure and strategic vision, Grero represents a new generation of Sri Lankan business leaders globally trained, technologically driven, and nationally focused.
A Global Banking Foundation
Grero’s professional journey began in the world of high finance. He held early career roles at global banking institutions Citibank and HSBC, gaining exposure to structured finance, corporate banking, and relationship management. Seeking broader international experience, he relocated to the Middle East in the early 2000s.
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Grero advanced his career with Emirates NBD and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, where he served as a Relationship Manager for high-net-worth and corporate clients. Over more than a decade in the region’s highly competitive financial sector, he built a strong reputation for investment advisory, portfolio growth, and strategic client management. His work consistently contributed to revenue growth and long-term institutional profitability.
Complementing his professional experience, Grero earned an MBA from the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, further strengthening his strategic and leadership credentials.
Expanding Beyond Finance
Rather than remaining confined to banking, Grero deliberately broadened his professional scope. By the mid-2010s, he had developed hands-on experience in IT solutions, consulting, and real-estate advisory, creating a rare multi-domain profile. This convergence of finance, technology, and operational insight would later become the cornerstone of his leadership philosophy. His ability to understand complex systems both financial and technological positioned him uniquely to identify inefficiencies in traditional business processes, particularly in public procurement.
Leading eTenders.lk: Digitising Procurement
In 2016, Grero returned to Sri Lanka to take on the role of CEO of eTenders.lk, at a time when tender information was still largely fragmented, paper-based, and inefficient. Under his leadership, the platform evolved into Sri Lanka’s most comprehensive digital tender information service, serving both public and private sectors.
Today, eTenders.lk functions as a centralised procurement intelligence hub, using advanced scanning, categorisation, and tender-matching systems combined with manual verification to ensure accuracy and timeliness. The platform enables businesses to receive relevant tender alerts efficiently eliminating delays, reducing information gaps, and improving access to opportunities. Under Grero’s stewardship, eTenders.lk has onboarded hundreds of corporate and government clients, including major state institutions through formal Memoranda of Understanding. These partnerships have played a significant role in promoting transparency and efficiency in Sri Lanka’s procurement processes. “Our goal has always been to remove inefficiencies and barriers in the tender process,” Grero has noted in previous interviews, emphasising the platform’s role in cutting red tape and supporting fair competition.
A Vision for National Impact
Grero’s ambitions extend beyond commercial success. He has articulated a long-term vision for eTenders.lk to evolve into Sri Lanka’s national e-procurement platform, integrated directly with government procurement systems. According to him, such digital integration could save the country billions of rupees through efficiency gains while dramatically improving transparency and accountability.
Demonstrating this commitment, Grero has publicly offered to onboard government ministries free of charge, viewing it as a strategic investment in national development rather than a short term business decision.
Leadership Philosophy and Future Outlook
Beyond procurement, Grero continues to advocate for technology-driven, sustainable business models. He is a strong believer in innovation rooted in responsibility, often highlighting the importance of partnerships that balance commercial growth with governance and environmental standards.
Looking ahead, he envisions developing and supporting new digital platforms across sectors such as agriculture, enterprise software, and data-driven services positioning Sri Lankan ventures as regional benchmarks for innovation. Through international collaborations and knowledge exchange, Grero aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s presence in the global digital economy. Colleagues and industry peers describe him as strategic, collaborative, and forward thinking equally comfortable engaging with policymakers, global investors, or mentoring emerging entrepreneurs.
A Return That Reflects a Broader Story
Rehan J. Grero’s journey from global banking hubs to leading a national digital platform reflects a broader narrative of skilled Sri Lankan professionals returning home to drive systemic change. By combining deep financial expertise with technology led execution, he continues to reshape how businesses and institutions engage with procurement.
As eTenders.lk enters its next phase of growth, Grero remains focused on a singular objective: a digitally empowered, transparent, and efficient future for Sri Lanka’s business and governance ecosystems.
