André Lacroix, CEO of Intertek Group plc, has unveiled the Sinhalese translation of his book 'Leadership with Soul' at two major Sri Lankan universities, marking the first leadership book by an FTSE 100 testing and certification sector leader to launch in the country in the local language.
André Lacroix, chief executive of global testing, inspection and certification firm Intertek Group plc, has introduced the Sinhalese edition of his book 'Leadership with Soul' at the University of Moratuwa and the University of Colombo. The publication represents a milestone for Sri Lanka's TIC industry, being the first leadership work by an FTSE 100 sector leader in this field to launch locally in Sinhalese.
The book draws on Lacroix's three decades of leadership experience across multinational organisations including Ernst & Young, PepsiCo, Burger King and Reckitt Benckiser. It presents ten core principles centred on self-awareness, compassion, integrity, authenticity, trust and transparency, aiming to guide leaders in building organisations where people, purpose and performance align. Lacroix describes the work as offering practical insights for inspiring teams, developing customer-focused operations and establishing enduring legacies.
At both universities, Lacroix addressed students and faculty, discussing the book's key concepts and responding to questions. Senior academics praised the work's relevance. T S Jayawardana, head of the Department of Textile and Apparel Engineering at Moratuwa, noted that the Sinhalese edition enables deeper connection with leadership ideas in the local language. K A S P Kaluarachchi, director of postgraduate studies at Colombo University, highlighted its practical value for developing empathetic leadership approaches.
Intertek has maintained operations in Sri Lanka since 2008, offering assurance, testing, inspection and certification services across sectors including textiles, cargo, oil and gas, and environmental compliance. Lacroix's visit marks his first to the island and underscores the company's commitment to leadership development in the region.
