Linglong Names Pradeep Karat Sales Director OTR MEA

Linglong Tire has appointed Pradeep Karat as Sales Director OTR for the Middle East and Africa region, effective from the beginning of May 2026. Based in Dubai, Karat will lead strategy and sales for Linglong’s specialty tyre business across MEA, as the company seeks wider distributor coverage and growth in off-highway markets.

Building the MEA specialty tyre team

Karat reports to Jeffrey Hughes, Director EMEA, and will work with Linglong’s product and marketing teams to develop regional sales activity. His role covers strategic partnerships, distributor development, business growth and entry into new markets across the Middle East and Africa.

The appointment follows Linglong’s recent move to strengthen its MEA specialty tyre structure, including the appointment of Sherif Degheidy as Director of Specialty Tyres for the region in February 2026. Tyre News also recently reported on Linglong’s plan to explore a major export-focused tyre plant at Borg El Arab in Egypt, underlining the manufacturer’s wider interest in MEA production and supply routes.

Three decades in regional tyre sales

Karat joins from Hankook Tire Middle East Africa, where he most recently served as Senior Manager Truck Tires Sales. He has more than 30 years’ experience in sales and marketing roles across premium tyre manufacturers, including Bridgestone, Goodyear and Continental.

That background gives the appointment relevance beyond a standard senior hire. OTR and specialty tyre sales depend heavily on local market knowledge, technical product support, distributor relationships and fleet-level confidence. Linglong’s ability to convert product availability into repeat business will depend on those commercial links, particularly in mining, construction, port, industrial and infrastructure applications.

Karat said he was pleased to join Linglong and take on responsibility for the Middle East and Africa sales role. He said he intended to use his regional experience and tyre industry knowledge to help advance the Linglong business across MEA.

Off-highway growth focus

Jeff Hughes, Director OTR EMEA at Linglong Tire, said he had previously worked with Karat in the Middle East and welcomed his arrival as part of Linglong’s off-highway growth plans.

“He brings extensive knowledge of the region, knows how to find new distributors and build strong partnerships,” Hughes said. He added that Karat would seek to expand Linglong’s presence in India and key African markets, while working closely with Sherif Degheidy.

The appointment comes as competition in OTR tyres continues to intensify. Tyre News has recently covered several moves in the segment, including Triangle Tyre and Vaculug’s planned Hillhead 2026 showcase and Linglong’s launch of its self-developed 59/80R63 giant OTR tyre. Those developments point to a market where manufacturers are competing on product range, technical support and regional access.

Dubai base for regional coverage

Karat will be based in Dubai, giving Linglong a practical base for MEA distributor engagement and customer support. He holds a master’s degree in marketing and economics and speaks English, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.

For tyre distributors and fleet customers, the appointment indicates Linglong is putting more senior commercial resource behind its specialty tyre offer. The next test will be whether the company can translate that regional leadership into stronger service levels, supply consistency and long-term customer partnerships in demanding OTR applications.

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Tagged with: Linglong Tire, Pradeep Karat, OTR tyres, specialty tyres, MEA tyre market, Middle East tyres, Africa tyres, tyre distribution, off-highway tyres, commercial tyres, fleet tyre business, Dubai tyre industry

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