Anna Marie Presutti Named First Female President & CEO of San Francisco Travel in 115 years

Anna Marie Presutti Named First Female President & CEO of San Francisco Travel in 115 years

By Nishang Narayan

Published on September 25, 2024

The San Francisco Travel Association has appointed Anna Marie Presutti as its new President and CEO, making her the first woman to hold this position in the organization’s 115-year history. Presutti, who had been serving as interim President and CEO since mid-May, officially steps into this leadership role, overseeing San Francisco Travel’s global efforts to market the city as a prime destination for conventions, meetings, and leisure travel.

Tourism remains a cornerstone of San Francisco’s economy, contributing $9.3 billion in total visitor spending and generating nearly $610 million in tax revenues in 2023. With 23 million annual visitors, tourism supports nearly 63,000 jobs in the city.

"After an extensive national search, we found the best candidate was already leading the charge. Anna Marie is a dynamic and bold advocate for San Francisco," said John Anderson, Chair of San Francisco Travel’s Board. "Her deep familiarity with the organization, coupled with her passion for the city, makes her the ideal leader to take San Francisco Travel to new heights."

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Presutti has over two decades of experience in San Francisco’s tourism and hospitality industry. Before assuming this role, she served as Vice President and General Manager of Hotel Nikko San Francisco, where she became the first female vice president for Nikko Hotels International in 2006. Her impressive career includes leadership roles at Kimpton Hotels, ITT Sheraton, Hilton Hotels, and Sunstone Hotel Properties.

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As the newly appointed President and CEO, Presutti aims to rejuvenate San Francisco’s convention business and highlight the city’s culinary scene, arts, and cultural strengths. “I am passionate about this city and its future. We are on the brink of a significant recovery, and my focus will be on building momentum to restore San Francisco’s status as a top global destination,” said Presutti.

Her accomplishments have earned her several accolades, including being named one of “The Most Influential Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times and receiving the Hotel Council of San Francisco’s Peter Goldman Award of Excellence.

San Francisco Travel, the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco, continues to play a pivotal role in promoting the city’s vibrant tourism industry as one of the top US destinations for tourism and business travel.


Hilton Chennai Appoints Shakti Singh as General Manager

Hilton Chennai Appoints Shakti Singh as General Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 5, 2025

Hilton Chennai has announced the appointment of seasoned hospitality leader Mr. Shakti Singh as its new General Manager. With an impressive career spanning over 23 years in India’s top hotel chains, Mr. Singh brings a wealth of operational knowledge and strategic vision to the prestigious property. His arrival reflects Hilton Chennai’s commitment to raising the bar in guest experience and service standards in one of South India’s most competitive hospitality markets.

Mr. Singh takes the reins following his recent leadership at DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Bengaluru Outer Ring Road, where he implemented innovative F&B concepts and elevated employee engagement through wellness-driven initiatives. Prior to that, he also served as General Manager at Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum and has held leadership roles across leading brands like Hyatt, Oberoi, and Accor before joining Hilton a decade ago.

Throughout his journey, he has been known for his ability to drive results, enhance team culture, and deliver excellence in guest services. “I am honored to take the helm at Hilton Chennai,” said Mr. Shakti Singh. “This property has established itself as a benchmark for hospitality excellence, and I look forward to working with our talented team to build on this strong foundation. We will continue to innovate while maintaining the highest standards of service that our guests expect from Hilton.”

Team Hilton Chennai extended a warm welcome to Mr. Singh, expressing confidence that his leadership will usher in a new era of growth, innovation, and continued success.


Rajnish Sharma Joins Accor Hotels as Food & Beverage Manager

Rajnish Sharma Joins Accor Hotels as Food & Beverage Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 5, 2025

Accor Hotels has announced the appointment of Rajnish Sharma as its new Food & Beverage Manager. With over 10 years of dynamic experience across some of the most prestigious names in hospitality including The Leela, Hilton, Marriott, and Sheraton, Rajnish now brings his proven expertise to one of the world’s most prominent hospitality groups.

Known for his sharp operational acumen, seamless event execution, and unwavering guest-centric focus, Rajnish has consistently driven excellence across food and beverage functions. In his new role, he steps into a strategic position where he will oversee key F&B operations, craft memorable dining experiences, and contribute to Accor’s broader vision of innovation and quality. His appointment further strengthens the brand’s leadership team, reinforcing its commitment to delivering world-class hospitality driven by passion and precision.


From Numbers to Nutrition: Parag Milk Foods Elevates Nitin Kanodia as Business Head of Avvatar Sports Nutrition

From Numbers to Nutrition: Parag Milk Foods Elevates Nitin Kanodia as Business Head of Avvatar Sports Nutrition

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 3, 2025

Parag Milk Foods Ltd., one of India’s leading dairy FMCG and nutrition companies, has announced the elevation of Nitin Kanodia as Business Head of Avvatar, its rapidly growing sports and active nutrition brand. This strategic move underlines Parag’s strong belief in grooming internal talent and fostering leaders who exemplify its core values of performance, purpose, and passion.

A Chartered Accountant by training, Nitin joined Parag Milk Foods with a robust foundation in financial strategy and operations. Over time, he displayed remarkable agility, moving beyond the world of numbers to take on roles in marketing and brand building. His leadership has been instrumental in crafting impactful campaigns and positioning Avvatar as a credible, homegrown challenger to global protein brands—cementing consumer trust and driving the brand’s expansion in India’s health and wellness market.

Speaking on his new role, Nitin Kanodia shared,

“It has been an incredible journey — from decoding balance sheets to now decoding the minds of modern consumers. Avvatar is not just a product; it’s a mission to bridge India’s protein gap with clean, effective, and trusted nutrition. I look forward to scaling this brand to new heights, building stronger consumer trust, and innovating across formats.”

Akshali Shah, Executive Director, Parag Milk Foods Ltd., echoed these sentiments, saying,

“At Parag, we believe that when individuals grow, the organisation grows with them. Our culture is built on recognising performance, empowering potential, and giving people the freedom to evolve across functions and roles. Nitin’s progression from finance to marketing to now leading a high-growth brand like Avvatar is a reflection of this belief. We’re equally focused on bringing in strong leadership talent from outside and nurturing promising individuals from within. This balance is helping us build a future-ready organisation that values entrepreneurship, agility, and accountability at every level.”

As India witnesses a growing shift toward health-conscious lifestyles and protein-rich diets, Avvatar stands poised to play a pivotal role in this wellness transformation. With forward-thinking leadership and a talent-first approach, Parag Milk Foods continues to set benchmarks not only in product innovation but also in building a workplace where passion seamlessly meets purpose.

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