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By Nishang Narayan
Published on June 5, 2025
WHSmith India has appointed Shantanu Chakravartty as its new Chief Executive Officer and Director, marking a major milestone in its journey to redefine travel retail in India. A dynamic leader with more than 15 years of experience in the travel retail space, Shantanu steps into this role with an ambitious vision: to triple the company’s revenue and expand its store presence fivefold in the next four years.
Over the past seven years, Shantanu has already shaped WHSmith India’s most defining chapters. From navigating the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he helped safeguard over 20,000 jobs, to spearheading strategic digital upgrades, his impact has been both stabilizing and transformative.
“I’ve always believed disruption is an invitation to rebuild stronger,” said Shantanu. “That’s why we created the Airport Services Association of India—to ensure the industry stayed resilient through 2020 and 2021.”
Today, WHSmith India operates 40 stores across India’s metro stations, airports, and university campuses. Under Shantanu’s leadership, the brand now aims to increase its footprint by 5x and grow revenue from ₹200 crores to ₹500 crores in the next three years.
“Retail is not just a business—it’s a platform to create livelihoods and opportunities,” he added. “Every new store we open is another chance for people to grow, thrive, and find a future in this industry.”
Beyond numbers, Shantanu’s strategy focuses on enhancing customer experience, merchandising logic, and supply chain excellence—transforming WHSmith stores into high-engagement retail hubs, even in short dwell-time locations like airports and stations.
“From business flyers to leisure travellers, our goal is convenience, consistency, and delight,” he said. “WHSmith stores are no longer just transit points—they’re travel companions.”
Known for his hands-on leadership, Shantanu is deeply invested in mentoring frontline teams and empowering staff feedback loops. He also serves pro bono as General Secretary of the Airport Services Association of India, playing a key role in shaping industry policies and promoting collaborative growth.
As India’s aviation industry gears up for exponential growth, WHSmith India is positioning itself to lead the charge—with tech-led operations, a people-first culture, and scalable infrastructure that meets the needs of tomorrow’s travellers.
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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on August 6, 2025
Novotel Guwahati GS Road has welcomed Sivaprasad Parimi as its new assistant revenue manager. With more than eight years of experience in revenue management and reservations, Parimi brings a strong strategic focus and a proven ability in pricing, market analysis, and boosting revenue performance.
Before joining the Guwahati team, Parimi served as the reservations manager at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in improving retail bookings, optimizing segment strategies, and expanding the property's revenue share.
Parimi’s journey with Accor began in 2017 and has seen him contribute across multiple brands and locations in both India and the GCC region. His success has been driven by collaborative leadership, strong analytical capabilities, and data-driven decision-making. He is also a certified professional in revenue management and pricing from Accor Academy, Jordan.
Manmeet Singh, general manager of Novotel Guwahati GS Road, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We are thrilled to have Siva on board. His deep understanding of revenue strategy and Accor systems will be instrumental in accelerating our growth. With his experience and forward-thinking approach, I am confident Siva will add tremendous value to our commercial success.”
By Hariharan U
The Den Bengaluru has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Roberta Figueiredo as the new Director of Human Resources. With nearly two decades of experience in building people-first organisations across the hospitality and real estate sectors, Roberta brings a sharp mix of strategic thinking and people-focused leadership to the role.
She has previously worked with top brands including Marriott, Hilton, Atmosphere Maldives, Conrad Bengaluru, and V&RO Hospitality. Most recently, she served as Country Leader, People & Culture at ARATT Developers & Ayatana Hospitalities, where she led performance-driven HR initiatives aligned with business growth.
At The Den, Roberta will focus on boosting HR capabilities, building strong talent pipelines, and creating a culture of learning, engagement, and inclusion. Her aim? To craft a workplace that feels just as dynamic and future-forward as the hotel itself.
"I'm delighted to be appointed at The Den Bengaluru, a hotel that harmoniously combines millennial luxury and fearless innovation", said Roberta. "I’m excited to tap into the hotel’s strong people platform and lead initiatives that empower, engage, and elevate talent".
Welcoming her to the leadership team, Vinesh Gupta, General Manager, The Den Bengaluru, said, “We’re thrilled to have Roberta on board. Her deep experience and passion for creating people-first cultures will be instrumental in shaping our HR strategies and building a motivated, future-ready team”.
With this appointment, The Den continues its focus on nurturing leadership that balances innovation with empathy, ensuring its people remain at the heart of everything they do.
Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences has announced the return of Sakshi Upadhyay as the Assistant Director of Sales. A seasoned professional with significant experience across the luxury and corporate hospitality sectors, Sakshi is set to lead key sales initiatives and strengthen the hotel’s business relationships.
Her earlier stint at Hyatt Regency Pune was notable for building strong corporate partnerships, driving revenue growth, and executing high-impact sales strategies. With a deep understanding of the Pune hospitality market, Sakshi played a pivotal role in enhancing the hotel’s positioning in a competitive landscape.
Over the years, she has worked with reputed brands such as Sheraton, The Leela, and Hilton. In each role, she successfully managed key accounts, crafted strategic plans, and delivered excellence in client engagement and guest relationship management.
In her current role, Sakshi will focus on expanding the hotel’s corporate portfolio, deepening client engagement, and contributing to the hotel’s commercial leadership with forward-looking, market-relevant strategies.
Her return marks a strong step forward in Hyatt Regency Pune’s vision to stay ahead in the evolving hospitality market while maintaining strong ties with its client community.
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