The Leela Palace Jaipur Welcomes New Leaders Across Key Roles

The Leela Palace Jaipur Welcomes New Leaders Across Key Roles

By Nishang Narayan

Published on December 12, 2024

The Leela Palace Jaipur has fortified its leadership team with four new appointments, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to elevate the luxury hotel's offerings and operations.

Sohil Bhargava, Director of Food and Beverage

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With over nine years of experience in the hospitality industry, Sohil Bhargava has an impressive track record working with esteemed establishments like Raffles, Grand Hyatt Gurgaon, and Andaz. Most recently, he excelled as the Senior Food and Beverage Manager at The DLF Camellias, where he implemented innovative strategies and created exceptional dining experiences. A graduate of the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Bhargava specializes in F&B operations, business strategy, and leadership.

In his new role, Bhargava will drive the culinary vision at The Leela Palace Jaipur, focusing on elevating the food and beverage experience to create unforgettable moments for guests while contributing to the hotel's overall growth and reputation.

Varun Parashar, Executive Chef

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A seasoned culinary expert, Varun Parashar brings a rich background that includes roles at Raa Atoll, Maldives; South Male Atoll, Maldives; Trident Bandra Kurla; and The Oberoi Rajvilas. With a proven ability to enhance team performance and deliver exceptional culinary standards, Parashar is a graduate of the Oberoi Center for Learning & Development and holds a bachelor's degree from IHM Lucknow.

As the Executive Chef, Parashar will lead the culinary operations at The Leela Palace Jaipur, curating exceptional menus that celebrate regional flavors while maintaining the highest culinary standards.

Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Director of Finance

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Sandeep Kumar Sharma joins with extensive experience in financial management, having held key positions at Hilton Jaipur, The Leela Palace New Delhi, and Trident properties in Chennai and Hyderabad. Sharma’s ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and his expertise in strategic planning have been hallmarks of his career.

A commerce graduate from Rajasthan University, Sharma will oversee financial strategies at The Leela Palace Jaipur, ensuring the hotel's fiscal health and operational efficiency.

Tanuj Shokeen, Director of Sales and Marketing

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With over 15 years in the hospitality industry, Tanuj Shokeen has a proven track record in driving sales performance and engaging stakeholders across various markets. Before joining The Leela Palace Jaipur, he served as the Director of Sales at Taj - Jai Mahal Palace Jaipur. Shokeen holds a PGDM in Marketing and International Business from AIMA and a bachelor's degree in commerce from Delhi University.

In his new role, Shokeen will focus on enhancing sales strategies, revenue management, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring The Leela Palace Jaipur strengthens its position as a leader in the luxury hospitality market.

These appointments mark a significant step forward for The Leela Palace Jaipur, as the new leaders bring their expertise and passion to take the property’s guest experiences and operational excellence to new heights.


Kouzina Food Tech Appoints Geetika Anand Gupta as Group Chief Marketing Officer

Kouzina Food Tech Appoints Geetika Anand Gupta as Group Chief Marketing Officer

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 17, 2026

Kouzina Food Tech Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s fastest-growing food-tech and cloud kitchen platforms, has announced the appointment of Geetika Anand Gupta as its Group Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). The move comes as the company continues to expand its portfolio of digital-first food brands and strengthen its position in the technology-driven food services space.

Geetika will continue as CEO & Co-founder of MOPP Foods, a Kouzina Food Tech company, while taking on broader responsibilities across the Kouzina ecosystem. In her expanded role, she will oversee brand strategy, consumer marketing, product innovation, customer experience, innovation-led growth, and business excellence initiatives across the company’s brands and partner network.

The appointment marks an important step in Kouzina’s growth journey as it works towards building one of India’s most scalable technology-led food services platforms.

Commenting on the announcement, Gautam Balijepalli, Founder & CEO, Kouzina Food Tech, said: “Geetika brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial grit, deep consumer understanding, operational excellence, and brand-building capability. Over the years, she has demonstrated an exceptional ability to create customer love while building scalable food businesses. As Kouzina enters its next phase of growth, her leadership will play a pivotal role in strengthening our brands, driving innovation, and building a world-class consumer experience across our portfolio."

He further added: "Kouzina has always believed that technology, data, and strong consumer brands together create sustainable competitive advantage. Geetika's proven track record of building differentiated food brands and her passion for excellence make her the ideal leader to help us scale the next generation of food brands across India."

Sharing her thoughts on the new role, Geetika Anand Gupta said: "I am excited to take on the responsibility of Group CMO at Kouzina while continuing my entrepreneurial journey with MOPP Foods. Kouzina has built one of the most exciting food-tech platforms in India, combining technology, operations, and consumer insight at scale. I look forward to working closely with Gautam and the leadership team to strengthen our brands, deepen customer engagement, drive innovation, and contribute towards building category-defining food brands for the future."

Known for building customer-focused food brands and driving product innovation, Geetika has played a key role in the growth of MOPP Foods. Under her leadership, the company has become a well-known name in the Delhi-NCR market through brands such as Mad Over Parathas & Pakodas, with a strong focus on quality, customer experience, and delivery-led innovation.

Founded by Gautam Balijepalli, Mahesh Madiyala, Sumit Gupta, and Rohan Rao, Kouzina has grown into a leading cloud kitchen platform operating multiple food brands across India. Through its technology-enabled operating model and kitchen partner network, the company continues to leverage data, consumer insights, and operational excellence to build scalable food brands.

The appointment further highlights Kouzina’s commitment to bringing together entrepreneurial talent and industry expertise as it continues its expansion across the Indian food services sector.


Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai Appoints Surinder Kumar as HR Manager

Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai Appoints Surinder Kumar as HR Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on June 17, 2026

Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai has announced the appointment of Surinder Kumar as its new Human Resources Manager, bringing over a decade of experience across hospitality operations and human resource leadership.

In his new role, he will be responsible for driving people-focused initiatives, enhancing employee engagement, strengthening organisational culture, and supporting the hotel’s long-term growth strategy. His mandate also includes overseeing talent acquisition, leadership development, and workplace experience enhancement across departments.

Surinder Kumar’s career reflects a strong foundation in hospitality operations, having begun his professional journey in culinary operations after graduating from IHM Gurdaspur. He started his career with Marriott Jaipur, where he gained hands-on experience in service standards and hotel operations before transitioning into talent acquisition and human resources leadership.

Over the years, he has held key HR positions with leading hospitality brands including The Lalit Hotels, The St. Regis Mumbai, and Grand Hyatt Mumbai, where he contributed significantly to talent management, employee relations, and leadership development initiatives.

Speaking on his appointment, Surinder Kumar said, “I am delighted to be a part of Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai. Hyatt’s people-first culture and commitment to caring for colleagues strongly resonate with my professional values. I look forward to working closely with our teams to build an engaging, inclusive, and future-ready workplace.”

He further emphasized his focus on building a strong internal culture that empowers employees to deliver exceptional guest experiences while fostering professional growth and collaboration.

Outside of work, he enjoys long drives, continuous learning, and exploring perspectives on leadership and personal development.

With his appointment, Hyatt Centric Juhu Mumbai aims to further strengthen its position as a people-centric hospitality brand known for nurturing talent and delivering elevated guest experiences


Bhumika Realty Appoints Amit Parsuramka as Chief Executive Officer

Bhumika Realty Appoints Amit Parsuramka as Chief Executive Officer

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 17, 2026

Bhumika Realty Private Limited has announced the appointment of Amit Parsuramka as its Chief Executive Officer. In his new role, he will steer the company’s next phase of growth, focusing on strong execution, enhanced customer experience, and sustainable value creation.

A seasoned industry professional, Amit Parsuramka brings more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning real estate, investments, and consumer-focused businesses. Over the course of his career, he has held key leadership positions across several prominent organisations.

Before joining Bhumika Realty, he served as CEO at Abhinandan Lodha Ventures (HoABL) and Bonito Designs. He has also held the position of Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Tata Realty & Infrastructure, President – Investment Fund at Lodha Ventures (Tomorrow Capital), and President – Sales at Lodha Group (Macrotech Developers).

Academically, Parsuramka holds an MBA in Marketing from IISWBM, University of Calcutta. He is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, has completed CA (Intermediate) from ICAI, and holds a Diploma in Software Technology from NIIT.

Commenting on the appointment, Uddhav Poddar, Chairman & Managing Director, Bhumika Group said, “Amit brings deep industry experience and a strong leadership track record. As we expand our platform and scale our portfolio, his expertise will be instrumental in shaping Bhumika Realty’s next chapter.”

Sharing his thoughts on joining the company, Amit Parsuramka, Chief Executive Officer, Bhumika Realty said, “Bhumika Realty has built a strong reputation for quality and trust. I look forward to working with the team to build on these foundations and deliver value to our customers and stakeholders.”

The company also announced that Siddharth Katyal, who served as CEO, has stepped down for personal reasons. He will assist with the transition process to ensure business continuity. Bhumika Realty expressed its gratitude for his contributions and extended its best wishes for his future endeavours.

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