The Ritz-Carlton, Pune has appointed Dirham Haque as Director of Culinary, strengthening its culinary leadership team with a hospitality professional who brings more than 15 years of experience across India and the Middle East.

Haque has built his career across leading luxury hospitality brands including ITC Hotels, The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and JW Marriott. His experience spans luxury hotels, specialty restaurants, banqueting operations and pre-opening projects, with a focus on culinary innovation and operational excellence.

Prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, Haque served as Director of Culinary at JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata, where he oversaw seven restaurants and bars as well as extensive banqueting operations.

Earlier in his career, he was part of the pre-opening team at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE, contributing to the launch of six restaurants and bars before taking on the role of Executive Chef.

Haque began his culinary journey at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, where he was part of the acclaimed Dum Pukht team. His professional experience also includes pre-opening responsibilities at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, leadership roles at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in Dubai, and exposure at Al Mahara at Burj Al Arab.

During his tenure with The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in Gurgaon and Dubai, Haque played a key role in the operations of Ananta at The Oberoi, Dubai, which earned three Black Hats, a prestigious regional culinary accolade.

In his new role at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, Haque will oversee the hotel's culinary operations while focusing on strengthening its dining experiences, culinary innovation and gastronomic offerings.

Speaking about his appointment, Dirham Haque said, “Joining The Ritz-Carlton, Pune is an exciting milestone. I look forward to working with the excellent team here to curate memorable dining experiences, win more accolades and uphold the brand’s iconic gold standards of service.”

His appointment comes as The Ritz-Carlton, Pune continues to strengthen its position as a luxury hospitality destination in the city. Haque's experience across Indian and international luxury hospitality, specialty dining and large-scale culinary operations is expected to further support the hotel's focus on distinctive dining experiences.

With experience spanning multiple luxury brands and diverse culinary environments, Haque brings a combination of operational expertise, international exposure and culinary leadership to his new position at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune.