United Hospitality Management India has announced the appointment of Ricardo Leal as Vice President Operations – India & Southeast Asia, further strengthening its leadership structure across key growth markets in the region.

Based in India, Ricardo will oversee operational performance across all company-managed properties in India and Southeast Asia. He will report to Deepika Arora while also taking responsibility for Southeast Asia operations under the leadership of Klaus Assmann.

The appointment comes as UHM India continues to expand its footprint across high-growth hospitality markets. The company is focusing on strengthening operational performance, improving guest experiences, and building long-term value for stakeholders as India remains a major focus market for the group.

Ricardo Leal brings more than 20 years of international hospitality leadership experience across luxury and ultra-luxury segments. Over the course of his career, he has worked across multiple global markets with expertise spanning hotel feasibility studies, design planning, pre-opening strategies, repositioning projects, and large-scale operational management.

In his new role, Ricardo will focus on driving operational consistency, improving property performance, and aligning hotel operations with the company’s long-term growth strategy across India and Southeast Asia.

Speaking about the appointment, Deepika Arora described Ricardo’s addition as an important step in the company’s next phase of expansion, highlighting his combination of global experience and operational leadership.

Commenting on his new role, Ricardo Leal shared that he is excited to join UHM during a key growth phase and looks forward to working closely with teams across the region to strengthen operational standards and guest satisfaction.

With this leadership appointment, United Hospitality Management India continues to reinforce its focus on strategic growth, operational excellence, and delivering strong hospitality experiences across its expanding regional portfolio.