APPOINTMENT

Accor Appoints Raheel Ahmad as Director of Food & Beverage, South Asia

Accor has announced the appointment of Raheel Ahmad as Director of Food & Beverage, South Asia. In this role, he will lead the strategic direction and execution of the company’s F&B vision across the region.

In his new role, Raheel Ahmad will work closely with hotel teams and partners to enhance guest experiences, drive operational efficiency, and strengthen brand positioning across the portfolio. His mandate includes optimising performance, streamlining operations, and identifying new revenue opportunities across segments such as lifestyle dining, weddings, and social celebrations.

He will also focus on fostering collaborations, developing talent, and ensuring consistency in service standards while maintaining each property’s distinct identity.

With over 25 years of experience, Raheel has worked across 650 hotels, 24 brands, and 22 countries. His career reflects a transition from a culinary foundation to regional leadership, with a strong focus on using food as a medium to create engaging and memorable guest experiences.

Prior to joining Accor, Raheel was part of the senior F&B regional leadership team at Marriott International. He is also a recipient of the Marriott Global Chef of the Year award and has led the development of multiple brand-led dining concepts across international markets.

His experience spans countries including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, and India, where he has worked on scaling concepts rooted in local culinary traditions.

Raheel has also contributed to enhancing culinary positioning through collaborations with platforms such as Michelin Guide and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, along with partnerships with internationally recognised chefs.

Commenting on the appointment, Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Accor, said, “We are pleased to welcome Raheel Ahmad to Accor. His deep understanding of strategic planning, extensive expertise in the food and beverage space, and strong focus on financial performance make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. Raheel brings with him a proven track record of driving sustained revenue growth, improving margins, enhancing operational efficiencies, and creating differentiated guest experiences across diverse hospitality environments.

His ability to balance innovation with commercial performance, while building high-performing teams and strengthening brand positioning, will be instrumental in further elevating our F&B ecosystem across South Asia.”