Accor Appoints New Chief Operating Officer- Luxury in South Asia

Saba Azim5 months Ago1 Mins read352

Amitabh Rai

Accor has announced the appointment of Amitabh Rai as the new Chief Operating Officer – Luxury, Accor South Asia, effective January 15, 2026.

Amitabh Rai has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer – Luxury at Accor, South Asia. In this new role, he will lead the operational and strategic direction of Accor’s luxury and lifestyle portfolio across South Asia for Raffles, Fairmont and Sofitel brands.

Amitabh brings nearly three decades of experience across India and Indonesia, having worked in various leadership roles as well as a seven-year entrepreneurial venture.

He started his hospitality journey with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts after graduating from The Oberoi School of Hotel Management. In 2018, he joined Marriott International as General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore. Most recently, he served as Multi-Property General Manager for The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott, Jakarta.

In his new role, Amitabh will be responsible for providing strong operational leadership and strategic support across the brand’s South Asia Luxury portfolio. His mandate will include driving financial excellence, strengthening brand differentiation, and fostering healthy team culture.

Commenting on the appointment, Ranju Alex, Chief Executive Officer, Accor South Asia, said, “Amitabh’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the brand’s luxury journey in South Asia. His deep operational expertise, people-first leadership style and sharp strategic lens make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our luxury and lifestyle portfolio. Amitabh has a rare ability to balance brand integrity with commercial excellence, and we are confident he will play a defining role in shaping the next phase of growth for our luxury brands in the region.”

Speaking on his appointment, Amitabh Rai, said, “It is a privilege to join Accor at such an exciting moment for luxury hospitality and Accor’s expansion plans in the region. Accor’s commitment to purposeful growth, distinctive brands, and people-centric leadership strongly resonates with my own values. I look forward to working closely with our teams to craft memorable guest experiences, nurture talent and build future-ready luxury destinations that are both meaningful and sustainable.”