Brands
Accor names Raheel Ahmad director of food & beverage for South Asia
Veteran hospitality leader to drive Accor’s F&B growth and guest experience across South Asia
GURUGRAM – In a strategic move to sharpen its food and beverage edge in South Asia, Accor has appointed Raheel Ahmad as director of food & beverage, South Asia, signalling a renewed focus on culinary innovation, operational excellence, and guest-centric growth across the region.
A hospitality veteran with more than 25 years of experience spanning 650 hotels, 24 brands and 22 countries, Ahmad steps into the role with a formidable global track record. At Accor, he will lead the company’s regional F&B strategy, tasked with elevating guest experiences, enhancing operational performance, and unlocking new revenue streams across high-growth segments such as lifestyle dining, weddings and social celebrations.
His mandate also includes working closely with hotel teams and partners to streamline operations, nurture talent, and ensure service consistency, while preserving the individual identity of each property, a balancing act increasingly crucial in today’s experience-led hospitality market.
Before joining Accor, Ahmad held a senior regional F&B leadership role at Marriott International, where he was instrumental in scaling brand-led dining concepts across markets including Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam and India. A recipient of Marriott’s Global Chef of the Year award, he is widely recognised for blending culinary creativity with commercial discipline.
His credentials extend beyond the kitchen. Ahmad has helped elevate brand dining credentials through partnerships with the Michelin Guide and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, while championing sustainability initiatives focused on responsible sourcing, plant-based innovation and food waste reduction.
Announcing the appointment, Accor South Asia CEO Ranju Alex, said Ahmad’s strategic expertise, commercial acumen and ability to build high-performing teams would play a pivotal role in strengthening the company’s F&B ecosystem across the region.
For Accor, this is more than a leadership appointment; it is a clear statement that in the race for guest loyalty, exceptional dining remains firmly at the heart of the experience.
