Raheel Ahmad Takes Regional Food and Beverage Leadership Role
Accor has appointed Raheel Ahmad as Director of Food & Beverage, South Asia, strengthening its regional leadership team.
In his new role, Raheel Ahmad will lead the strategic direction of Accor’s food and beverage operations across South Asia, with a focus on guest experience, operational performance, revenue growth, and brand differentiation.
The appointment reflects Accor’s continued focus on talent, aligning with hotel appointments.Leading Regional F&B Strategy
As Director of Food & Beverage, South Asia, Raheel Ahmad will oversee Accor’s regional food and beverage strategy.
His responsibilities will include strengthening guest experience, driving operational consistency, identifying revenue opportunities, supporting hotel teams, and advancing food and beverage performance across the portfolio.
His role will also include oversight across lifestyle dining, weddings, social celebrations, partnerships, talent development, and service standards.
Food and beverage remains a major commercial pillar in hospitality, particularly as hotel brands increasingly expand beyond accommodation into experience-led revenue streams.
More Than 25 Years of Global Hospitality Experience
Raheel Ahmad brings over 25 years of hospitality experience.
His professional journey spans work across 650 hotels, 24 brands, and 22 countries.
His background combines culinary leadership with strategic food and beverage management across international hospitality markets.
Large-scale multi-market experience remains particularly relevant in regional leadership roles where commercial performance, consistency, and brand adaptation require broad operational perspective.
Previous Leadership Experience
Prior to joining Accor, Raheel Ahmad was part of the senior regional food and beverage leadership team at Marriott International.
He was recognised with the Marriott Global Chef of the Year award during his tenure. His experience includes developing and scaling hospitality dining concepts across multiple international markets.
Regional exposure includes Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Vietnam, and India. This global operating experience provides strategic perspective across diverse hospitality ecosystems.
Strategic Partnerships and Culinary Positioning
Raheel Ahmad has worked on culinary positioning initiatives involving international hospitality partnerships.
His professional experience includes collaboration with platforms such as the Michelin Guide and The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, alongside partnerships with international chefs across hospitality markets.
Food and beverage differentiation continues to play an increasingly strategic role in premium hospitality positioning.
Sustainability and Talent Development Focus
Raheel Ahmad has also led initiatives around responsible sourcing, food waste reduction, and plant-based innovation.
His leadership background includes mentoring hospitality talent, supporting culinary capability-building programmes, and promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Talent development remains central to long-term food and beverage performance, particularly in multi-property hospitality ecosystems.
Leadership Perspective
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.”
Outlook
With more than 25 years of global hospitality food and beverage leadership experience, Raheel Ahmad is expected to strengthen Accor’s F&B strategy and commercial performance across South Asia.
