Brands
Accor names Amitabh Rai as luxury chief operating officer for South Asia
MUMBAI: Accor has appointed Amitabh Rai as chief operating officer for its luxury and lifestyle portfolio in South Asia, effective January 15, 2026, as the global hospitality group sharpens its focus on premium brand growth across the region.
Rai will oversee the operational and strategic direction of Accor’s luxury brands, including Raffles, Fairmont and Sofitel, with a mandate to drive performance, strengthen brand differentiation and deliver distinctive guest experiences.
A hospitality veteran with nearly three decades of experience across India and Indonesia, Rai began his career with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts after graduating from the Oberoi School of Hotel Management. He later joined Marriott International, serving as general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Bengaluru, before leading Marriott’s Hyderabad market and most recently managing The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott properties in Jakarta.
Accor South Asia CEO Ranju Alex, said Rai’s operational expertise and people-first leadership would be key to shaping the next phase of growth for the group’s luxury brands in the region.
Brands
Namita Jadhav steps down as VP of corporate communications at JioStar
Media communications veteran wraps up a five month run as vice president at JioStar
MUMBAI: Namita Jadhav has moved on from JioStar, where she most recently served as vice president, corporate communications for enterprise, sports and policy comms, according to media reports.
Jadhav had stepped into the role in November 2025 after being elevated from director, corporate communications for enterprise, sports and policy comms, a position she held for a year. In total, her stint at JioStar lasted around one and a half years.
Before joining the company, Jadhav spent nearly two decades with The Walt Disney Company, building a long and steady career in communications and corporate social responsibility. She joined Disney in 2007 and went on to hold several leadership roles including assistant manager, manager, corporate communications, senior manager, corporate communications and CSR , associate director, corporate communications and CSR, and eventually director, corporate communications and CSR.
Across her 17 year tenure at Disney, she played a key role in shaping corporate messaging and strengthening stakeholder engagement across the media and entertainment ecosystem.
Earlier in her career, Jadhav worked at global communications firm Weber Shandwick, where she served as group head for more than six years.
With over two decades of experience spanning corporate communications, CSR and reputation management, Jadhav has built a reputation as a seasoned voice behind the scenes of some of the industry’s most prominent media brands. Her next move has not yet been announced.
