OYO appoints former IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh as CEO, India and South Asia

OYO Hotels on Thursday said it has appointed former IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh as its CEO, India and South Asia, effective from December 1, 2018, as the hospitality company expands its footprint across the region.

Ghosh, OYO said in statement, is “entrusted with the responsibility to oversee and grow OYO Hotels' business in South Asia, which will include, India, Nepal, and the other upcoming markets in the region. He will focus on continuing to drive growth while delivering high-quality customer experience and sustained yields for asset owners.”

Speculations were that Ghosh, who quit IndiGo in July after a decade-long tenure as the head of the airline, would start his own venture. Ghosh started his career as a lawyer and bagged the top post at IndiGo at the age of 32. He was a general counsel for IndiGo parent InterGlobe Enterprises before that.

“I’m thrilled to join OYO’s mission of creating quality living, and partner with Ritesh in shaping the company’s future in South Asia—a critical growth market for the company,” said Ghosh in a statement.

Ghosh’s appointment at the OYO comes as a part of the company’s efforts to continue to invest in and attract world-class leadership, in the wake of its focus to drive growth in its home markets—India and China, it said in a statement.

"His business acumen, problem-solving capabilities, and customer-centric approach to innovation that helped him build an influential brand that is loved by all, makes him an excellent choice for OYO Hotels," said Ritesh Agarwal, founder and group CEO, OYO Hotels & Homes.

In September, OYO raised $800 million, and received a commitment of an additional $200 million, in a funding round led by SoftBank Vision Fund, with participation from the existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, and Greenoaks Capital. The company has expanded its footprint to five countries, including India, China, Malaysia, and Nepal, and the UK, and plans to scale up quickly in these countries.