Hilton has appointed Zubin Saxena as SVP/country head, India.
He joins Hilton from Radisson Hotel Group, where he worked for more than eight years, most recently as the managing director/area SVP, South Asia. He will be taking charge in January. Saxena’s 24-year career in hospitality has included a four-year stint at IHG as director of development for South Asia, as well as senior advisory roles with Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels in India and HVS in New York.
He will oversee Hilton’s 25 hotels in India and lead the company’s expansion in South Asia with 20 properties in the development pipeline. He takes over the position from Navjit Ahluwalia, who leaves Hilton after six years. During his tenure, Ahluwalia led the company’s growth in India, overseeing the opening of Hilton Goa Resort, Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park, a dual-brand Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn, as well as a convention center, and most recently DoubleTree by Hilton Varanasi.
“Given the enormous opportunity that India represents and the strong momentum we are seeing, we are excited to welcome Zubin to the Hilton family, whose energy, expertise, and leadership will be pivotal, as we supercharge our growth on the Indian subcontinent,” said Alan Watts, president, Asia-Pacific, Hilton. “We also thank Navjit for his many years of dedication in building our presence and culture in India.”
Saxena added, “I look forward to hitting the ground running at Hilton in January, getting to know the team and working for this iconic brand in this fast-developing region, which holds so much promise for the company. Hilton is at a very pivotal moment in India, with its portfolio of market-leading brands and ambitious growth plans. I am excited by the size and scope of the role and look forward to leading and delivering on our ambitious goals in this incredibly dynamic market.”
