Rohan Pewekar Appointed CEO at Bharti Hospitality Arm — Driving Growth of Global Dining Brands

A leadership transition aimed at accelerating growth in India’s organised dining segment, the hospitality and dining business of the Bharti family office has appointed Rohan Pewekar as Chief Executive Officer. The portfolio includes globally recognised restaurant brands such as PizzaExpress, Chili’s, P.F. Chang’s, and Olive Garden, positioning the business strongly within the premium casual dining space. The appointment signals a sharper focus on scaling operations, strengthening brand presence, and enhancing guest experience across the country.

Career Foundation

Pewekar’s early professional grounding came through roles at Accenture and Samsung Electronics, where he worked on strategy, transformation, and operational execution in consumer-facing environments. These experiences contributed to a structured approach to business problem-solving and an understanding of large-scale organisational systems.

His subsequent move into the food service and hospitality ecosystem allowed him to translate these skills into customer-centric business models. Over time, he developed expertise in aligning financial planning with operational execution, particularly in multi-unit business formats where consistency and scalability are critical.

Most Recent Role and Key Achievements

Prior to this appointment, Pewekar was associated with Yum! Brands as Managing Director for Pizza Hut – Indian Subcontinent, where he led operations and expansion across a diverse and competitive market landscape. His tenure involved steering the brand through evolving consumer expectations, while also strengthening business fundamentals and driving new growth avenues.

In addition to this role, he held responsibilities as Chief Strategy and Finance Officer for Pizza Hut India, where he contributed to shaping long-term growth plans, optimising financial performance, and expanding distribution channels. His work in this phase required balancing cost structures with revenue expansion, particularly in a fast-changing food delivery and dine-in ecosystem.

Education and Professional Competencies

Pewekar is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, one of India’s leading business schools. His academic training has supported a strong analytical and strategic orientation, reflected in his ability to integrate financial planning with operational decision-making. His core competencies span business strategy, financial management, operational leadership, and brand-led growth in consumer businesses.

Scope of New Role

In his new role at the Bharti family office’s hospitality and dining arm, Pewekar will oversee the strategic direction and operational execution of the group’s restaurant portfolio in India. His mandate includes expanding the footprint of international brands, strengthening brand positioning, enhancing guest engagement, and building organisational capabilities to support long-term growth.

Given the increasing demand for differentiated dining experiences in urban India, this appointment underscores the group’s intent to deepen its presence in the premium restaurant segment. It also reflects a shift towards leadership that combines financial discipline with operational agility to navigate a competitive and evolving market.

Commenting on the appointment, Ramit Bharti Mittal stated, “The dining and restaurant segment is evolving rapidly, with consumers increasingly seeking differentiated and premium experiences, creating significant opportunities for growth. Rohan brings a strong blend of strategic insight into consumer businesses and deep operational experience. We believe he is well placed to lead our next phase of growth as we expand our portfolio of global restaurant brands and continue building a high-quality dining platform in India.”

On taking up the role, Rohan Pewekar said, “The group has built a strong portfolio of globally recognized brands, and I look forward to partnering closely with the teams to further strengthen those, deliver exceptional guest experiences, and continue building a world-class restaurant business across the country.”

The appointment marks a key step in Bharti family office’s strategy to scale its dining platform and strengthen its positioning in India’s organised restaurant sector.