Sunjae Sharma Appointment to Asia Pacific Role at Hyatt Hotels Corporation

A leadership transition at Hyatt Hotels Corporation marks a strategic shift in its Asia Pacific operations, with Sunjae Sharma moving into an expanded regional role while Vikas Chawla has been appointed President for India and Southwest Asia. The transition comes as Hyatt intensifies its focus on growth across key markets in the region, particularly India.

The change will see Sharma relocate to Hong Kong, where he will take on broader responsibilities tied to Hyatt’s regional strategy and expansion initiatives. Meanwhile, Chawla will oversee the company’s operational direction and growth strategy in India and Southwest Asia, one of Hyatt’s fastest-growing markets globally.

Career Foundation

The Asia Pacific leadership role builds on more than two decades of association between Sunjae Sharma and Hyatt Hotels Corporation. His journey with the company began in 2002 at Grand Hyatt Delhi, where he became closely involved in the brand’s development within the Indian hospitality market.

Over the years, Sharma worked across a variety of leadership positions within Hyatt’s regional structure. His roles exposed him to multiple aspects of hotel operations, including brand development, market expansion, and talent cultivation within emerging hospitality destinations. These experiences contributed to shaping Hyatt’s operational frameworks and strengthening its presence in India’s competitive luxury hospitality sector.

Through successive leadership responsibilities, Sharma played a central role in aligning Hyatt’s brand portfolio with evolving guest expectations and market demand across the region.

Most Recent Role and Key Achievements

Prior to this transition, Sunjae Sharma served as Managing Director for India and Southwest Asia at Hyatt Hotels Corporation. In that position, he guided Hyatt’s strategy across one of the company’s most strategically important regional clusters.

During his tenure, Hyatt expanded its hotel portfolio in India while strengthening operational capabilities across existing properties. Sharma’s leadership period also coincided with efforts to nurture hospitality talent and reinforce brand standards across the region’s diverse markets.

Alongside Sharma’s new regional mandate, Vikas Chawla will assume responsibility for Hyatt’s India and Southwest Asia business. Chawla joins Hyatt after serving as Managing Director and Chief Executive for India operations at Compass Group, bringing nearly three decades of experience spanning the food service, beverage and consulting sectors.

His career trajectory has included leadership roles that required large-scale operational oversight and strategic market positioning, providing him with insight into hospitality-adjacent industries that intersect with hotel operations.

Education and Professional Competencies

While detailed academic credentials have not been publicly disclosed, both executives bring extensive industry exposure shaped by leadership roles across hospitality and service sectors. Their professional development reflects deep expertise in operational management, regional expansion strategy, and cross-market leadership within the Asia Pacific hospitality landscape.

Scope of New Role

In his expanded Asia Pacific role, Sunjae Sharma will focus on regional strategic initiatives, including growth planning, operational alignment and market development across multiple Hyatt destinations in the region.

At the same time, Vikas Chawla will lead Hyatt’s strategy and performance across India and Southwest Asia, reporting to David Udell, Group President – Asia Pacific. Based in India, Chawla will oversee the company’s expansion pipeline and operational performance across the region.

The leadership transition reflects Hyatt’s intent to strengthen its executive structure as it accelerates expansion in India — a market that continues to play a central role in the company’s long-term Asia Pacific growth strategy.

Hyatt’s decision to elevate Sharma regionally while bringing in Chawla to lead India operations signals the company’s intent to reinforce leadership capacity as its regional footprint continues to grow.