Board of Studies

Ranganayaki Rangachari (Rama) is a Practicing Chartered Accountant with over 24 years of experience, working in diverse sectors.

Currently she is practicing as Chartered Accountant specializing in the areas of FEMA, GST and start up advisory. She is an Independent Director on the Board of a Listed company and is a visiting faculty at Business Schools teaching Financial accounting, Financial Management, Corporate Laws and Sustainability & ESG. She is a mentor for Women and Independent Directors and Start-ups on Corporate Governance and prepare them for Board roles on Financial and Compliance skills. A speaker at various Professional forums.

Dr. Jayant Kathe Sir has been working in the hospitality industry since 1982, after completing a Diploma in HMCT. From 1985 to 1989, he served as Assistant Manager, F&B Service at Fariyas Holiday Resort in Lonavala, where he managed two specialty restaurants, a bar, and a coffee shop. In 1991, he joined the Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology in Dadar, Mumbai, as a lecturer in the F&B Service Department, where he taught theory and practicals, coordinated student rotas, supervised theme dinners, and assisted final-year students with their project reports. He continually upgraded his skills, earning a PhD in 2019. He is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) and qualified as a Resource Person for the "Direct Trainers Skill" program, a joint initiative between the Government of India and Thames Valley University, conducting workshops in various locations.

He also accompanied 100 final-year students to the Dubai Air Show. Currently, he serves as an adjunct professor at Maharashtra State Skills University. Over the years, he has conducted tailor-made training for catering staff at institutions such as Bharat Petroleum, RCF Chembur, INS Hamla, Western & Central Railway Catering Services, and several hotels and resorts. He headed hospitality in Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University for 1 year.

Experienced Human Resources Professional with a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry. Skilled in Talent Management, Talent Acquisition, Capability Building, Learning and Development Manager, Cultural Transformation, Hospitality Management, Customer Service, and Hotel Management. Strong people management skill with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) focused in Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, Training and Developement from NIBM Coimbatore.

He is currently the Assistant Director of Talent & Culture at Sofitel Mumbai BKC, bringing with him 21 years of industry experience.

Brigadier PK Ganjoo has served for 38 yrs in Army. He has vast experience in conceptualising and innovation of hospitality standards, training of Chefs and Stewards and preparation of menus for the cook houses and Officers' Messes of Indian Defence Forces.

He has a degree in Food Analysis and Quality Assurance and has worked with DRDO in researching Survival Rations and Ready to Eat meals, that have long shelf life.

With over 15 years of experience in Talent Development, Mr. Heeshal specializes in Career Development, Succession Planning, and HiPo (High potential) employee development. He has led Learning & Talent Development for six pre-opening hotels, improving culture, quality, and guest experience. In 2015, he received the 'Best Learning & Development Person' award for his contributions.

Key Highlights:
'Best Learning & Development Person' (Accor Hotels India, 2015)
Led Talent Development for six pre-opening hotels
Expertise in comprehensive Talent Management
Skilled in training teams from 92+ nationalities
Experienced in quality standards like LQA, Coyle, and ISO 9001.

Versatile Human Resources professional with comprehensive international HR leadership experience. Strategy architect, driving HR transformation with a sharp focus on innovative HR initiatives, new-gen technology-driven HR practices, re-engineering processes, capability building and capitalizing on organizational growth opportunities. A creative thinker, problem solver and decision maker who creates high-impact employee engagement & culture and aligns the organization and business strategy with people strategy, in pursuit of high level of customer and employee satisfaction and organizational profitability, across Indian and International geographies.

A robust people management experience of over 24 years, across multiple countries and diverse industries such as Hospitality, Retail, Interiors, Telecom, Media, BPO and Consulting Firms.

Experienced Professional Chef and Culinary Expert with a passion for gourmet cuisine.
With over 44 years in the hospitality sector, he has worked across prestigious international hotel chains, in-flight catering, quick-service restaurants (QSR), retail, and e-commerce. Throughout his career, he held various roles, including Executive Chef, Corporate Chef, General Manager, Entrepreneur, and Consultant.
Proud member of:

• WICA (Western India Culinary Association)
• AHPWI (Association of Hospitality Professionals Welfare of India

With 25 years of experience in aviation and hospitality, she has held key roles at Jet Airways, including Cabin Crew Manager and Base Incharge, where she specialized in operations, training, performance management, and crisis management. For the past 7 years, she has focused on student training and development. Formerly Head of Training and Development at Aptech Aviation Academy, she has conducted workshops and seminars on personality development, soft skills, and image management for corporates and colleges like NMIMS and DY Patil. She is currently the Director of Flying Career Aviation Academy and President of Rotary Club Thane Passion, embodying the spirit of the modern woman leader.

With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Sameer Sud, General Manager of The Leela Mumbai, embodies dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work. He began his career in 1990 as a Management Trainee at The Leela Palaces & Resorts, quickly earning recognition for his eagerness to learn. Over the years, Mr. Sud advanced through various roles, showcasing leadership and a passion for guest experience, from Assistant Manager at The Leela Goa to Duty Manager at The Leela Kempinski, Mumbai. His commitment to excellence was further demonstrated during the reopening of The Leela Mumbai, where he excelled as Assistant Front Office Manager. Over his career, Mr. Sameer Sud has demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and a genuine passion for hospitality. His unwavering commitment to providing exceptional service and creating magical moments for guests has earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues, peers, and the industry. The motivational story of Mr. Sud serves as a reminder that anybody can achieve their aspirations if they put in the necessary effort, are committed to the task, and pursue it relentlessly. He still motivates aspiring leaders and hoteliers by demonstrating to them that talent, enthusiasm, and unalterable determination can lead to success.

Under Mr. Sameer Sud's leadership, The Leela Mumbai was named the Best Hotel for Business Travelers in the Asia Pacific by CNBC. He has earned numerous accolades, including:

• Hospitality Superstars 2018
• Best Professional Hospitality by Safari India (2018)
• India’s Top 10 Hospitality General Managers (Best of India Biz Awards)
• Best Leader of the Year (Go.MMT, 2022)
• Top 30 General Managers in India & Silver Award (Hospitality.com, 2023)
• 13th Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Achievement Award
• Recognition from IHC London and IIHM for outstanding contributions to hospitality.