Chief executive officer Dave Baswal to depart Ovolo Hotels

Ovolo hotels have announced the departure of chief executive officer Dave Baswal from his role, effective from the end of September.

Baswal first joined the company in 2016, initially as director of finance & operations Australia, progressing through roles including COO and CFO, managing director, and ultimately assuming the CEO position in 2022.

During his tenure, Baswal played a pivotal role in steering Ovolo through unprecedented challenges faced by the global hospitality industry. The group said his leadership was instrumental in guiding the company with resilience and adaptability, ensuring continued growth and success amidst a volatile landscape.

“I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have led and grow Ovolo during a transformative period in its history,” Baswal said. “I leave with deep admiration for the dedication and creative passion of our team members, whose commitment has been pivotal in achieving our collective successes, to connect with our guest emotionally and truly do things differently.”

Founder and executive chairman of Ovolo Group, Girish Jhunjhnuwala, said: “We extend our deepest gratitude to Dave for his significant contributions and unwavering dedication to Ovolo.

“Under his leadership, Ovolo has maintained its position as a leader and disrupter in the hospitality sector, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”

Jhunjhnuwala will resume the role of CEO in addition to his responsibilities as executive chairman.

These roles will continue to report directly to CEO with Wayne Taranto, Lucas Chanter and Joel Bartlet continuing to lead operations in their respective regions of Australia, Hong Kong and Bali.

“As we navigate this leadership transition, Ovolo remains steadfast in our commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality experiences and driving innovation across our properties,” Jhunjhnuwala added. “We are particularly focused on expanding our presence in Southeast Asia imminently, a strategic growth area for Ovolo, where we see tremendous opportunity to elevate our brand and redefine the guest experience.

“We will miss Dave’s skilful use of metaphors and analogies. We wish him the very best in his future endeavours and hope that this new chapter in his life brings him nothing but happiness and fulfilment.”

A Hong Kong brand, Ovolo Group remains a family-owned and privately-operated business operating three hotels and three restaurants in Hong Kong, and bars & restaurants across Australia in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane.

Ovolo also has the By Ovolo Collective within its portfolio of hotels, including Laneways By Ovolo in Melbourne Australia, Nishi Apartments in Canberra Australia, Southside By Ovolo and The Aberdeen Harbour in Hong Kong, and Mamaka Kuta Beach in Bali Indonesia.

Feature image: Ovolo founder and executive chairman Girish Jhunjhnuwala and outgoing CEO Dave Baswal.

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Dave Baswal Girish Jhunjhnuwala Ovolo Hotels