Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced a leadership transition in its Asia Pacific operations, with Sunjae Sharma moving to a larger Asia Pacific role while Vikas Chawla has been appointed President for India and Southwest Asia, effective April 1

As part of the transition, Sunjae Sharma, who currently serves as Managing Director for India and Southwest Asia, will relocate to Hong Kong to assume a strategic role with wider regional responsibilities. In an internal communication, David Udell, Group President – Asia Pacific, noted that Sunjae’s new position reflects the company’s focus on scaling operations and growth across the Asia Pacific region.

David also credited Sunjae Sharma with playing a key role in building Hyatt’s presence in India since joining the company in 2002 at the Grand Hyatt Delhi. Over the years, Sunjae has contributed significantly to expanding the brand’s footprint, strengthening operational capabilities and developing hospitality talent in the market.

Commenting on the transition, a Hyatt spokesperson said, “We can confirm there has been a leadership update for Hyatt in India & Southwest Asia to reinforce our long-term strategic ambitions in the region. A formal external announcement with additional details will be shared in due course.”

Meanwhile, Vikas Chawla will report to David Udell and will oversee Hyatt’s overall strategy, performance and growth across India and Southwest Asia. Based in India, he will lead the company’s continued expansion in one of its fastest-growing markets.

Vikas Chawla brings nearly three decades of experience across the food services, beverages and consulting sectors. He joins Hyatt from Compass Group, where he served as Managing Director and Chief Executive for India operations.

Earlier in his career, he founded the healthy beverage brand RasKik, which was later acquired by Reliance Industries. He also spent nearly two decades with The Coca-Cola Company in senior leadership roles across India and Southeast Europe.

Read more: Appointments