Head of South Asia

About Us

Since pioneering Asia Pacific's first international-class serviced residence with the opening of The Ascott Singapore in 1984, Ascott has grown to be a trusted hospitality company with over 950 properties globally. Headquartered in Singapore, Ascott's presence extends across more than 230 cities in over 40 countries in Asia Pacific, Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the USA.

Its diversified accommodation offerings span serviced residences, co-living properties, hotels and independent senior living apartments. Ascott's award-winning hospitality brands include Ascott, Citadines, lyf, Oakwood, Somerset, The Crest Collection, The Unlimited Collection, Fox, Harris, POP, Preference, Quest, Vertu and Yello. Through Ascott Star Rewards (ASR), Ascott's loyalty programme, members enjoy exclusive privileges and offers at participating properties.

A wholly owned business unit of CapitaLand Investment Limited, Ascott is a leading vertically-integrated lodging operator. Harnessing its extensive network of third-party owners and in-market expertise, Ascott grows fee-related earnings through its hospitality management and investment management capabilities.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a strategic and visionary leader to oversee and drive all operations and growth initiatives for Ascott's South Asia region. The Regional Head will be responsible for delivering business results, enhancing operational performance, and shaping the strategic direction of one of the group's most important markets. This role requires a forward-thinking executive with a deep understanding of the hospitality industry, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to lead high-performing teams across diverse markets.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute regional growth strategies aligned with the Group's long-term vision.
• Identify market trends, emerging risks, and expansion opportunities to provide strategic guidance to senior management.
• Champion a culture of innovation, agility, and continuous improvement to elevate operational and service standards.

Business Development

• Lead market expansion efforts, including identifying acquisition, partnership, and joint venture opportunities.
• Drive top-line growth through targeted sales and marketing strategies that leverage Ascott's brand strength and unique offerings.
• Maintain and deepen relationships with key owners, clients, and partners to strengthen business positioning and customer loyalty.
• Stay informed on competitor movements and customer insights to influence proactive business development initiatives.

Operational Excellence

• Lead regional teams to achieve operational efficiency, service excellence, and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor business performance through KPIs and implement best practices for operational optimization.
• Ensure high-quality execution of day-to-day operations and uphold company brand standards.

Financial Management

• Develop, manage, and report on budgets, forecasts, and capital expenditure in alignment with corporate objectives.
• Analyze financial results to identify performance gaps and implement corrective measures to maximize profitability.
• Oversee investment decisions and ensure financial discipline in all growth and operational activities.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and manage strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders including investors, government bodies, and strategic partners.
• Represent the organization in high-level negotiations, public forums, and industry engagements.

Leadership & Talent Development

• Attract, develop, and retain top leadership talent to build a strong succession pipeline.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and personal growth.
• Support the leadership team with coaching, feedback, and strategic direction to enhance team capability and cohesion.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Real Estate, Finance, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of senior executive experience in the hospitality industry , with a strong focus on South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives).
• Proven track record in driving business growth, profitability, and market expansion at scale.
• Strong understanding of the South Asian hospitality landscape, cultural dynamics, and regulatory environment.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, including experience with government agencies, investors, and industry bodies.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence, inspire, and execute in a complex, fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and analytical thinking skills.
• Fluency in English; additional regional languages would be an advantage.