Ovolo Hotels Chief Executive, Dave Baswal, has announced that he will depart the boutique hotel business at the end of September, with Founder and Executive Chairman Girish Jhunjhnuwala to resume the CEO role thereafter.
Since joining the company in 2016, initially as Director of Finance and Operations AU, Baswal quickly progressed to key senior leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director, before his promotion to the CEO position in 2022.
During his tenure, in the face of unprecedented industry challenges, Baswal was “instrumental in guiding the company with resilience and adaptability, ensuring continued growth and success amidst a volatile landscape”, according to Ovolo.
“I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have led and grow Ovolo during a transformative period in its history,” Baswal said of his time as CEO.
“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.”
Ovolo Group Founder and Executive Chairman, Girish Jhunjhnuwala, extended his gratitude to Baswal for his “significant contributions and unwavering dedication”.
“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 said.
Jhunjhnuwala will continue to serve as Executive Chairman, 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 skillful 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.”