Ranjit Malkani is Kuoni Asia CEO

Our Corporate Bureau

Mumbai, Dec 10: Kuoni Travel (India) Pvt Ltd chairman and CEO Ranjit Malkani has taken over charge as the CEO Asia. He will be managing the Kuoni Group’s businesses in Asia, effective from January 1, 2002. Additionally, Mr Malkani has been appointed as a member of the management board of the Kuoni Group. He becomes not only the first Indian, but the first non-European member of the Group Management Board of Kuoni Travel Holdings Ltd — one of the world’s largest travel companies.

Mr Malkani’s designation will now be CEO — Asia & India. Besides, continuing to manage Kuoni India, he will be responsible for the management and leadership of P&O Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok and to seek fresh opportunities in the travel and tourism industry across Asia — especially in China, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Mr Malkani, along with the other board members, will play an important role in guiding the Kuoni Group in its strategic direction, according to a company release.

This also augurs well for the Indian travel and tourism industry in general that a successful European company with business interests around the world recognises the importance of their India operations and seeks the expertise of an Indian to manage their development in Asia and guide the Group as a whole in strategic decision-making, the release added.

Mr Malkani will focus on the twin causes of playing an important role in the development of the Indian travel and tourism industry, and managing the success and growth of the Kuoni Group in Asia.

Though this appointment will entail a lot of travel for him within Asia and to Switzerland, he will continue to be based in Mumbai.