Lemon Tree Hotels Limited announces changes in strategic leadership effective October 1, 2025 subject to the approval of the shareholders. These strategic changes represent a thoughtful and future-focused succession planning, demonstrating the company’s unwavering commitment to leadership continuity and strong strategic governance.
Senior Leadership Changes at Lemon Tree Hotels
Executive Chairman
Name: Patanjali Govind Keswani
Effective Date: October 1, 2025
Board Role: Chairs the Board of Directors as Executive Chairman
Focus Areas:
- Ensuring a smooth transition of his executive/operational role over to the MD and CEO
- Strengthening Lemon Tree Hotels expansion and asset light growth
- Providing high-level strategic oversight and long-term governance
Managing Director
Name: Neelendra Singh
Effective Date: October 1, 2025
Responsibilities:
- Overseeing day-to-day operations
- Heading all businesses and functions
Background: Neelendra brings with him 26 years of experience. He began his professional career at Shoppers’ Stop in 1999 as a Senior Officer in Retail Operations. He subsequently worked with Arcus (Home Improvement Retail) as a Store Sales Manager and then with Hutchison Max Telecom (Orange). His most recent and longest tenure has been with Adidas where he started as Regional Manager, West India in 2005, then Retail Director for India 2010 followed by Group Retail Director for South Korea till 2014, Senior Vice President, Global DTC & Franchise in Germany till 2019 and last as the General Manager/Managing Director in India. In his last role, he was responsible for shaping strategy, directing investments, developing capabilities, and delivering operational results for all channels for the entire business of Adidas.
He has completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University and later completed his MBA from IMT, Ghaziabad.
Executive Director & CFO
Name: Kapil Sharma
Effective Date: October 1, 2025
Responsibilities:
- Finance, Strategy, Technology, Legal, Secretarial and Procurement functions
Background: A seasoned Chartered Accountant and the existing Chief Financial Officer of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited is being elevated to the Board as Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. He brings over 30 years of experience in financial management. Since joining the Lemon Tree Group in 2004, he has played a key role in driving key initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, project financing, and capital market activities including listing of the company. His expertise continues to be invaluable in supporting the company’s strategic growth and financial strength.
President
Name: Vishvapreet Singh Cheema
Effective Date: June 9, 2025
Responsibilities: Operations, Human Resources and the Revenue function
Background: Vishvapreet brings with him 28 years of extensive experience in hospitality with his last role being that of Director of Operations for South West Asia at IHG Hotels & Resorts where he oversaw ~50 hotels, ~8,000 rooms and ~Rs. 2,000 crores of revenue per annum across India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. He previously also worked with Oberoi Hotels, IHHR Hospitality, Radisson Group of Hotels, Marriott International and Carnival UK (P&O Cruises).
He is a hotel management graduate from the Institute of Hotel Management, Lucknow, and completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management from the Oberoi Center for Learning & Development (OCLD) in 2000.
Senior Leadership Changes at Fleur Hotels Limited (Material Subsidiary)
Executive Chairman
Name: Patanjali Govind Keswani
Effective Date: October 1, 2025
Board Role: Chairs the Board of Directors as Executive Chairman
Focus Areas:
- Ensuring a smooth handover of his executive/operational role over to the MD and CEO
- Guiding and strengthening Fleur Hotels’ expansion plans through a structured capital allocation strategy focused on asset development/acquisitions/leases with disciplined risk management
- Providing high-level strategic oversight and long-term governance
Managing Director & CEO
Name: Saurabh Shatdal
Effective Date: October 1, 2025
Responsibilities:
- Overseeing day-to-day operations
- Heading all businesses and functions
Background: Saurabh brings with him 27 years of extensive experience in capital raising, land acquisitions, deal structuring and hospitality operations, with his last role being that of Managing Director, India – Capital Markets & Land and India Head-Retail for Cushman & Wakefield. He has also worked with CBRE, REGUS Group Plc, ITC Hotels, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Le Méridien Hotels and the Leela Group of Hotels.
He is a hotel management graduate from the Institute of Hotel Management, Bhubaneswar.
Chief Financial Officer
Name: Mayank Sharma
Effective Date: Current Role
Responsibilities:
- Finance, Strategy, Technology, Asset Management and Procurement
Background: Mayank Sharma is a Chartered Accountant with over 15 years of diverse experience spanning consultancy and industry roles. He brings proven expertise in financial management and control, driving both top-line growth and bottom-line efficiency through innovative financial strategies and robust procedures. Throughout his career, Mayank has played a key role in conceptualising and implementing effective financial frameworks. He has led initiatives in corporate restructuring, evaluated strategic growth opportunities, and managed mergers and acquisitions for the group. His hybrid background enables him to blend strategic thinking with operational execution, contributing significantly to the organisation’s long-term success.
Vice President – Projects & Engineering
Name: Sanjeev Jain
Effective Date: Current Role
Responsibilities:
- Design, project management and oversight of development of greenfield, brownfield hotel projects, conversions of acquired/leased operating hotels and ongoing renovations of the company’s owned and leased hotels
Background: Sanjeev has an overall experience of 33 years. He started his career with NBCC Limited in New Delhi. He was last associated with Bloom Hotels as the Chief Standards Officer.
He has completed his Bachelors of Technology in Civil Engineering from IIT, Bombay in 1991. In 1997 he also completed Masters of Science in Civil Engineering from NUS, Singapore.
