OYO appoints former Ola exec Vijay Ghadge to head frontier businesses

Budget hospitality chain OYO Hotels & Homes has appointed Vijay Ghadge as the chief business officer of its frontier business, India South Asia.

The new appointment is in line with the company’s efforts to grow for its frontier business, which comprises of OYO’s self-operated hotels (OYO Townhouse, Collection O, SilverKey), student housing and co-living and OYO Home businesses, the company said in a statement.

“Having someone of his calibre, with a deep understanding of business, will further help us grow from strength to strength and tap new opportunities for our brands under frontier businesses at OYO,” Ankit Gupta, chief operating officer & SVP - frontier businesses, OYO India and South Asia said. Ghadge will report to Gupta. 

Ghadge has over 20 years of professional experience. He has previously worked with Bengaluru-based ride-hailing company Ola, where he was part of the India operations and spearheaded the company’s growth in smaller towns. He also played a role in the launch and expansion of Rocket Internet's fashion venture Jabong, the statement said. Ghadge has also held senior positions at Dr. Reddy's and Ranbaxy Laboratories. He is an alumnus of London Business School and the University of Poona.

The hotel chain reported its FY19 earnings last week, where it widened its losses six-fold, as revenue grew four-fold.   

Ghadge’s appointment comes months after multiple top-level management rejigs at the company, which seeks an $18 billion valuation once it’s public. 

In December, OYO elevated its then India and South Asia CEO and former IndiGo president Aditya Ghosh to its board. The former head of OYO’s new real estate business, Rohit Kapoor, filled in the India and South Asia CEO position.

The company, last month, entered into a strategic long-term global partnership with Texas-based travel technology company Sabre Corporation.