Our Leaders

Vikas Chawla, the MD and CEO at Compass Group India since March 2023. Vikas is an inspirational and innovative global leader who has lived and worked in many countries across three continents. He is a seasoned operator who is passionate about building highly engaged, winning teams, and delivering breakthrough growth. Prior to joining Compass, he embarked on an entrepreneurial journey, building the healthy beverage brand Raskik, a coconut water-based juice, and scaling it to over 35,000 outlets before selling it to Reliance.

He had a long and thoroughly enjoyable journey with The Coca-Cola Company in M&A and diverse leadership roles in India and Europe. He led the operations for Coca-Cola in India for 7 years and tripled its retail penetration. His last role in Coca-Cola was of Managing Director for Southeast Europe, leading the business to double-digit growth across a dozen countries. Vikas has used innovation as a key pillar of growth across all his businesses, which include innovations across product, packaging, and marketing.

Vikas’s passion for social impact has led him back to India after fulfilling various global roles. He believes that India is not only a growth market for the next decades but also that the industry can play a very significant role in uplifting society. His educational qualifications include an MBA from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA, and the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School, Boston.

Ashwani was named the CEO of Food Services, Compass Group India in July 2022. In this role, Ashwani is responsible for leading strategies, technologies and innovations supporting Compass India’s phenomenal growth journey and ambitious business objectives. Prior to this, he was the Chief Operating Officer, Food Services at Compass India where he led Compass India to a strong market share growth and sectoral expansion. He started his journey with Compass India in September 2013 and has held various leadership positions of increasing responsibility since then.

Ashwani is a dynamic business leader with over 20 years of experience in the food service industry. He always has an eye on rapidly evolving key business drivers, and the ability to strategize and leverage the drivers for sustainable growth is what sets Ashwani apart. An innovative thinker and an avid learner, he is passionate about operational and process excellence. He is a graduate from the Institute of Hotel Management, New Delhi and has master’s degree in business administration from International Institute of Mass Media, Delhi, India.

A successful serial entrepreneur, Krishna Wage infused his innovative spirit into Compass Group India in 2020. Passionate about leveraging technology to enhance human potential, he brings a wealth of experience in building high-performance teams and driving impactful business transformations.

As the Co-Founder and CEO of Bottle Lab Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (SMARTQ) since December 2014, Krishna has led the B2B food-tech startup in revolutionizing the F&B experience within institutions. Under his leadership, SMARTQ has redefined industry standards, making institutional dining more efficient, tech-driven, and consumer-centric.

Previously, in 2010, Krishna founded ADing Value, a media company that provided innovative media channels for impactful campaigns. His entrepreneurial journey also includes a stint as a Life Coach at Quantum Leap.

Krishna’s commitment to exceeding expectations and creating value through diverse ventures reflects his visionary leadership, positioning him at the forefront of technological and business innovation.

Debashish Yadav, CEO of ICS Foods, is a seasoned leader in the service industry with over a decade of expertise in food and beverage operations. A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, USA, with an MBA from a renowned institution, he has honed his expertise through roles at prestigious establishments like Kimpton Hotels in Boston and the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai. Since founding the business in 2007, Mr. Yadav has been the driving force behind its strategic vision and growth. His leadership emphasises building a team of dedicated professionals and setting new standards for service excellence and innovation.

Joel Anthony is the Chief Executive Officer of Compass India Support Services since August 2019. With a dynamic career spanning over three decades, he has been instrumental in driving the vision, strategy, and growth for many organisations in start-up and exponential growth environments.

Prior to Compass, Joel was the Director of Business & Operations at Sodexo where he managed an extensive commercial real estate portfolio in India’s IT / ITeS sector.  His professional endeavours include various leadership roles at LG Electronics, General Electric and Philips India.

An Economics Honours graduate from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi and a postgraduate from IMI, Delhi, Joel is active in various industry and professional bodies and is a member of ISLE, ISHRAE, IFMA and CoreNet.

With over two decades of financial expertise, Paramita Bagchi assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer at Compass Group India in March 2022. A CA (Nov 1998) and CISA (June 2009), Paramita excels in finance, budgeting, controls, and process improvements. Her strengths include corporate governance. As a strategic leader, she drives Compass Group India’s growth through forward-looking strategies and expansive vision. Paramita instills a high-performance culture with her exemplary leadership, industry insights, and proactive planning. With a distinguished career at Adidas, Indigo, EY, and EIH Ltd., she stands as a dynamic financial steward, shaping the company’s trajectory and contributing to its strategic success.

Amit Maheshwari, serving as the Chief Operating Officer for Partnership & Retail Operations, boasts an impressive 26-year tenure in the food and beverage sector. Widely recognised for his prowess in enhancing operational excellence, Amit consistently delivers substantial business returns through strategic planning and innovative problem-solving methodologies. With a proven track record of orchestrating successful brand launches and optimising operational workflows, Amit has been instrumental in establishing and expanding leading food and beverage brands across India.

In his capacity as COO, Amit Maheshwari leads Partnership & Retail Operations with distinction, drawing upon his extensive expertise and forward-thinking approach to navigate the dynamic landscape of the industry.

Subroto Gupta is the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Compass Group India. He brings over 25 years of global leadership experience in sales, marketing, operations, and innovation programs across B2B and B2C companies. An alumnus of the MIT Sloan School of Management, Subroto has been recognised for his pioneering work in collective intelligence, automation, and design thinking, featured in publications such as Forbes, The Economist, and Harvard Business Review. At Compass India, Subroto spearheads strategy development, identifies and commercialises new business ideas, drives sustainability initiatives, and oversees M&A activities. His impactful career includes senior roles at Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd. and GENPACT, where he spearheaded numerous workplace innovation and digital transformation programs. As an Advisory Member of SHEROES, he actively contributes to the professional development of women.

Manika Awasthi, Chief People Officer at Compass Group India since April 2023, brings over two decades of global and local HR expertise. Leading the human resources function, she oversees culture, employee experience, talent management, diversity, equity, inclusion, acquisition integration, and organization development.  With a diverse career history at GE, Sapient, and IndiGo, where she served as Vice President Human Resources, Manika has excelled in leading HR for various businesses, setting up HR Shared Service Centres, and driving talent management initiatives. Recognised with the Women’s Leadership Achievement Award and HR Leadership Award, she’s been pivotal in leading women’s leadership networks and mental well-being agendas.

Manish Mamtani, Chief Information Officer at Compass Group India since October 2014, possesses over 2.5 decades of extensive experience in driving business transformation through technology and data. Leading digital product development, implementing innovative service delivery models, and designing robust IT infrastructure, Manish is a dynamic, performance-driven leader. Prior to Compass, he served as Senior VP & Head of IT Governance, PMO at Bharti Airtel Limited, managing strategic IT partners globally and leading a major change in the IT service delivery model. Manish’s leadership roles at Genpact and GECIS highlight his proficiency in overseeing end-to-end IT setups for prestigious clients, implementing IT infrastructure projects, and driving operational excellence. His strategic approach to technology has consistently generated true business value, marking him as a visionary CIO in the industry.

Rohit Arora, Chief Growth Officer for Support Services at Compass Group India, is a seasoned sales and general management leader with over two decades of experience in the technology and services industry. As the Chief Growth Officer at Compass Group, he has been spearheading growth initiatives in the support services portfolio, focusing on innovation, people, and partnerships.

Rohit’s professional journey has been marked by his ability to blend tech execution with strategic growth, underpinned by a deep-rooted belief in the power of teamwork. Before joining Compass Group in July 2024, he served as Sales Director at Microsoft, leading digital sales teams in India and Korea, focusing on cloud and AI solutions.

A strong advocate for sustainability, Rohit integrates eco-friendly practices that ensure Compass Group’s services are not only efficient but also environmentally conscious, aligning with global sustainability goals.

Rohit holds an MBA from XLRI and an engineering degree from the College of Engineering, Pune. Beyond his professional achievements, Rohit is a passionate advocate for Diversity & Inclusion (D&I), actively promoting awareness and understanding in his circles. He is also an avid runner, regularly participating in various distance running events.

Ashish joined Compass Group India as the Chief Procurement & Supply Chain Officer in January 2023. With over two decades of illustrious experience, Ashish brings forth a wealth of expertise garnered from numerous leadership roles in both national and global procurement & supply chain operations.

Within his current role, Ashish shall spearhead the Procurement & Supply Chain function, serving as an integral member of the esteemed India Execom. Leveraging his exceptional leadership acumen, Ashish will drive the group towards crafting a visionary procurement strategy, fostering robust supplier relationships, ensuring seamless delivery of products and services, overseeing procurement projects and teams, adhering to compliance and regulations, and an array of other crucial responsibilities.

Under Ashish’s guidance, the group shall flourish, poised to navigate the intricate landscape of procurement and supply chain management, all while embracing a long-term vision for sustained growth and excellence.

Arjyo Banerjee, Compass Group India’s Vice President of Culinary & Food Innovation, is a seasoned F&B innovator with over two decades of expertise. Passionate about culinary excellence, he spearheads workplace food innovation, sustainability, and wellness strategies. Arjyo’s impactful journey includes leadership roles at Americana in Dubai and Yum Brands and Restaurants International, where he drove significant product development and co-branded initiatives. As the Founder of ACFS Ltd., he provided comprehensive solutions in food and beverage innovation.

Arjyo’s influence extends beyond borders, leaving an indelible mark on the global culinary landscape. He has served as personal Chef for Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. Pranab Mukherjee along with 250 other high-level Indian delegates, during the ASEAN Summit, 2007 in Cebu City. His commitment to excellence and strategic vision shines through in his current role, leading nationwide culinary operations and creating innovative workplace food solutions for Compass Group India.

Vishwak Nand, Head Legal at Compass Group India since 2021, boasts two decades of legal expertise across diverse industries such as healthcare, consumer durables, electronics, and information technology. As a trusted advisor and experienced legal counsel, Vishwak has worked with multinational giants like Max Healthcare, HCL Technologies, Samsung Electronics, and Dell, shaping legal strategies for the India region, Southwest Asia, and APAC.

A result-oriented legal professional with a commercial focus, Vishwak excels in legal documentation, contract drafting, compliance, legal training, audits, and policy design. His leadership is marked by the implementation of best practices and streamlined systems, enhancing efficiency and ensuring timely, high-quality deliverables. A Law and Commerce graduate from Delhi University, Vishwak brings core competencies in contract management, corporate laws, compliance, and team management to his role.

Richa Madhukar, Vice President-Client Solutions at Compass Group India since 2019, brings around 2.5 decades of dynamic experience in client solutions and strategy. At Compass, Richa has been at the forefront of driving result-oriented initiatives, seamlessly aligning with the company’s business goals. Her strategic partnership approach has been instrumental in achieving targets and fostering revenue growth, marking significant milestones in her professional journey.

Prior to joining Compass, Richa held the position of Senior Consultant Sales Learning and Enablement at Dell, where her passion for teaching and learning was evident. Her extensive experience, coupled with a strategic mindset, positions her as a valuable leader in shaping and enhancing client solutions at Compass Group India.

Rajeev Bhardwaj is a versatile and seasoned professional with over three decades of experience spanning consumer products, FMCG, telecom services, and retail. Having held pivotal roles at Reliance Communications, The Mobilestore Ltd., GE, Blow Plast, and GTC Industries, he brings a wealth of industry insight. Currently, as the Operations Head in the SUS Division at Compass Group India since September 2015, Mr. Bhardwaj is celebrated for his strategic acumen, adaptability, and swift value addition. His distinguished career includes leadership roles at Mobiliti World and Reliance Communications, where he served as Circle Head for UP West and GSM and as Business Head GSM for Delhi Circle. With a proven track record from GE Lighting India to Blow Plast Ltd., Mr. Bhardwaj consistently delivers exceptional results, showcasing transferable competencies and expertise that make him a valuable asset to any organisation.

Nitasha Pania, Head of Marketing and Communications at Compass Group India since November 2022, boasts over 16 years of expertise in B2B Marketing & Communications. A seasoned marketing leader, Nitasha orchestrates communication initiatives to enhance brand awareness and executes multi-platform brand storytelling, tailoring messages to stakeholders and crafting marketing campaigns aligned with Compass Group India’s business objectives. Prior to joining Compass, Nitasha’s career spanned across renowned MNCs and startups globally, showcasing her prowess in Growth Strategy, Product Marketing, Brand Management, and Digital Marketing. A mass communication graduate and a master in business marketing, Nitasha is a passionate leader known for setting examples and fostering team growth.

With an experience of 17+ years across leading brands, Malabika is passionate about customer centricity. She works closely with the innovation team to design and develop an insight-driven value proposition for Compass Group India. Her endeavour is to partner in driving business and sector goals with cross-functional collaboration.

She has been with Compass Group India for over 8 years. After spearheading the marketing and communication initiatives, she is now building Chartwells India as a leading sector brand in India. From designing and developing a reimagined value proposition for the education sector, including lead generation, bespoke client solutions, and ongoing evolution of the proposition, she also drives effective account management and partnership with the regional teams. Giving back to society and optimism are the two-fold mantras that keep her going.

In February 2023, Harish embarked on a new chapter in his career, joining Compass Group India as the esteemed Sector Head—Healthcare. With a robust professional background spanning over two decades, Harish has honed his expertise through notable stints at prominent companies such as Book My Show, Reliance Big Cinemas, Spring Leaf Retail, Reliance Retail, and Café Coffee Day.

Within his current role, Harish assumes the vital responsibility of spearheading the sector strategy in food services. His unwavering focus revolves around accelerating revenue growth through the implementation of client-facing solutions, refining operational development, overseeing proposal management, and ensuring seamless operational delivery.

Additionally, Harish embraces the task of driving effective account management in collaboration with the regional and corporate teams to further bolster the organisation’s success.  Through his astute leadership, he endeavours to elevate Medirest India as a preeminent sector brand in alignment with the company’s long-term vision and strategic plan.