Gaurav is Co-CEO Ennismore, a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with creativity & purpose at their heart. He is also CEO Lifestyle & Leisure Brands at Accor. 

He has over 25 years of experience in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism, both at strategic and operational levels. Gaurav began his career with Accor in Australia, holding various positions in operations and finance, and in 2000, he moved into hotel development and investment, holding various roles, including Chief Development & Investment Officer for Asia Pacific. 

Gaurav was appointed Global Chief Development Officer of Accor in 2015, responsible for all hotel development, investment, and M&A activities for the group worldwide. Under his leadership, Accor's footprint experienced an unprecedented expansion and grew its brand portfolio from 12 to over 40 brands, with the opening of one hotel a day on average and the signing of over 500 hotels a year.  

In October 2020, in addition to CEO of the Lifestyle & Leisure Brands for Accor, Gaurav became co-CEO of Ennismore, a joint venture with Accor, which comprises 17 brands across its lifestyle collective of brands rooted in culture and community, including 25hours, Hyde, Mama Shelter, Mondrian, and SLS; Immersive Resorts creating havens for escapism and entertainment led by Rixos; and a collection of Iconic Luxury Venues pioneering the art of French hospitality led by Paris Society. 

Gaurav is a board member of Ennismore & Banyan Tree, and in January 2023, Gaurav joined Accor’s Luxury & Lifestyle Executive Committee. He holds an MBA from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University) and a postgraduate Diploma in Applied Finance and investment from the Securities Institute of Australia (SIA).