News: Oyo India hires for two key senior roles to improve guest safety & security

Appointments

Oyo India hires for two key senior roles to improve guest safety & security

The chain of leased and franchised hotels, homes and living spaces has appointed Vice President of Security and Risk and Director- Emergency Response for India SA operations.
Oyo India hires for two key senior roles to improve guest safety & security

Captain Shakil Ahmed, joins the OYO India & South Asia team as the Vice President of Security and Risk and Annie Vig joins as Director- Emergency Response. 

Together with multiple tech innovations for improved guest experience and safety, the hires will help strengthen existing efforts as the company focuses on elevated guest experience and safety as a key business priority. 

Ahmed is a veteran of the corporate security, brand protection, and business resilience space. He has over two decades of experience in the Indian Army, Banking & Financial Sector, Pharmaceuticals, FMCG, Manufacturing, BFSI and E-commerce sectors. He has previously led Global Security, South Asia at Pfizer, Brand Protection at Diageo India and has most recently led the middle mile Logistics and Supply Chain Security program for Amazon in India.

Vig, also come with a rich experience of 20 years. She is passionate about safety oversight, both at work as well as home. 

At her previous organization, IndiGo, she worked closely with the chief of safety and the CEO, and was responsible for developing and leading the implementation of policies and strategies derived from ERM Manual through training, audits, and other modes of communications and collaborating on joint exercises with neighbouring countries and security forces and other agencies.

Oyo has been constantly working towards improving safety and security for their guests. Recently, it launched an in app SOS button feature that will enable guests experiencing any emergency situation to not only receive the assistance of the on-ground hotel staff but also benefit from the expertise of a specially trained 24x7 OYO Safety Response Team (SRT) and also initiate a call with local law enforcement authorities.

The idea is to look out for their customers and enhance their experience. And technology is definitely an enabler helping them in creating that safe experience. However, the leadership team at Oyo realizes that right people are required to drive tech innovations as well. 

Aditya Ghosh, CEO - India and South Asia, OYO Hotels and Homes, shared, “At OYO, we believe that technology is an enabler and can help us offer enhanced safety solutions to all our guests. We continue to ramp up on technology and talent in the guest safety and experience domains and believe Capt Shakil Ahmed & Annie Vig’s appointments will help move the needle forward on all things safety in India SA region."

Besides the SOS button Oyo has a  in-app support platform - OYO Assist that offers end-to-end automated resolution to customers, ranging from booking modification to enquiries on OYO hotel policies to claiming for refunds on bookings, all at the touch of a button. 

As the market of franchised hotels and living spaces expands, there are many challenges that also emerge along with it. Travellers and tourists are exploring commercialized as well as remote areas and more and more people are letting out their places. Security and safety of employees is surely critical as the market grows. With these two appointments and more use of tech how Oyo is able to enhance the guest experience is to watch out for. If the company is able to create that impact and solve the safety challenge then their story will become good to follow for others in the space as well. 

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Topics: Appointments, Leadership

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