Our Team

Sudesh Jhunjhnuwala

Founder and CEO of Hind Management 

Sudesh Jhunjhnuwala is a husband, father, business owner, property investor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and environmental, diversity and accessibility advocate. Sudesh first came to New Zealand in 1985 on his honeymoon. He describes NZ as the most beautiful country in the world and wanted to preserve its beauty; this has become Sudesh’s founding principle of all his business decisions. In 2001, he moved to New Zealand to look after Sudima Group's property portfolio. At this point, he bought the group's first hotel and started on the journey to create Hind Management and Sudima Hotels. Expanding under Sudesh’s leadership, today the group has a diverse, nationwide, and award-winning business portfolio that spans hotels, restaurants, and spas.

Sudesh’s progressive personal and business mantra is, “You have to leave the world in a better position than you found it. I am always thinking, ‘What am I leaving behind?’” His leadership at the top of the hospitality and accommodation industry in New Zealand is built on integrity, ingenuity, and investment in people and the environment. Sudesh’s entrepreneurial spirit and genuine care for others is reflected in a group business approach that has championed innovation, sustainability, environmental protection, diversity, accessibility, and social responsibility. His leadership and business decisions have a positive ripple effect across the local communities in which Sudima Hotels operates and a national effect on the country’s hospitality and accommodation industry, influencing what are now perceived as best-practice standards for hotel operators.

Under Sudesh’s guidance, Sudima Hotels and Hind Management have come to be regarded as leaders in sustainable hospitality and tourism, with Sudesh and company leaders regularly asked to speak at industry and other events about the group’s innovative and sustainable business model.

Sudesh attended the prestigious University of Southern California, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Les Morgan

Chief Operating Officer

Les Morgan, the Chief Operating Officer of Hind Management, brings over three decades of invaluable experience in the Tourism and Hotel sector. A proud New Zealander, he commenced his hotel career in Europe as a sommelier before returning to join an esteemed International 5* Hotel group.

Les’ professional journey has been punctuated by his association with other leading hotel brands and numerous national awards in tourism, business, and leadership, including a prestigious NZ Ministry of Defence award for Patron Excellence.

Les is an industry advisor to both private and government organisations, a regular industry panellist and media commentator. He holds several governance roles and in 2024 was a member of a Prime Minister-led, business mission to Southeast Asia.

The Hind Management group is a New Zealand founded company with over $450m of hospitality and hotel assets under direct ownership or management. The company is nationally recognised as a sector leader in sustainability, diversity, and as an employer of choice. The group employs over 700 people and is most recognised for the Sudima Hotel brand a previous winner of the New Zealand ‘Supreme Tourism Award’.

Helen Watson

Chief Financial Officer

Helen Watson brings over 20 years of financial experience across a broad sector of industries, prior to joining Hind Management, Helen sat on the executive team for two iconic New Zealand retail clothing brands.

Helen is passionate about business and commercial success. A strong accounting professional, her skills extend across business planning, operations management, and management / leadership. She understands the financial levers that support a robust, high-performing company.

Outside of the office, Helen was an integral member of the 2000 World Cup-winning NZ women's cricket team. She continues to be actively involved with cricket, sitting on the NZ Cricket Players Association Trust Board. Helen has also been instrumental in facilitating the partnership between Counties Manukau women rugby players and Sudima Hotels, with a special connection to her own sporting background.

Helen holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and is an associate member of the CPA.

Michel Adolphe

Chief Commercial Officer

Michel Adolphe holds the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Hind Management. Michel has accumulated more than two decades of experience in hotel sales, developing his expertise through significant roles including Director of Sales within Five-star International Hotel brands, before stepping into his current position with Sudima Hotels in 2007.

In his leadership position, Michel drives five-star growth across diverse and changing market segments. He excels in motivating his team and skilfully leveraging a comprehensive marketing mix that includes e-commerce, alongside strong industry-wide relationships. His strategic insight, analytical skills, empathy, and articulate communication significantly enhance his capability to expand the brand. Michel prioritises nurturing relationships with clients and direct reports, a commitment that is reflected in the group receiving the 2023 TECNZ (Tourism Export Council of New Zealand) Allied Operator of the Year Award, as voted by Inbound Tour operators in New Zealand. He dedicates himself to optimising revenue for Hind Management. His leadership plays a pivotal role in steering the brand towards enduring success and heightened recognition in the hospitality industry.

Phillipa Gimmillaro

Chief People Officer 

Phillipa Gimmillaro applies over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry to her role as Chief People Officer. Since joining in 2017, she has overseen people, culture, health, and safety for the group, which employs over 700 across nine sites.
A regular speaker and panellist at industry events, Phillipa was awarded New Zealand HR Director of the Year in 2023, highlighting her instrumental efforts in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the group, including becoming founding members of the Accessible Tick programme, improving support for migrant workers and establishing a modern slavery declaration, improving visibility for the Rainbow communities and rolling out the Hidden Disabilities scheme across the group. Phillipa's focus extends to developing a sustainable culture of community, wellbeing and inclusion.

Phillipa is a chartered member of Human Resources Institute of New Zealand (HRNZ) and now on the chartering assessor panel. She has recently attained Professional Accreditation for Workplace Inclusion from Diversity Works Aotearoa, holding a CIPD qualification in Human Resource Practice from the United Kingdom and an Advanced Diploma from the New Zealand School of Travel & Tourism. Phillipa is an active Industry Advisory Board member providing a crucial link between industry and the education sector. Phillipa is currently working toward an MBA.

Kanika Jhunjhnuwala

Chief Sustainability Officer

Kanika Jhunjhnuwala is a highly experienced ESG professional and currently serves as the Chief Sustainability Officer for Hind Management and Sudima Hotels.She leads, develops and implements sustainable strategies and governance across the group. Kanika has lived in Asia, the Americas and New Zealand and applies a global lens to implementation of sustainable hospitality and tourism. Under her leadership, Sudima Hotels and Hind Management Group have become award-winning industry leaders in sustainability, environmental care and community support.

Sudima achieved the first Toitū net carbonzero certification for its hotels in New Zealand, and its waste reduction plan has influenced transformative practices within the wider industry. In 2023, the group were finalists in both ‘Caring for our Communities’ and ‘Leading the Way in Regenerative Hospitality’ at the renowned HM Awards in Sydney. In 2024, Human Resources New Zealand recognised Hind Management & Sudima Hotels with the prestigious Building Sustainability Through People Award. Kanika launched The Hotel Industry Sustainability Group, enabling hotels to participate in and collaborate on sustainability, including knowledge-sharing and raising the bar for ESG, and working towards climate emission reductions and on a plan for regenerative tourism.

Kanika brings to the group a unique combination of skills and knowledge. A member of the Institute of Directors and a Future Director of Tread Lightly Charitable Trust, she has an academic background in physics, environmental engineering, and environmental economics. Her passion for the outdoors drives her to create meaningful change within her company and the industry.