The Access Group announced the appointment of Shashikant Shimpi (Shashi) as Managing Director, India, for the Hospitality Division. The appointment marks a significant milestone in The Access Group’s APAC growth journey, bringing dedicated senior leadership to a market the company sees as central to its future, both as a fast-growing opportunity for STAAH, an Access company and the region’s leading hospitality technology platform, and as a world-class hub for technology talent, particularly in artificial intelligence. Shashi joined the business in May 2026 and will lead The Access Group’s India operations across both fronts.
Shashi is a seasoned global executive with 25 years of experience in digital transformation, business scaling, and client success. He has successfully established three Global Capability Centres from the ground up, scaling each to more than a thousand professionals across multiple geographies. He joins from RunDTC, where he served as global COO, and has previously held senior leadership roles at Dentsu, Isobar and Tata group companies. Recognised for his ability to translate vision into scale and create long-term value for clients, Shashi brings deep expertise in P&L management, strategic planning, and scaling organisations through both organic and inorganic growth. He was named Business Leader of the Year by the World Leadership Congress.
India is one of the world’s fastest-growing travel and tourism markets, with an expanding base of independent and chain hotels actively seeking modern, integrated technology to improve distribution, optimise revenue, and elevate the guest experience. STAAH, an Access company, has built meaningful traction in this market over many years, and The Access Group now aims to build substantially on that foundation, offering Indian hoteliers access to a broader and more powerful suite of solutions backed by global scale and resources.
Beyond the commercial opportunity, India’s world-class technology talent ecosystem, and particularly its growing strength in AI-related disciplines, also makes it a strategically important base for capability development within the wider Hospitality division. Shashi’s remit will include developing exceptional talent in India that can contribute to the Divisional product and technology ambitions.
“India is an exciting near-term growth market for us in the accommodation software space. Through STAAH, an Access company, we already have a substantial footprint with hoteliers across the country, and as we prepare to bring Access Evo to India, our AI-powered platform that empowers hospitality businesses to focus on what truly matters, from answering the biggest strategic questions to completing everyday tasks, having world-class leadership on the ground is critical. Shashi is exactly the right person to lead The Access Group in India. ” Louise Daley, Head of Hospitality APAC, The Access Group
Commenting on his appointment, Shashikant Shimpi, Managing Director, India, The Access Group, said, “Joining The Access Group at this point in its India journey is a tremendous opportunity. We have a strong foundation through STAAH, an Access company, and the broader Access platform opens up possibilities that support even greater options for our customers to grow their businesses and support their employees to do more. My priority will be to build a team that is deeply connected to The Access Group’s mission, bring in the best talent India has to offer, and ensure our customers across the region have a technology partner they can genuinely rely on.”
