Riyaaz is amongst one of the most recognized restaurateurs in the country today. Starting out as a young and passionate entrepreneur, he is now the driving force behind the success and evolution of Impresario. The journey which started with a single restaurant has now transformed into a multi-brand empire. Over the last decade, he has created many new concepts across the nation and earned the admiration and respect of the Indian hospitality industry. A pioneer in his field, Riyaaz is famous for his uncanny ability to provide one-of-its-kind experiences to the customers, through innovation. In 2011, he was deemed the ‘Best Restaurateur’ in India at the Time Out Food Awards. Riyaaz is also the youngest Indian to have won the title. Very recently, he has been appointed as the President of National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) – a coveted post for which he was unanimously selected by his peers. Internationally, his restaurants have been nominated for UK’s Restaurant & Bar Design Award as well as shortlisted for Miele’s Top 50 Restaurants in Asia.
OUR PEOPLE
MEET THE MASTERMINDS BEHIND OUR SUCCESS STORY
RIYAAZ AMLANI
MANAGING DIRECTOR
ARSHAD SYED
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Arshad Syed is actively involved in developing a cohesive vision and strategic plan to guide the company. He is an official spokesperson for Impresario and the professional advisor to the Board of Directors. He joined Impresario in 2008 and since then has fostered effective teamwork and communication between the board and the company. He is responsible for identifying, assessing and informing the Board about internal and external issues, as well as ensuring that the routine operations meet expectations and targets. Prior to Impresario, he worked with Gitanjali Group in the diamond and jewellery business, where he picked up the skills to manage large companies and coordinate between different departments.
SRINIVAS RAO
CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER
Srinivas is responsible for ensuring and maintaining the financial well-being and progress of the company. As a chief financial spokesperson, he spearheads the direction, execution and coordination of various arenas of the company including the administrative, business planning, accounting and budgeting. His primary duties include budget management, economic forecasting, overseeing the capital structure of the company, reporting accurate and timely historical financial information for the company. His significant past experience in various roles at the Senior Financial Management rank for companies like Six Senses Hotels, Resorts & Spas – Mumbai, Rep of Maldives, Sun Island amongst others have provided him a strong platform for understanding the critical business financial needs in the hospitality division.
DIVYA AGGARWAL
CHIEF GROWTH OFFICER
Divya is leading the growth for Impresario brands pan India. Her primary expertise lies in consumer marketing, data-driven marketing and sales, which she has honed through her years of experience at Nestle, STAR India, Twitter India and most recently, at Jubilant Food, where she launched the global QSR brand Popeyes in India. Her years of experience have equipped her with a diverse skill set across branding, partnerships, digitization, as well as traditional media.
RANVEER SABHANI
Chief Business Officer
In a career spanning over a decade, Ranveer traces the origins of his experience in hospitality to graduating from the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development. While his journey boasts of some of the most renowned names in the industry, such as the Taj group of hotels, where he was Assistant Manager, F∓B of Wasabi at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel; his role as Manager of Frangipani and Verandah at The Trident (Nariman Point), as well as his involvement as an integral part of the pre-opening of the Trident BKC has further honed his expertise in conceptualising and starting-up new projects. An exhibit of this skill-set is his recent tenure at Banyan India Pvt Ltd, a chain of hotels and restaurants, where he fulfilled his role as Director of Operations of The Black Rabbit delivering tremendous results!
GRESHAM FERNANDES
CULINARY DIRECTOR
Gresham Fernandes’ skills of innovation and experimentation has lent him a name amongst the top chefs for European cuisine in India and rightly so as he was one of the very few talents to be part of a 3 month culinary residence program with the world’s best restaurant ‘Noma’ in Copenhagen, Denmark. Today he spearheads the kitchens of Salt Water Café, Smoke House Deli in Mumbai and Stone Water Grill in Pune where he is constantly cooking up a storm with new flavours, textures and techniques, so much so that people from all across the country come to dine with him. He also take all the brands a notch above its peers and successfully manages to do so by creating specialised concepts and courses. He also comes from a very strong hospitality background where he has worked with brands like The Leela, Aurus, Salt Water Grill and also was one of the pioneers of the concept of ‘molecular gastronomy’ in India.
SHAMSUL WAHID
GROUP EXECUTIVE CHEF
With a keen eye to find unusual combinations and a penchant for contemporary as well as comfort European cuisine, Shamsul is in charge of the brand, Smoke House Deli. He is currently the man behind kitchen counter, innovating and experimenting incessantly to keep the food and brand a step ahead of the game. Starting at Sous Chef for Smoke House Grill and Smoke House Deli in 2007, his passion and creativity has led him to head the team across India for Smoke House Deli and Smoke House Café Bar (T3). Post the completion of his hospitality course he has also worked with the Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi and a British Cruise Liner as Demi Chef De Partie.
VINOD PANDEY
PRESIDENT - LEGAL ADMINISTRATION
Vinod is responsible for all the legal and government liasoning for the company. With a great insight and expertise in the legal field, he also has an unmatched business acumen and hence has been a pillar of support for Impresario from the very beginning. His association with Impresario started off with brand Mocha as a restaurant manager. Today he holds over 28 years of experience in Hospitality industry and along the line hasalso consulted many restaurant groups and multi-national companies.
SATYAJIT DHINGRA
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Satya, has been a cornerstone of the company’s journey, driving its evolution into a leader in India’s food and hospitality landscape. Overseeing operations for iconic brands such as SOCIAL, Smoke House Deli, and BOSS Burger, he has been instrumental in delivering unforgettable customer experiences in more than 20 cities nationwide. With roots tracing back to the pioneering days of Mocha, his hands-on expertise and people-first philosophy shape each dining experience, ensuring authenticity and resonance with every guest. Satya’s prior stints at McDonald’s and Essar have deepened his strategic acumen, fueling Impresario’s mission to craft vibrant, community-driven dining spaces that embody the pulse of modern India.
AMBARISH SHARMA
CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
Ambarish, brings over 20 years of experience in leading HR functions across sectors, including TCS, Wipro, and KPMG. For the past 15 years, he has focused on the hospitality industry, shaping people strategies for large organizations.
At Impresario, he drives the people strategy for iconic restaurant brands, building thriving teams and fostering a culture of innovation. A certified HR professional with qualifications from the American Certification Institute and Carnegie Mellon University, he holds a BE, an MBA from Symbiosis, and a Doctorate in Management Studies.
CHIRAG PUNJABI
CHIEF STRATEGY & FINANCE OFFICER
Chirag focuses on building a future-ready strategy and finance function that balances growth with governance. By bringing together sharp business thinking, data-led insights, and a collaborative way of working, Chirag ensures that Impresario continues to scale sustainably while encouraging innovation across teams
RIZWAN AMLANI
BRAND HEAD
Trained at New York’s Culinary Institute, Rizwan Amlani is a chef with a strong grounding in global hospitality. He has introduced authentic Mexican flavours to Mumbai through Mezcalita and championed Indian coffee with Dope Coffee. Passionate about innovation, culture, and community, he continues to shape distinctive F&B experiences at Impresario Handmade Restaurants.