Our Team

Sudesh Jhunjhnuwala

Founder and CEO of Hind Management 

Sudesh started his business career in Hong Kong, working for Sudima Group's design and OEM watch company. In 2001, he moved to New Zealand to look after the 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.

Now, Sudesh is well regarded in the hotel and tourism industry in New Zealand. He is seen as one of the industry leaders and is invited to speak on many panels and judge business awards. He was a judge of the 2017 Global Student Entrepreneurs Award and a panel speaker to major Chinese investors at the 2016 New Zealand Tourism Investment Summit.

Sudesh was a member of the board of the Entrepreneurs Organisation and one of Be. Accessible’s Fab 50 group of business leaders, who are leading by example to create social change in New Zealand businesses and public spaces. 

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 is the Chief Operating Officer of Sudima Hotels and Hind Management. The Group has an annual turnover in excess of $60m and employs over 500 people. Sudima Hotels is currently is undergoing a significant expansion including several new Hotels under development. The company is contracted to have in excess of 1,600 rooms under management by 2021.

Les recognises that whist commercial success is a primary function of any business; strong organisational values and community empathy are vital ingredients to a healthy prosperous company.

Les is a previous winner of the Westpac ‘Excellence in Leadership’. In 2018, Les was awarded the ‘Senior Hotel Executive of the year’ and the recipient Tourism Industry Aoteroa’s, ‘Industry Champion’.

Helen Watson

Chief Financial Officer

Helen Watson brings over 20 years of financial experience across a broad sector of industries, most recently sitting on the executive team for two iconic New Zealand retail clothing brands. 

Helen is passionate about business and commercial success, she understands the financial levers that support a robust high performing company.  Outside of the office Helen was an integral member of the World Cup winning NZ women's cricket team back in 2000.  She continues to be actively involved with cricket sitting on the NZ Cricket Players Association Trust Board. 

Helen holds a PGDIP in Business Administration from Auckland University and is close to completing her Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

Michel Adolphe

Chief Commercial Officer

Michel Adolphe is the Chief Commercial Officer for Sudima Hotels, the national hotel group known for its commitment to sustainability and accessibility. He developed his skill set and two decades of industry experience working internationally in the hotel sector, including eight years as Director of Sales for Hyatt Regency Auckland and Director of Sales and Marketing for Carlton Hotel Auckland. He joined Sudima Hotels as Director of Sales and Marketing in 2007.

Michel strategically delivers five-star growth for the brand across diverse and evolving market segments by motivating his team, effectively using a comprehensive marketing mix, including e-commerce, and leveraging rock-solid, industry-wide relationships. He is strategic, analytical, empathetic, insightful and articulate.

Phillipa Gimmillaro

Chief People Officer 

Phillipa applies over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry to her role as Chief People Officer, overseeing people and culture for the group for the past five years.

Phillipa has been instrumental in the group, becoming a founding member of the Accessible Tick programme. Phillipa's focus is sustainability, community, well-being and inclusion.  An advocate for diversity in leadership, the driving force behind Hind Management's desire to show industry leadership in gender equality and disability inclusion.

Phillipa is a Chartered member of HRINZ, 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 the education sector and industry.