Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, June 2026 — ECKO Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Dr. Sonali Dutta Baanerjee as its Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). In her new role, she will lead the development of the company’s people strategy and organizational architecture across both corporate and hotel operations, working closely with Founder Perkin Rocha to build a strong people-first culture as ECKO expands from 12 operational hotels to 20 additional properties.
Bringing more than 30 years of experience in human capital strategy, leadership development, executive coaching, and organizational transformation, Dr. Sonali Dutta Baanerjee has built a distinguished career advising Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, global capability centres, and government organizations. A Certified ICF Executive Coach and C-suite advisor, she has successfully scaled organizations from 400 to 1,500 employees and certified more than 1,500 leaders across industries including hospitality, pharmaceuticals, aviation, healthcare, BFSI, and technology.
Prior to joining ECKO Hotels & Resorts, Dr. Sonali served as Co-Founder of Success Studios, following her tenure as Chief Executive Officer at Xena World. Earlier, she was Chief Human Resources Officer at TripFactory.com, where she led the company’s people strategy and organizational development initiatives. She also served as Strategic Consultant – Human Capital Development & Transformation at Syngene International Limited, designing workforce transformation strategies, employee experience frameworks, and capability development programs for global business operations.
Throughout her career, Dr. Sonali has held several senior leadership positions across renowned organizations, including Head of India Trainings for Business Functional, Domain and Organizational Development at HGS – Hinduja Global Solutions, Vice President & Head – Learning and Development at 24/7 Customer, Vice President at HR Anexi Private Limited, Head – Learning and Development at CBay Systems, Centre Head – Process Training and Knowledge Management at Hewlett-Packard, Head of Design and Development of Training Content at Infosys BPO, and Consultant – Head of Training Initiatives at Macmillan. She also founded Success Studios, where she partnered with corporate clients and government bodies to drive leadership development, executive coaching, knowledge transfer, and organizational excellence.
Academically, Dr. Sonali holds a Master of Arts (MA) and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) in English from Jadavpur University, along with a Master of Science (MS) in Psychotherapy and Counselling from the Institute for Psychotherapy and Management Sciences (IPMS).
With her extensive expertise in leadership coaching, organizational transformation, talent development, and culture building, Dr. Sonali is well positioned to create a scalable people framework that supports ECKO Hotels & Resorts’ ambitious growth journey while fostering exceptional employee and guest experiences.
About ECKO Hotels & Resorts
ECKO Hotels & Resorts is a new-age hospitality brand inspired by the Greek word “Echo,” reflecting its mission to create memorable guest experiences through heartfelt service, artistic spaces, and meaningful connections. The company offers vibrant hospitality destinations across India, blending comfort, local culture, and personalized experiences for both business and leisure travelers.
Built around its philosophy of “Living in the Moment,” ECKO Hotels & Resorts focuses on creating spaces where guests can pause, reconnect, and enjoy authentic hospitality. As the company continues its rapid expansion across India, it remains committed to delivering exceptional service through people-centric values, innovative hospitality experiences, and sustainable growth.
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