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EXECUTIVE CONNECT
PROFILE INNOVATIVE LEADER
Dr. Nikhil Sikri, Co-founder and CEO at Zolostays, has over 10 years of diverse experience in
startups, management consulting, establishing companies’ sales footprints, and medicine. Prior
to embarking on his startup journey, Nikhil worked as a resident doctor at AIIMS, Delhi followed
by working as a Psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health, Singapore. Post-MBA, he went on to
work as a management consultant with Deloitte and Cerner Corporation.
Dr. Nikhil has been actively involved in all aspects of building the business and his role as a
CEO is instrumental in setting strategies and providing invaluable entrepreneurial leadership. He
truly believes in working hard, challenging boundaries and achieving pinnacles as a team! He
focuses on building the perfect team, organizing and implementing the company’s vision and
mission, defining the roles and processes of the Zolo associates and keeping the entire network together. Dr. Nikhil is an MBBS from
the prestigious AIIMS and a management degree from ISB, Hyderabad.
REALTY STAR
Sandeep Raheja, Chairman, K Raheja Realty, has been leading the K Raheja Realty group for over
25 years. Under his leadership, the company has transformed itself into a real estate powerhouse
with a responsible business ethos. Sandeep led the company’s foray into the commercial sector
by launching Infiniti Mall and became one of the first developers in India to enter this space.
Under his guidance, the group has also branched out into the Hospitality Industry with well-known
properties like Ramada Plaza Palm Grove (Juhu, Mumbai), The Retreat (Erangal, Mumbai), The
Carlton (Kodaikanal), Courtyard by Marriott (Chennai), Conrad (Pune), Infiniti Mall – Andheri &
Malad. Sandeep was a Managing Committee Member of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing
Industry (MCHI) and Practicing Engineers Architects and Town Planners Association (PEATA). He
oversees the development of a large number of prestigious projects including Residential Complexes, Commercial Buildings, IT
Parks, Malls & Hotels. In addition to his business pursuits, he also dedicates a significant amount of his time and resources towards
philanthropic initiatives which include the various colleges built under the Sheila Gopal Raheja Academia umbrella.
DESIGN GURU
Rohit Suraj, Founding Principal & Design Director, Urban Zen, the journey from being in the
merchant navy and commandeering a supertanker around the globe, to designing award-
winning buildings, has been nothing if not unique. As the founder of Hyderabad-based
Urban Zen, Rohit may be considered a maverick by some, as he has no formal educational
background in architecture and design. From a one-person firm in 2011, today Urban Zen
employs over 60 people, with their projects dotting the cityscapes across India, Middle East
and, recently, Europe.
Under the guidance of Rohit, Urban Zen has grown into a multi-disciplinary firm covering
residences, retail, commercial, hospitality, institutional and urban developments across architecture, interiors and landscape.
A number of Urban Zen’s projects have won critical acclaim as well, including the House of Tropics, a residential property in
Bengaluru, and A Sky Full of Stars, a commercial project in Delhi, Overlapping Volumes a residential home situated in Hyderabad
Banjara Hills. Rohit has added yet another feather to his illustrious cap & is now a Founding Member and the Lead Vocalist of the
band SIRIUS. The lockdown gave him space & time to rediscover his passion for music & his love for performing, thus incepting
SIRIUS. Both ‘Music & Architecture’ are variably perceived art forms.
MASTER STRATEGIST
Mehul Nanavati, Managing Director, Raj Petro – A Brenntag Group Company, joined Raj
Petro in 1997 and has held key leadership positions across various functions. He led multiple
functions/projects at Raj Petro, including Plant Head, Projects, Operations, IT/ ERP, HR, Marketing,
Key Account Management, Strategy and M&A and set up greenfield manufacturing plants.
Mehul has been responsible for managing the international subsidiaries in UAE & Netherlands
– as Director of Raj Petro Specialities DMCC, UAE and Managing Director of erstwhile Raj Petro
Specialities (Europe) BV, Netherlands. Mehul completed the General Management Program
(GMP) from Harvard Business School, holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from
Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
from Madras University. He has several technical qualifications, including Lead Auditor under
ISO 9000 systems, Certified Chemist under India FDA, Diploma in Import-Export management.
Mehul is passionate about giving back to society and actively engages in CSR initiatives with non-profit organizations; particularly
close to his heart are initiatives related to education & education infrastructure and clean energy.
118 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|FEBRUARY 2022

