Roni Kumar Khan has once again brought distinction to Bangladesh’s hospitality sector by being honored with the APEC (Asia Pacific, excluding China) HR Leader Award 2025 for Talent Development. The recognition reaffirms his sustained contribution to building people-centric organizations and shaping future-ready talent strategies across the region.
This achievement marks another milestone in a remarkable journey of professional excellence. In 2022, Khan made history as the first Bangladeshi within Marriott International to receive the HR Leader Award – an accomplishment that placed him among the region’s most influential HR leaders and highlighted Bangladesh’s growing presence in global hospitality leadership.
Khan’s career reflects a consistent trajectory of transformation-driven HR leadership. He began his professional journey in the corporate sector with Robi and Sparkle Blue Ribbons Ltd., before transitioning into hospitality – where his leadership identity was firmly established.
His entry into the industry came through Four Points by Sheraton Dhaka (now Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan), where he joined during the critical pre-opening phase. Over nearly five years, he played an instrumental role in establishing HR foundations, developing organizational policies, and shaping workplace culture from the ground up. His contributions during this formative stage positioned him as a key driver in building the hotel’s people systems, ultimately leading to his progression to Assistant Human Resources Manager.
He later took on the role of Head of Human Resources at Royal Tulip Sea Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, a 493-room property, where he led comprehensive HR structuring and operational alignment during a pivotal growth phase of the organization.
In 2019, Khan joined Renaissance Dhaka Hotel as Human Resources Manager during its pre-opening journey, contributing significantly to the establishment of HR systems and organizational structure from inception. His leadership and impact quickly earned him promotion to Associate HR Director, reflecting his ability to translate strategy into structured people practices.
After a brief professional engagement with Mana Bay in 2024, where he contributed to policy and HR framework development, he returned later that year to Renaissance Dhaka Hotel as Director of Human Resources, continuing to lead talent strategy and organizational development initiatives.
Widely regarded as a people-focused leader, Khan is known for his emphasis on talent development, cultural transformation, and building sustainable HR ecosystems that enable organizational growth. His latest recognition at the APEC HR Leader Award 2025 stands as a testament not only to individual excellence but also to his enduring impact on hospitality HR leadership across the Asia-Pacific region. From shaping pre-opening HR systems to building strong organizational cultures, his journey reflects a rare blend of strategic leadership and long-term commitment to people development.