Joe Cherian Nominated for HCP Human Resources Award 2026 – The People’s Choice for Hospitality Excellence

As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, the spotlight increasingly falls on leaders who build resilient organisations through people, governance, and scalable HR systems. The HCP Human Resources Award 2026 – The People’s Choice for Hospitality Excellence celebrates such changemakers, and among this year’s distinguished nominees is Joe Cherian, a seasoned HR leader with 18 years of experience, including 14 years dedicated to the hospitality sector.

Widely respected for his ability to scale HR operations across complex, multi-location hospitality businesses, Joe has successfully managed workforces ranging from 150 to over 3,000 employees. His career reflects a rare blend of strategic vision and operational depth, spanning strategic human capital management, employee relations, industrial relations, statutory compliance, shared services, and large-scale HR transformation. His leadership style is defined by a strong belief that people systems, when designed with purpose, become the backbone of sustainable business growth.

Today, Joe serves as Chief Human Resources Officer at LandCraft Retail Pvt. Ltd. for the brand Food Square, where he leads the organisation’s HR operations and people strategy at a time of rapid expansion. In this role, he has driven a significant digital transformation by implementing HROne as the core HR technology platform for onboarding, HR operations, performance management, and exit processes, while also introducing Plum as the organisation’s insurance and employee benefits technology partner. These initiatives have strengthened transparency, governance, and employee experience across the company.

Beyond technology, Joe works closely with business leaders to align people strategy with commercial goals. From manpower planning for new store launches to strengthening workplace culture and retention, he plays a pivotal role in building teams that can scale with the organisation’s ambitious growth plans.

Before joining LandCraft Retail, Joe was Head of Human Resources at Machan Resorts LLP, a luxury boutique resort group with properties across Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Here, he built the HR function from the ground up, introducing structured policies, compliance frameworks, leadership development initiatives, and modern HR systems. His implementation of Zoho HRMS transformed payroll, workflows, and employee self-service while providing real-time HR insights to senior leadership. Under his stewardship, initiatives around employee engagement, rewards and recognition, diversity and inclusion, and grievance redressal strengthened workplace culture and significantly improved retention.

Joe’s earlier years in hospitality leadership further shaped his people-first philosophy. As General Manager – HR at Holy Smoke Restaurants Pvt. Ltd., overseeing brands such as Pirates of Grill, Prankster F&B Campus, and Pra Pra Prank, he gained deep exposure to high-end dining and pub operations. His work went beyond policy and process, often extending into legal and employee welfare matters, including supporting families of deceased employees through PF, ESIC, and other government benefit processes. His hands-on approach reinforced his belief that HR is as much about empathy as it is about compliance.

He later continued this journey at Eka Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., working across Flechazo, Chef Factory, and Gypsy Turtle. This phase broadened his exposure to QSR, fine dining, industrial catering, and pub formats, where he introduced technology-driven HR processes, apprenticeship programmes under MSDE, and transparent service charge models that strengthened trust between employees and management.

Joe’s experience with Barbeque Nation Hospitality Ltd. as Regional Manager – HR for South India added another dimension to his career, as he led large-scale, multi-state HR operations and standardised labour compliance, payroll governance, SOP frameworks, and HRIS implementation for thousands of employees. He later expanded his strategic perspective as a Principal Consultant at Joint Constrade LLP, advising organisations on HR audits, BOT HR setups, policy frameworks, and multi-state statutory compliance.

His professional journey also spans manufacturing, retail, construction, and power sectors, including early roles with Royal Hygiene Care Pvt. Ltd., giving him a strong foundation in union management, factory compliance, government liaison, and cross-industry HR governance.

Academically, Joe holds an MBA in HR and Marketing, a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and a Diploma in Hardware and Networking. He is also highly proficient in HR technologies including Shawman Payroll, ZingHR, HR-One, Zoho HR, Saral PayPack, GreytHR, and advanced HR analytics using MS Office tools.

At the heart of Joe Cherian’s journey is a simple yet powerful belief: when people feel valued, systems become stronger and organisations grow sustainably. His career stands as a testament to how thoughtful HR leadership can shape cultures, empower teams, and drive long-term success.