Naumi Group has announced the appointment of Akash Sood as Area General Manager – New Zealand. The executive will now oversee operations, guest experience and performance across the group’s five properties in the country: Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport, Naumi Hotel Wellington, Naumi Studio Wellington, and The Central Hotel Queenstown and The Dairy Hotel Queenstown, both operated under the A Naumi Chapter banner.
A promotion after eight months leading the Auckland property
Akash Sood joined Naumi Group in January 2026 as General Manager of Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport. He moved into his new regional role in August 2026, having held that position for eight months. His arrival at Naumi itself followed a little over a year at TFE Hotels, where he served as Cluster General Manager & Building Manager in Auckland from December 2024 to January 2026.
Before TFE Hotels, Akash Sood spent nearly seven years with the Heritage Hotels group in New Zealand, first as General Manager in Wellington and the Wairarapa region from May 2018, then as General Manager in Auckland from September 2018 to October 2023, before taking on the role of Cluster General Manager from November 2023 to November 2024.
Nearly three decades in hospitality
The executive also served as Hotel Manager at the CityLife Hotel in Wellington from 2015 to 2018, then spent nearly eight years at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor, rising from Front Office Manager to Rooms Division Manager before becoming Executive Assistant Manager from 2010 to 2015. His career in New Zealand began in 2004, as Duty Manager at the Duxton Hotel Auckland.
He trained initially in Australia, earning an Advanced Diploma in hotel management from the William Blue Hotel Management School (1996–1998), before gaining international experience in India, including as a bar manager at the Park Royal in New Delhi. Akash Sood also holds an MBA from Victoria University of Wellington, completed between 2014 and 2016.
Naumi Group strengthens leadership across its New Zealand portfolio
In the statement announcing the appointment, Naumi Group pointed to nearly three decades of leadership in hotel operations, rooms management and general management, experience it considers key to supporting the development of the group’s portfolio in the country. The statement also highlighted the executive’s deep knowledge of the New Zealand market.
The appointment comes a few months after Carlee Igoniwari was named General Manager of Naumi’s two Wellington properties, confirming the gradual structuring of the group’s leadership team in New Zealand. Founded in Singapore in 2007, Naumi Group built its portfolio across Asia-Pacific before opening, since 2025, its first property in the Middle East, in Dubai.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Akash Sood promoted to Area General Manager – New Zealand at Naumi Group
Now overseeing five properties: Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport, Naumi Hotel Wellington, Naumi Studio Wellington, The Central Hotel Queenstown and The Dairy Hotel Queenstown (A Naumi Chapter)
Joined Naumi Group in January 2026 as General Manager of Naumi Hotel Auckland Airport
Nearly three decades of hospitality leadership experience across New Zealand
Holds an MBA from Victoria University of Wellington
Naumi Group operates in Singapore, New Zealand, Australia and, since 2025, the United Arab Emirates
