The Hospitality Purchasing Managers’ Forum (HPMF) has appointed Chandrakant (C. K.) Balani as Chairman and posthumously conferred the title of Chairman Emeritus on its late Chairman, Mohan Deshpande, in recognition of his leadership and contribution to the organisation.
Balani, who brings over five decades of experience in hospitality procurement and project development, will work with HPMF’s leadership and members to carry forward Deshpande’s vision of building a professional fraternity centred on knowledge sharing, mentorship and leadership development.
Dr Nitin Shankar Nagrale, Founder and General Secretary, HPMF, said Deshpande played a significant role in developing the Forum as a platform for hospitality purchasing professionals to support one another and encourage younger members to take up leadership responsibilities. He added that the appointment of Balani would help sustain this legacy and strengthen the organisation’s leadership structure.
As part of its organisational roadmap, HPMF is planning a restructuring in January 2027, with Balani set to work on developing a new governance framework and standard operating procedures (SOPs). The initiative, titled The HPMF Way: Our Purpose & Direction, will establish the Forum’s purpose, guiding principles and operational framework, covering membership, chapter operations, leadership responsibilities, succession planning and decision-making processes.
Commenting on his appointment, Balani said Deshpande’s passing had left a void in the HPMF fraternity. He added that his priorities would include maintaining unity among members, sharing industry knowledge and creating opportunities for younger hospitality procurement professionals to take up leadership roles.
Balani began his hospitality career in 1975 as a Storekeeper at Hotel Airport Plaza and Flight Kitchen, where he worked until 1981. He subsequently joined the pre-opening team of Ramada Plaza Palm Grove, Juhu, as Materials Manager. Over the next four decades, he worked with the group and retired as Group Purchase Manager.
His project experience includes pre-opening procurement for Courtyard by Marriott, Chennai, and procurement planning, purchasing and kitchen infrastructure for Conrad Pune, India’s first Conrad hotel. In 2014, HPMF recognised his contribution to hospitality purchasing with The Living Legend Award.
In his new role, Balani will also focus on mentoring younger professionals, strengthening practical training in modern procurement practices and building relationships between purchasing professionals and suppliers. Promoting fairness and transparency in procurement and encouraging greater participation from younger members will also form part of his priorities.
