Stanley Lifestyles, an integrated super-premium and luxury furniture manufacturer and retailer, announced the appointment of Abhijeet Sonar as the Chief Executive Officer of Stanley Retail, a part of Stanley Lifestyles.
With a distinguished career spanning over 27 years across globally renowned luxury, hospitality, aviation, automotive and lifestyle brands, Abhijeet brings strategic depth, transformation expertise and a proven track record of building high-performing luxury businesses.
Abhijeet, recognised for his ability to blend creative intelligence with commercial discipline, has consistently driven growth, strengthened brand equity, and delivered ecosystem value in some of the most demanding premium categories. His leadership approach, rooted in craftsmanship, authenticity and consumer insight, has shaped his reputation as a luxury brand architect and turnaround specialist capable of steering organisations through accelerated expansion and operational excellence.
Over the years, Abhijeet has led and transformed some of the world’s most respected luxury and lifestyle brands. At Hansgrohe Group (India & SAARC), he led one of the organisation’s strongest growth phases, delivering exceptional performance for Axor and elevating India to the company’s top global markets, while building a powerful digital engagement ecosystem for architects and interior designers.
Prior to this, he delivered a landmark turnaround at Villeroy & Boch, achieving a remarkable retail recovery, reversing cumulative losses across multiple regions and expanding the brand’s presence to 27 premium showrooms. His earlier leadership at Audi Mumbai saw him execute high-impact market entry strategies and record-breaking luxury automobile sales. His formative years across Intercontinental, THANKS and Jet Airways enriched his understanding of global luxury, service excellence and high-value consumer behaviour, with his aviation career earning him Presidential Medals from both India and the USA and selection for the US Presidential Entourage.
Abhijeet Sonar, CEO, Stanley Retail, said, “Thrilled to announce that last month I took on the position of Chief Executive Officer at Stanley Retail Ltd. Stepping into this role is both an honour and a responsibility. It marks the beginning of a mission to accelerate the growth of one of India’s most respected luxury brands and shape it into a world-class luxury house with global standards and ambition.”
“Over the past few weeks, I’ve spent meaningful time with our Founder & Chairman, Mr Sunil Suresh, and Co-Founder, Mrs Shubha Sunil. Their clarity, passion, and craftsmanship, built over 30 years, have reaffirmed my belief that Stanley is uniquely positioned to become a powerful Indian luxury icon in the decade ahead,” he adds.
Sunil Suresh, Founder, Stanley Lifestyles, said, “Excited for the new beginning with the Stanley team. Abhijeet’s deep luxury expertise & people-centric leadership come at a pivotal moment for Stanley Retail Ltd. His strategic clarity, global exposure & proven ability to build strong, profitable brands make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our next phase of growth. As we strengthen our vision of building a world-class luxury house from India, his experience in scaling businesses, empowering teams & driving customer-centric innovation will be invaluable. We are delighted to welcome him and are confident that his leadership will further elevate Stanley’s position as India’s most admired luxury furniture brand.”
