Stanley Lifestyles Limited has appointed Abhijeet Sonar as Chief Executive Officer of Stanley Retail Limited, marking a significant leadership shift for one of India’s largest luxury furniture manufacturers and retailers.
Sonar brings more than 27 years of experience across global luxury, hospitality, aviation, automotive and lifestyle brands. Known for combining creative intelligence with commercial discipline, he has built a reputation as a transformation specialist with a strong record of driving growth and strengthening brand equity.
In a statement, Sonar said taking over as CEO was “an honour and a responsibility,” adding that he aims to accelerate Stanley’s growth and shape it into a world-class luxury house. He highlighted three core leadership priorities—purpose, people and performance—emphasising craftsmanship, design-led storytelling, team empowerment and disciplined P&L management.
Sonar said time spent with Founder and Chairman Sunil Suresh and Co-Founder Shubha Sunil had reinforced his belief that Stanley is poised to become a leading Indian luxury icon. His strategy includes building the “House of Stanley” as an ecosystem for high-net-worth consumers, architects, designers and global tastemakers.
Welcoming the appointment, Sunil Suresh said Sonar’s luxury expertise and people-centric leadership arrive at a pivotal moment. “His strategic clarity, global exposure and proven ability to build strong, profitable brands make him exceptionally well-suited to lead our next phase of growth,” he said.
Sonar has previously led strong growth phases for several global brands. At Hansgrohe Group (India & SAARC), he delivered significant expansion for Axor while strengthening engagement with designers and architects. He also oversaw a major turnaround at Villeroy & Boch, expanding its retail footprint to 27 premium showrooms. His earlier role at Audi Mumbai saw record-breaking luxury automobile sales.
His early career across Intercontinental Hotels, THANKS and Jet Airways helped shape his understanding of service excellence and luxury consumer behaviour, earning him honours including presidential medals from India and the United States.
The appointment strengthens Stanley Retail’s leadership as it advances its ambition to build a global luxury ecosystem rooted in Indian craftsmanship and contemporary design.
