Zo World, the parent of Zostel, has appointed long-time executive Aviral Gupta as its new CEO.

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Cofounder and former CEO Dharamveer Singh Chouhan will now serve as chairman of the company.

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Gupta has been with Zostel since 2014, working in roles spanning project management, strategy, HR, and hostel operations.

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In his new role, Gupta aims to position Zo as not just a travel brand but also a lifestyle and cultural identity for the next generation.

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Chouhan led Zo World as CEO for more than four years, starting from 2013

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The leadership change comes amid a decade-long legal battle between Zostel and OYO over a failed acquisition deal.

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Recently, the Supreme Court refused to hear Zostel’s appeal against a Delhi High Court ruling that overturned a 2021 arbitration award in its favor.

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The dispute dates back to 2015 when OYO signed a non-binding term sheet to acquire ZO Rooms, promising a 7% equity stake, but the deal later collapsed, sparking ongoing litigation.

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