BurdaLuxury appoints Meher Bajwa as Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure India & South Asia
Most recently, Meher Bajwa served as the Deputy Regional Director of Digital Operations
On The Move
BurdaLuxury has appointed Meher Bajwa as the new Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure India and South Asia. In her new role, Bajwa will lead the brand’s editorial vision, with a focus on creating content that inspires discovery and reflects evolving travel sensibilities in the region.
Bajwa brings over a decade of experience in leading print and digital content, driving growth strategies, and managing editorial initiatives across multiple Asian markets. Having spent more than 11 years at BurdaLuxury in senior leadership roles, she is well-positioned to steer the brand’s next phase of editorial growth.
She began her career at Maxim as an Associate Editor and later became Deputy Editor, overseeing cover shoots, feature stories, and end-to-end editorial operations. Most recently, Bajwa served as Deputy Regional Director of Digital Operations, where she led digital editorial and SEO teams to drive audience growth and engagement, while working closely with technology and product teams to enhance UI/UX.
Bajwa will report to Christoph Pagel, Chief Operating Officer at BurdaLuxury, and will assume the role on January 28, 2026.
Commenting on the appointment, Pagel said, “Indian travellers are among the most curious and influential in the world today. The way readers of Travel + Leisure India and South Asia engage with travel content continues to evolve, with a growing demand for trusted, authentic, and culture-led experiences that go beyond destinations alone. Meher brings a fresh editorial perspective and cultural authenticity, combined with a data-driven approach, which will help deepen our connection with audiences and clients. In 2026, she will lead the creation of new intellectual properties and build a robust, credible review system that delivers experience-driven insights and reinforces the brand’s leadership position.”
Speaking on her appointment, Bajwa said, “Travel + Leisure India and South Asia stands for trust, taste, and editorial authority. As Editor-in-Chief, my focus will be on building strategies around this trifecta to drive the brand’s evolution through editorial franchises that work across formats—more video series, signature events, and stories that reflect how people in the region truly travel. I want the brand to be one readers recognise, rely on, and return to, wherever they encounter it.”
Bajwa succeeds Akshita M. Bhanj Deo, who has stepped down to focus on her family business. During her tenure as Editor-in-Chief, Bhanj Deo launched and expanded several editorial and experiential initiatives at Travel + Leisure India and South Asia, including Editors’ Roundtables and social-first projects such as Insider Guides, Vanity Stamps, and T+L Impact.
Reflecting on her transition, Bhanj Deo said, “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved with Travel + Leisure India and South Asia over the past year. As I shift my focus to my family business, I wish Meher every success in her new role.”
