Written by global executive and founder of HIS Business Solutions, Stephen O'Connor (aka Lane Stephens), these two powerful books offer practical, battle-tested insights for business leaders ready to break through limitations and lead with vision.
Peter Baics is a seasoned F&B operations executive with over two decades of international experience spanning Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and the luxury cruise industry. His leadership spans an array of premium hospitality environments, including private members' clubs, elite restaurant groups, five-star hotels, and award-winning dining venues.
Throughout his career, Peter has been instrumental in developing and elevating restaurant and F&B concepts ranging from fine dining, cocktail bars, and cigar lounges to steak houses and specialty venues. His operations have consistently achieved and sustained top-tier industry recognition, including Michelin distinctions, AAA Five Diamond ratings, and Forbes Five-Star accolades.
Recognized for his strategic acumen and results-driven leadership, Peter has successfully led multi-regional teams, improved profitability, and enhanced operational standards across diverse business units. His core strengths include strategic planning, KPI development, workflow optimization, cost containment, and team building—all executed with a sharp focus on guest experience and brand differentiation.
Peter brings a dynamic, entrepreneurial mindset to every engagement. He is passionate about creating memorable guest experiences, fostering a positive workplace culture, and delivering measurable results through innovation and collaboration. His ability to launch new concepts, reposition brands, and exceed client expectations makes him a valued asset to any hospitality venture.
Sudesh Singh is a transformational F&B executive with over 20 years of cross-market leadership experience across the Middle East and India, specializing in QSR, fast casual, and casual dining formats. His expertise lies in launching, scaling, and revitalizing high-volume, guest-centric restaurant brands through strategic innovation and disciplined operational execution.
With a strong foundation in managing complex multi-unit operations, Sudesh has led over 100 successful store openings, turned around multimillion-dollar business units, and introduced new revenue streams such as delivery platforms and dark kitchens. He is recognized for his ability to build empowered, high-performing teams, drive sustainable topline growth, and implement centralized systems that enhance efficiency, profitability, and brand consistency.
A commercially minded and hands-on leader, Sudesh excels at aligning operational execution with strategic business goals. His initiatives have generated substantial cost savings through supply chain optimization, process engineering, and market-focused adaptation. His leadership philosophy combines data-driven strategy, innovation, and a commitment to excellence in customer experience.
Sudesh is passionate about building resilient, future-ready operations that not only meet performance benchmarks but exceed guest and stakeholder expectations. His deep industry insight and executional strength make him a key asset to concept development, brand expansion, and operational transformation initiatives.
Vishesh Nagar is a marketing and technology strategist with a proven track record in driving business growth through performance-driven campaigns, digital innovation, and data-backed decision-making. With over a decade of experience working with mid-sized to enterprise-level companies, he specializes in aligning marketing strategy, brand visibility, and tech-enabled solutions to deliver measurable results.
Vishesh has helped launch and scale businesses across diverse industries, including hospitality, education, technology, and e-commerce. His expertise includes full-funnel marketing execution, brand positioning, lead generation, automation, and conversion optimization. As the founder of Techxerro, he has partnered with clients globally to reimagine their marketing infrastructure, optimize ROI, and accelerate customer acquisition.
A visionary leader and collaborator, Vishesh bridges the gap between business goals and marketing execution. He leverages technology not just as a tool, but as a strategic asset—building agile digital ecosystems that enable sustainable growth. His experience also includes website funnel design, CRM integration, social media performance, and SEO/SEM strategies. In his role at HIS Hospitality, Vishesh brings a unique perspective at the intersection of strategy, marketing, and technology. He plays a critical role in expanding digital capabilities, optimizing brand presence, and driving strategic partnerships that fuel long-term business scalability.
Artificial intelligence, operational analytics, and emerging technology integration Maksut O’Connor is Vice President of New Business Development & AI Systems at HIS Hospitality Insights & Solutions, where he focuses on developing technology-driven initiatives that leverage artificial intelligence, automation, and data analytics to enhance operational efficiency and unlock new business capabilities.
A First Class Honours graduate in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from the University of Sussex, Maksut received the Outstanding Computer Science Project Award for his research in computer vision and thermal imaging analysis, where he developed machine-learning systems capable of extracting actionable data from complex visual environments.
Alongside his technical work, Maksut has also built a digital audience of more than 300,000 followers across social platforms, producing educational content centered on nutrition, food awareness, and long-term health optimization.
At HIS, Maksut works closely with the leadership team to explore and develop AI-enabled tools, operational analytics, and emerging technologies that support modern business growth and intelligent decision-making.
His work reflects HIS’s broader commitment to combining deep industry expertise with forward-looking technology to help businesses operate more efficiently, scale more effectively, and compete in an increasingly data-driven world.
With over three decades of leadership across the global hospitality sector, Jason D’Souza brings exceptional operational insight, brand management expertise, and a proven record in driving revenue growth for leading international restaurant brands. Having managed and launched high-performing sites for companies such as Wingstop, Giraffe, Wagamama, and TRG Concessions at Heathrow Airport, Jason’s results-driven approach and commitment to excellence have consistently positioned him among the industry’s elite operators.
His global experience spans Europe, the Middle East, and the UK—holding senior operational roles with Vapiano, Nando’s, Ruby Tuesday, Popcornopolis, and TGI Fridays. Jason excels in multi-site management, crisis leadership, and brand relaunch initiatives, consistently optimizing performance through people development, customer engagement, and financial discipline.
As the UK Strategic Partner for HIS Business Solutions, Jason strengthens the company’s presence in one of the world’s most dynamic restaurant markets. His extensive network, cross-cultural expertise, and operational acumen make him a vital force in expanding HIS’ client support, franchise advisory, and strategic execution capabilities across Europe.