Nine Group chief executive Vivek Chadha dies aged 33

Vivek Chadha, the chief executive and founder of Nine Group, which owns 15 hotels across the UK, has died aged 33.

The cause of death is not yet understood to be known; the Daily Mail reported that Chadha collapsed on the weekend. He married his wife Stuttee just two months ago.

A statement from Nine Group said: "It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden death of our chief executive and founder, Vivek Chadha. We have lost a friend, a work colleague, a dedicated and progressive leader, and an inspirational founder of our company.

"Vivek leaves Nine Group as his legacy, a strong and resilient company with his integral values and beliefs etched in its foundations. A business that will continue to grow and progress with his vision and dedication shining through. Our thoughts are with Vivek's family at this most difficult of times."

Chadha graduated from University College London with a degree in civil engineering in 2010 and worked as an engineer at Transport for London and Laing O'Rourke before founding Nine Group in 2012.

He grew the business into a company of franchised hotels operating under global brands as well as a commercial and retail real estate portfolio employing more than 700 people.

Hotels in the group's portfolio include the Novotel London Heathrow Airport, the London O2 Arena Hotel - North Greenwich, the Radisson Red London Greenwich – the O2. The group brought Marriott's Four Points brand to the UK when it relaunched the former Chequers hotel near Gatwick Airport earlier this year.

Nine Group also recently inked a franchise partnership deal with Pizza Hut Delivery, making it the franchisee for 31 existing Pizza Hut Delivery and Express Huts with plans to open an additional 30 Delivery and 10 Express huts over the next three years.

Chadha won the hospitality Young Entrepreneur Award at the 2018 British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame Awards and the 2017 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.