Neel Ghose
Neel Ghose is an Indian business executive and social entrepreneur. He is the Country Manager and General Manager, India at travel search company Skyscanner.[1] He is also known as a co-founder of the volunteer-based hunger-relief organization Robin Hood Army.[2]
Early life and education
Ghose studied at Harvard Business School.[3]
Career
Ghose worked in consumer internet and technology prior to joining Skyscanner, including roles at Zomato, and was profiled by Harvard University’s Mittal Institute in connection with his work at the Robin Hood Army.[3]
Robin Hood Army
Ghose co-founded the Robin Hood Army (RHA) in August 2014 in New Delhi, along with Anand Sinha and Aarushi Batra.[4][5] The organization is described as a volunteer-based, “zero-funds” initiative that redistributes surplus food from restaurants and communities to people in need.[6][2]
Origins and model
Media reporting has described RHA as inspired by Portugal’s “Refood” initiative, which Ghose encountered while in Lisbon in 2014; Ghose and collaborators then adapted the approach for India.[4] The group began with a small set of volunteers in Delhi and conducted early distributions using surplus food sourced from local restaurants.[4][5] The Guardian described the organization’s early expansion as decentralised and chapter-led, with local teams identifying partner restaurants and distribution points such as night shelters, orphanages, and clusters of unhoused people.[7]
RHA’s operating approach includes a stated “zero-funds” policy and reliance on volunteers (“Robins”), with distributions typically organised through local chapters.[6][2]
Growth and activities
RHA’s activities have been covered by Indian media in the context of local chapter work with restaurants and student groups, including collaboration with restaurants to distribute food to communities in need.[8]
The organization’s website reports growth in meals served, city chapters, and volunteer participation over time, and documents initiatives such as:
- #Mission1Million (2017), described by RHA as an effort to mobilise partners to serve meals on 15 August.[9]
- #Mission30 (2020), described by RHA as a COVID-19 relief effort.[9]
- #MissionSwades (2020–2021), described by RHA as an initiative to expand impact in rural areas.[9]
Robin Hood Academy
RHA also operates the Robin Hood Academy, an education initiative described by the organization as a bridge between street-connected children and formal schooling, delivered through weekend teaching and a standardised curriculum delivered by volunteers.[10] Harvard Business School’s news release about Ghose noted the Academy as one of RHA’s programmes focused on primary education support alongside food redistribution.[2]
Skyscanner
Skyscanner appointed Ghose as Country Manager and General Manager for India, in the context of building local teams and partnerships in the market.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "India to be among top 3 markets for Skyscanner: CEO". The Economic Times. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Five Harvard Business School Students Win Dean's Award for Service to the School and Society". Harvard Business School. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Neel Ghose: A Robin Hood for the Modern Age". The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Hungry for change". The Financial Express. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Robin Hood Army: Indians And Pakistanis Unite Against A Common Enemy". NDTV. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "The Idea (Who we are)". Robin Hood Army. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ "The Robin Hood Army: fighting food waste in India and Pakistan". The Guardian. 2 June 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ "Delhi: 'Robin Hood Army' collaborates with restaurants to feed the hungry". The Indian Express. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Our Journey". Robin Hood Army. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
- ↑ "Robin Hood Academy". Robin Hood Army. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
References
The Economic Times — India to be among top 3 markets for Skyscanner: CEO https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/services/travel/india-to-be-among-top-3-markets-for-skyscanner-ceo/articleshow/114324735.cms
Harvard Business School — Dean’s Award release mentioning Neel Ghose / Robin Hood Army (zero-funds model, scale, Academy) https://www.hbs.edu/news/releases/Pages/deans-award-2019.aspx
Harvard Mittal Institute — Profile of Neel Ghose and Robin Hood Army https://mittalsouthasiainstitute.harvard.edu/2018/03/neel-ghose-a-robin-hood-for-the-modern-age/
Robin Hood Army (official site) — “The Idea” + “Our Journey” (model, milestones, Mission1Million/Mission30/MissionSwades) https://www.robinhoodarmy.com/
Robin Hood Army — Robin Hood Academy (official page) https://robinhoodarmy.com/academy
Financial Express — Origin story, Refood inspiration, first distributions https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-hungry-for-change-214216/
NDTV — Background, early volunteer base, cross-border presence, model description (Refood inspiration) https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/a-band-of-indians-and-pakistanis-are-fighting-a-common-enemy-hunger-1751431
The Guardian — Early growth, decentralised chapter model, India/Pakistan operations, restaurants/weddings surplus redistribution https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2015/jun/02/the-robin-hood-army-fighting-food-waste-in-india-and-pakistan
The Indian Express — Reporting on local chapter operations and restaurant collaborations https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/an-army-of-robin-hoods-that-fight-hunger-2934688/
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