Introduction
Rattan Chadha is an Indian-born Dutch entrepreneur, investor and art collector best known for creating the fashion company Mexx and the international hotel brand citizenM.
His career is unusual because he achieved major success in two different industries. He first changed European fashion through Mexx and later challenged traditional hotel rules with smaller smart rooms, modern technology and affordable luxury.
Quick Bio
| Field | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Full publicly recorded name | Kul Rattan Chadha |
| Professional name | Rattan Chadha |
| Birth month and year | August 1949 |
| Age | 76 years old as of July 2026 |
| Birthplace | Delhi, India |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Background | Indian-born |
| Profession | Entrepreneur, investor, fashion founder and hotel founder |
| Education | Sherwood College and the University of Delhi |
| Known for | Founding Mexx, citizenM and KRC Capital |
| Major industries | Fashion, hospitality, property, leisure and investment |
| Publicly confirmed child | Robin Chadha |
| Major honour | Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Art collection | KRC Collection |
UK Companies House records identify him as Kul Rattan Chadha, list his birth month as August 1949 and record his nationality as Dutch. The Kunsthal Rotterdam identifies Delhi as his birthplace.
Who Is Rattan Chadha?
Chadha is a businessman who became internationally recognised through fashion and hospitality.
He created Mexx by joining two clothing labels and later developed citizenM after noticing that frequent travellers often had to choose between expensive luxury hotels and uninspiring budget accommodation.
His success did not come from copying established companies. It came from identifying what customers valued and removing services they rarely used.
This practical approach places him among entrepreneurs who build companies around a clear customer problem rather than short-term publicity.
Rattan Chadha’s Age, Birthplace and Nationality
He was born in Delhi in August 1949.
This makes him 76 years old as of July 2026. He was born in India but is officially recorded as Dutch.
He is therefore commonly described as an Indian-born Dutch businessman. His career also represents the experience of an entrepreneur who moved between countries and built businesses for international customers.
Early Life in India
Chadha grew up in Delhi before moving to Europe.
Public accounts connect his family with business and manufacturing, although detailed claims about his parents and childhood should be treated carefully because they have not been widely documented through primary sources.
His early life in India remained important to his professional development. When he entered the European clothing industry, he understood both Indian manufacturing and Western consumer markets.
That ability to connect different countries later became one of the foundations of his fashion business.
Education
His public professional profile records that he attended Sherwood College between 1962 and 1965.
He later studied at the University of Delhi, where he completed a Bachelor of Business Studies between 1966 and 1969.
The course gave him a formal understanding of commerce before he began learning about clothing, importing, branding and retail through practical experience.
Readers interested in another business figure whose early experiences shaped a wider leadership journey can explore the story of Ram Gidoomal.
Moving to the Netherlands
He moved to the Netherlands during the early 1970s and entered the clothing trade.
His early business involved bringing garments from India and other Asian markets into Europe. This helped him understand sourcing, manufacturing, prices, quality control and changing fashion preferences.
Starting as an importer also allowed him to study European customers before attempting to build his own brand.
Rather than remaining only a distributor, he gradually developed original clothing businesses with their own identities.
Creating Moustache and Emanuelle
In 1980, Chadha launched two separate fashion labels.
Moustache was created for men, while Emanuelle focused on women.
Operating the labels gave him experience in product design, wholesale distribution, marketing and retail growth.
However, running separate brands also created an opportunity. He could combine them under one stronger name that would appeal to customers across several markets.
How Mexx Was Created
In 1986, he merged Moustache and Emanuelle to form Mexx.
The name was created by taking the “M” from Moustache and the “E” from Emanuelle. Two letters X were added to represent two kisses:
M + E + XX = Mexx
The name was short, international and easy to remember.
Mexx was presented as an energetic city fashion brand rather than a traditional clothing company. Its marketing, store design and products were aimed at modern customers who wanted accessible European style.
The International Growth of Mexx
Mexx developed into a major international fashion business.
Public profiles state that the company expanded to around 1,200 stores in 56 countries. It reportedly employed approximately 6,500 people and generated annual sales of around €1 billion during its strongest period.
The company sold clothing and accessories for men, women and children. Its presence extended across Europe, Asia, Canada and the Middle East.
His experience showed that a European lifestyle brand could grow internationally while keeping a clear and recognisable identity.
Selling Mexx
Liz Claiborne entered an agreement to acquire Mexx in 2001.
The transaction gave Mexx access to the resources of a larger American fashion group. Chadha remained connected with the company for several years after the agreement rather than immediately ending his involvement.
The sale marked an important turning point. He had already proved that he could create, expand and successfully position an international consumer brand.
His ability to move between industries is also visible in the careers of boardroom figures such as Roger Devlin, whose work has included finance, hospitality, leisure and corporate governance.
Founding KRC Capital
After Mexx, Chadha created KRC Capital B.V.
The private investment company has been associated with fashion, hotels, real estate, technology and leisure businesses.
KRC allowed him to use the knowledge and capital gained through Mexx to support new commercial ideas.
Instead of returning to a traditional fashion position, he began exploring industries where design, branding and customer experience could create a competitive advantage.
His investment-led career can be compared with other international founders, including Karel Komárek, who has also developed business interests across several sectors.
Why He Created citizenM
The idea for citizenM came from a problem experienced by Mexx employees.
Designers and buyers regularly travelled to major cities for meetings and fashion events. Luxury hotels were often too expensive, while cheaper hotels could be poorly located or lacked comfort and style.
Chadha believed travellers should not have to make that choice.
He wanted to create a hotel offering excellent beds, strong showers, modern design, useful technology and central locations at a more accessible price.
The official KRC Capital citizenM profile explains that the brand was designed for modern travellers seeking luxury in convenient locations without traditional luxury-hotel prices.
Opening the First citizenM Hotel
The first citizenM hotel opened at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in 2008.
The “M” in the company name represents “mobile”, reflecting its focus on mobile citizens who travel regularly for business, culture and leisure.
The hotel did not follow the usual system of large rooms, complicated room categories and formal reception desks.
Instead, it offered one carefully designed room type supported by self-service technology and large shared living spaces.
What Made citizenM Different?
CitizenM was built around the idea of affordable luxury.
Guest rooms were compact, but they included features travellers were likely to value most:
- A large and comfortable bed
- Quality linen
- A powerful shower
- Blackout blinds
- Free internet access
- Entertainment systems
- Smart controls for lighting and temperature
The company reduced space and spending on features that many short-stay guests did not need.
This allowed it to invest more in locations, beds, design, technology, art and shared spaces.
Hotel Living Rooms and Social Spaces
CitizenM hotels became known for their large communal areas.
These spaces were designed to feel more like stylish living rooms than traditional hotel lobbies. Guests could work, eat, relax, meet people or spend time around books, furniture and contemporary art.
The idea was simple: bedrooms could remain compact because guests had access to attractive public areas.
This model became particularly suitable for business travellers, younger tourists and people combining work with leisure.
Technology and Self-Service
Technology was part of the citizenM model from the beginning.
Guests could use self-service kiosks to check in and check out. Smart room systems allowed them to manage lighting, temperature, blinds and entertainment.
Technology was not included only to make the hotels look modern.
It was used to reduce waiting times, simplify hotel operations and allow employees to spend more time helping guests.
KRC Capital later described “technology that makes life easy” as an important part of the customer experience.
The Ambassador Staffing Model
CitizenM employees became known as ambassadors.
Instead of working inside one narrow department, ambassadors could help with check-in, food, drinks and general guest questions.
The system reduced the distance between hotel staff and customers.
Chadha believed that friendly and genuine communication was more valuable than formal hotel behaviour. The company therefore looked for personality and problem-solving ability rather than relying only on previous hospitality experience.
Leadership Style and Business Thinking
His leadership style appears to be based on challenging assumptions.
In fashion, he combined two separate labels to create a clearer international brand. In hospitality, he questioned the need for large rooms, traditional receptions, room service and complicated staff structures.
He concentrated on a basic question: what does the customer actually need?
This approach helped him control costs without making the customer experience feel cheap.
Newstrap readers interested in founders working across premium markets can also read about Ameerh Naran, whose ventures connect aviation, luxury vehicles and international business.
Marriott’s Acquisition of citizenM
Marriott International completed its acquisition of the citizenM brand on 23 July 2025.
At the time of completion, citizenM had 37 open hotels containing 8,789 rooms across more than 20 cities in the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
The transaction covered the brand and related intellectual property. The existing hotel owners and operators entered long-term franchise arrangements with Marriott.
The official Marriott acquisition announcement confirmed that citizenM would become part of Marriott’s international lifestyle portfolio.
By the end of 2025, Marriott had integrated 37 citizenM hotels and nearly 8,800 rooms into its system.
What the Marriott Deal Means for His Legacy
The Marriott transaction demonstrated the long-term value of the hotel concept.
CitizenM began with a simple idea inspired by the travel problems of fashion employees. It later became attractive to one of the world’s largest hotel companies.
The acquisition does not remove Chadha’s importance to the brand.
He remains the entrepreneur who identified the market gap and developed the original combination of compact rooms, technology, art, central locations and large social spaces.
The story offers useful lessons for experienced company leaders such as Richard Haythornthwaite, whose career also shows the importance of strategy and long-term business change.
Royal Mougins Golf Resort
His public business profile also identifies him as the president and owner of Royal Mougins Golf Resort in France.
The property includes an 18-hole championship golf course, a hotel and a spa.
This investment connects several of his established interests, including hospitality, leisure, property and customer experience.
Rattan Chadha’s Art Collection
Chadha is also known as a contemporary-art collector.
His private collection is called the KRC Collection. It includes paintings, sculpture, installations and video works that explore society, identity, human behaviour and personal imperfection.
In 2019, the Kunsthal Rotterdam presented more than 70 pieces from the collection through an exhibition called Trouble in Paradise.
Artists represented in the collection have included Marlene Dumas, Francis Picabia, Gilbert & George, Jack Whitten and Thomas Hirschhorn.
Art also became part of the citizenM identity, with hotels displaying original works and carefully selected designs inside their communal areas.
Family
Robin Chadha is publicly confirmed as his son.
Robin became closely involved with citizenM and held senior responsibilities connected with marketing, branding and customer experience.
He helped communicate the company’s affordable-luxury idea to a younger and more internationally mobile group of travellers.
Other areas of Chadha’s family and relationship history have not been included because they are not necessary for understanding his public career.
Awards and Recognition
Chadha received several public honours connected with entrepreneurship and international business.
In 2000, he was knighted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and received the rank of Ridder in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
In 2004, he received the Grand Seigneur Award, which recognised his contribution to branding and lifestyle marketing.
In 2008, he received the China Trader Lifetime Achievement Award for supporting commercial relations between China and the Netherlands.
Career Timeline
1949: Born in Delhi, India.
1962–1965: Attended Sherwood College.
1966–1969: Studied business at the University of Delhi.
Early 1970s: Moved to the Netherlands and entered the clothing trade.
1980: Developed the Moustache and Emanuelle fashion labels.
1986: Combined the two labels to create Mexx.
2000: Received a Dutch knighthood.
2001: Liz Claiborne agreed to acquire Mexx.
2000s: Established KRC Capital and expanded into property, leisure and hospitality.
2008: Opened the first citizenM hotel at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
2019: The KRC Collection was presented at the Kunsthal Rotterdam.
2025: Marriott completed its acquisition of the citizenM brand.
2026: He remains recognised internationally as the founder of Mexx and citizenM.
Interesting Facts
- His publicly recorded full name is Kul Rattan Chadha.
- He was born in Delhi but later became a Dutch national.
- He created Mexx by joining the names Moustache and Emanuelle.
- The two X letters in Mexx represented two kisses.
- Mexx reportedly grew to around 1,200 stores.
- His fashion employees helped inspire the citizenM idea.
- The first citizenM hotel opened at Schiphol Airport.
- CitizenM employees are known as ambassadors.
- He used contemporary art as part of the hotel experience.
- His private art collection is called the KRC Collection.
- He has worked across fashion, hotels, real estate and leisure.
- Marriott acquired the citizenM brand in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rattan Chadha’s full name?
His full name is publicly recorded as Kul Rattan Chadha.
How old is Rattan Chadha?
He is 76 years old as of July 2026. Companies House records his birth month as August 1949.
Where was he born?
He was born in Delhi, India.
What is his nationality?
Official UK company records list his nationality as Dutch. He is commonly described as an Indian-born Dutch entrepreneur.
What is Rattan Chadha famous for?
He is best known for founding the fashion brand Mexx and the hotel company citizenM.
What does Mexx mean?
The name combines the “M” from Moustache, the “E” from Emanuelle and two X letters representing kisses.
When did the first citizenM hotel open?
The first hotel opened at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in 2008.
Does Rattan Chadha still own citizenM?
Marriott International acquired the citizenM brand and related intellectual property in July 2025. The original hotel ownership and operating structure continued through franchise arrangements.
Who is Robin Chadha?
Robin Chadha is his son and has held a senior marketing and branding role at citizenM.
What did Rattan Chadha study?
His public profile records that he attended Sherwood College and completed a Bachelor of Business Studies at the University of Delhi.
Conclusion
Rattan Chadha built his reputation by questioning how established industries worked.
He transformed two clothing labels into the international Mexx brand and later applied the idea of affordable luxury to hotels through citizenM.
His career shows how customer understanding, simple branding, international thinking and careful cost control can create businesses with long-term value.
The sale of Mexx and Marriott’s later acquisition of citizenM also demonstrate his ability to build brands that became valuable far beyond their original markets.
