ERA Group appoints Marcel Lal as new Global Chief Development Officer to drive its international growth

The executive, with extensive experience in the franchise sector, will strengthen the group’s expansion in existing and new markets, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

B ERA Group

B has announced the appointment of Marcel Lal as the new Global Chief Development Officer, a strategic move with which the company seeks to strengthen its growth in current markets and open up new opportunities, with a special focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

Marcel Lal brings more than eight years of experience at In

Xpress, where he was part of the executive team and most recently served as Global Chief Operating Officer, having previously served as CEO for Asia-Pacific. He will continue to reside in Brisbane and retains his position as a member of the Franchise Council of Australia, in addition to chairing the Queensland state chapter. He is also CFE-certified and has been recognized multiple times in the Top 30 Franchise Executives Australia ranking, where he reached second place in 2023.

“We are delighted to welcome someone with Marcel’s experience and caliber to the franchise sector. He brings solid knowledge across all areas of the franchise model, and his experience in the Asia-Pacific region will be particularly valuable in this new phase of growth. We are confident he will contribute significantly to the success of our franchisees in the region, because we seek our success through the success of our franchisees,” said Mark Taylor, Global CEO of ERA Group.

“I’ve had an extraordinary career at In

Xpress, and it’s a privilege to now apply my experience to another award-winning global franchise system. ERA Group operates in over 60 countries and is a global leader in cost optimization, so it already has a strong presence in Asia-Pacific and globally. The opportunity to contribute to its growth plans and capitalize on new market opportunities is very appealing.” says Marcel Lal.

ERA Group is the current winner of the Global Franchise Grand Champion and Global Business & Professional Services awards at the 2025 Global Franchise Awards. Having won both awards on multiple occasions, the company is once again a finalist in the 2026 edition, to be held in Las Vegas.