Mews Names Kirupa Pushparaj as Legal Chief
Hospitality technology company Mews has strengthened its executive leadership team by appointing Kirupa Pushparaj as its new Chief Legal Officer (CLO). Bringing more than 20 years of expertise across engineering, legal affairs, fintech, artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, and consumer technology, Pushparaj joins the company as it accelerates the expansion of its payment capabilities across more than 85 countries.
In his new role, Pushparaj will report directly to Mews founder Richard Valtr and oversee the company’s legal, compliance, and policy operations. His appointment comes as Mews continues navigating an increasingly complex global regulatory landscape while expanding its footprint in the hospitality technology sector.
Valtr described the hiring as the result of an extensive search, emphasizing the importance of the CLO position in shaping the company’s long-term strategy. He noted that Pushparaj’s unique combination of engineering knowledge and legal expertise makes him well-suited to support Mews’ growth in highly regulated markets. Valtr also highlighted Pushparaj’s unconventional career path, explaining that he earned his law degree while working full-time as an engineer at Intel before transitioning into senior legal leadership positions at major technology companies.
Before joining Mews, Pushparaj spent more than eight years at Square, now known as Block, where he served as Deputy General Counsel. During his tenure, he played a significant role in guiding the company through its initial public offering and supported several strategic initiatives, including projects involving cryptocurrency and emerging technologies. He later became Chief Legal Officer at fintech company Step, where he led legal, compliance, government affairs, human resources, and strategic partnership functions before the company’s acquisition by Beast Industries.
Earlier in his career, Pushparaj worked as legal counsel at Amazon Lab126, the division responsible for developing Amazon’s consumer electronics, following six years as a hardware engineer at Intel. His academic credentials include a law degree from the University of the Pacific, a master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from PSG College of Technology. He also serves on several AI and legal technology advisory boards and teaches as an adjunct professor at the law schools of Stanford University and the University of California, Davis.
Commenting on his appointment, Pushparaj said the opportunity to work across multiple regulatory systems and global payment networks was particularly appealing. He added that hospitality has long been a meaningful part of his life, making the chance to contribute to a company transforming hotel operations both professionally and personally rewarding.
Mews currently serves more than 15,000 hospitality businesses across 85 countries, offering an integrated platform that streamlines property management, payments, housekeeping, revenue optimization, and guest experiences. The company has also earned multiple industry awards for its hotel technology solutions in recent years.
