V. K. Mathews

V. K. Mathews is the founder and Executive Chairman of the IBS Group of companies. Mathews founded the International Business Services Group in 1997, which is a provider of information technology to the travel, transportation and logistics industries and whose solutions today manage the operations of airlines, airports, oil & gas companies and cruise lines around the world.

Equipped with a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from IIT Kanpur, Mathews started his career in 1979, teaching computer science to army officers. In 1981 he joined the IT division of Air India and played a key role in the implementation of their computerised passenger services systems world-wide. Subsequently, Mathews joined The Emirates Group, where he contributed to the growth of the airline in various capacities, over a span of fifteen years from 1983 to 1997. As General Manager-IT of the Emirates Group, Mathews was responsible for formulating and implementing Information Technology strategies for Emirates’ global operations.

IBS today offers products in the areas of airline operations, airport management, airline cargo, oil and gas logistics travel, cruise and hospitality management as well as ocean transportation.

In ten years IBS has grown from 60 staffers to a 2000-strong company with a global presence.

Mathews is an advisor to the Government of Kerala in the areas of information technology, industry, management and education. He chairs CII-Kerala and is a member of the State’s IT Advisory Board, Higher Education Council, Planning Board of Kerala (Committee for Industry & IT) and figures in the Board of Studies of several colleges/universities. Mathews is a member of Board of Directors of the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management - Kerala (IIITM-K) and a member of the TiE Kerala Core Group. Mathews is the Chairman of Group of Technology Companies ( GTech), the industry body of IT companies in Kerala and Vice Chairman of CII state Council. Mathews is also a member of the executive council of NASSCOM.

In recognition of his achievements he has received honours and awards. He was awarded the Management Leadership Award 2001 by the Trivandrum Management Association, and the Millennium Leaders Award 2002 by Surya TV, a leading television channel in South India. In 2002, he received the IT Kerala Award for Enterprise Excellence and the Kerala State Sahridaya Vedi conferred on him the award of IT Man of the Year 2003. In January 2009, the leading business magazine in Kerala, Dhanam chose Mr. Mathews as the Business Man of the Year (Kerala) - 2008.