The High-flying Early Bird of Kerala IT

Much before startups appeared as symbols of surging entrepreneurial spirit of an emerging Kerala, he dared to shun a lucrative career abroad to set up an enterprise in one of the most ‘unfriendly and ill-equipped’ industrial ecosystems in India. Today, about two decades later, V K Mathews, the Founder and Executive Chairman of IBS, embodies everything a young and dynamic Kerala now aspires to be. Even as he remains busy monitoring the multinational business empire, he finds time to speak to Destination Kerala in detail about his entrepreneurial journey.

- Athul Lal A G

At the age of 40, in 1997, he was heading the IT division of Emirates Airlines, an enviable position which no Asian had occupied till then. With his spouse and two children, the passionate aviation professional was staying in one of the finest villas in Dubai. All his expenses were taken care of by the company, including children’s education. He had the luxury of choosing a Mercedes Benz, a Land Cruiser or a Lincoln Town Car to drive around. The family could not have asked for more.

But, to everyone’s surprise, he decided to quit the job and start his own company back home. From the cosy comforts and security of a high profile overseas employment, he jumped suddenly into the risky domain of an entrepreneur. What was going on? Everyone, including his kids were surprised. But, he was determined. Fast forward to 2016; that man has become the brand ambassador of Kerala IT, steering the multinational corporation, IBS Software Services at Techno park.

In an exclusive interview with Destination Kerala at his residence at Jawahar Nagar in Thiruvananthapuram, Valayil Korath Mathews, the Founder and Executive Chairman of IBS, narrates his transition from a salaried professional to an entrepreneur. The 60-year-old is determination personified. Commencing operations with 55 relatively inexperienced engineers, Mathews has transformed IBS into one of the top providers of new generation IT solutions to the global Travel, Transportation and Logistics (TTL) industry.