Personal BIO

Dr. Ajayya Kumar Varuthiyil was born in Cherpu,Thrissur, Kerala, on 26 January 1970. He is the youngest among the four children of A.M.N.Nair, a Hindi Scholar and Bharathy Menon, a Maths teacher. He did his schooling in C.N.N.B.H.S school in Thrissur where his Mother taught. His mother retired in 1993. He was particularly fond of Maths. Not to anyone’s surprise, Ajay graduated in Mathematics after schooling. In the year 2000, he got married to Rakhi Menon. With their daughters Aparna Menon and Jahnavi Menon, the family currently resides in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Professional Credentials

In 1994, Dr. Ajayya Kumar Varuthiyil joined the technology giant ABB as Management Accountant. His determination, thorough knowledge of the industry and strong skill set helped him climb up the corporate ladder. With stints at industry leaders like ABB, IPCA Laboratorie and Federal Foods, Ajay’s exposure and experience got enriched. Coming to his credentials, he has been conferred a fellowship from ICWAI. On top of that, he is a Certified Management Accountant from ICMA, USA, whose membership he has been holding since 1999. In addition, he is a ‘Master Financial Professional’ from the American Academy of Financial Management. He also holds a D.Litt. in Organizational Behavior.

Ajay joined Emircom in 2004 as the Chief Financial Officer and has played a crucial role in making the company a market leader in ICT in the Middle East. He strengthened it by laying out a solid, strong financial foundation. During his tenure there, Emircom has seen internal controls and financial discipline being integrated into the company’s ways of working. His long association with the Group which has lasted for more than two decades, combined with his immense knowledge and sharpness, has proved priceless for the company.

At every strategic turn of Emircom, Dr. Ajayya Kumar Varuthiyil’s role has been integral and his advice, crucial. Currently he is the Chief Operating Officer at Emircom. His practical wisdom, integrity, commitment and a strong sense of ethics make him one of a kind. A strong leader and a brilliant team player, he is looked up to by his team members. But he didn’t become so on one fine day. It is his hard work and ambition that helped Ajay climb the peaks of success.

Mentorship In Startups

Dr. Ajayya Kumar Varuthiyil is the mentor to a number of startups in the field of Education, IT and Energy sector. He provides strategic direction and much needed financial advice to help startups scale.

Arts, Culture and Film

Despite shifting base to the middle-east, Dr. Ajayya Kumar Varuthiyil was not ready to let go of his roots. After all, how could he after being born and raised in a culturally affluent place like Peruvanam which has been put on the global map by artists such as Peruvanam Kuttan Marar.

He grew up surrounded by artists, watching performances and spending his time backstage with Kathakali artists. When he moved to Abu Dhabi, Dr. Ajayya Kumar Varuthiyil made a promise to himself that he would do what it takes to maintain that cultural connect. ‘He is the Founder and Chief Curator of Sarvamangala Arts Initiatives, an initiative to promote Indian classical art forms.

Registered under and affiliated to Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Sarvamangala has been organising classical concerts and Kathakali performances in India as well as in the UAE. During the Kerala floods and the recent pandemic, Sarvamangala Arts Initiative has been supporting more than 1,000 artists by giving direct financial aid as well as by organising virtual events. Sarvamangala Arts Initiatives (SAI) executes projects under two banners – Sarvamangala Sabha and Sarvamangala Productions.

Authorship

An avid reader, Dr. Ajayya Kumar Varuthiyil draws inspiration from books like Built to Last, Good to Great and Great by Choice, all written by Jim Collins, Leader without Title by Robin Sharma and concepts like Grid Theory. Only that his literary interests are not limited to corporate literature and management books.

A voracious reader, he has laid his hands on a range of books from Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru to Shantharam by Gregory David Robert. But ask him which writer he worships, and he would give you the answer without batting an eyelid – the legendary writer Gabriel Marquez. Drawing inspiration from such legends, Dr. Ajayya Kumar Varuthiyil himself has been co-authoring three books – one a work of fiction and the others management books.

A travel buff, he has visited most countries. However, what inspired him to pen down his experiences during such journeys is the profound experience he underwent at the Kumbh Mela. It is the practical wisdom and perspective drawn from such diverse areas that make him a great tactician. They give clarity to his vision, provide him with a larger picture about life, enable him to make objective decisions and help him stay rooted in his values.

Dr. Ajayya Kumar Varuthiyil continues to make a conscious intervention in myriads fields, such as art, culture, films and business management. Most importantly, he aims to dedicate the next decade to fostering innovative ideas in management and education, and help groom the next generation of entrepreneurs by sharing the knowledge (intuitive as well as inferred) and wisdom he has gained over the years.