Board of Directors

Shri. Balagopal Chandrasekhar graduated in economics from Loyola College, Madras University and joined the IAS in 1977. Allotted to Manipur, he worked in the IAS in Manipur and Kerala till 1983 when he resigned to promote a venture to make hi-tech biomedical devices for the first time in the country. Acquiring the knowhow from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology, Trivandrum (SCTIMST) and with the support of National Research Development Corporation and KSIDC, he set up his venture near Trivandrum.
From those small beginnings, he grew the venture into one of the largest makers of blood bag systems in the world, exporting products to more than 50 countries. In 2012, he sold the company to a leading Japanese maker of medical products, and turned to investing in startups, mentoring entrepreneurs, writing, travel and his many other interests. Balagopal Chandrasekhar was the Chairman of the Board of Federal Bank Ltd. till 28 June 2023 when his term ended. He is on the Governing Body of the Centre for Management Development Trivandrum, Advisory Board of Fourth Wave Foundation, Member of the Board of TIMed Medical Devices Incubator of SCTIMST, and Member, Advisory Board of IIT Palakkad, and Independent Director on the Boards of some leading companies.
With his wife Vinita, he set up and runs ANAHA Trust, which funds socially useful programs and projects, in the fields of primary health, primary education, and rural livelihoods. Projects supported by the Trust are located in Kerala and Manipur. Shri. Balagopal Chandrasekhar has written four books: ‘ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE INDIA’, ‘THE VIEW FROM KOLLAM’, ‘MAVELI & MARKETS: HOW SUPPLYCO HELD THE PRICE LINE’, and ‘BELOW THE RADAR: the untold story of how modern manufacturing grew by stealth in Kerala’.

Shri APM Mohammed Hanish IAS, a 1996 batch from Indian Administrative Services(IAS) currently holds the Post of Principal Seceratary Industries Department & Revenue (wakf). He has worked in varied capacities, such as the District Collector, Director of School Education Department, Chairman & MD of the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation and is also the MD for Kochi Smart City, KMRL and Secretary PWD & Urban Development, to name a few.

Shri. VK Mathews is the Founder and Executive Chairman of IBS Software, a leading enterprise SaaS company specializing in the travel industry, particularly the aviation sector. Shri. VK Mathews established IBS Software in 1997 with a vision to redefine the future of travel through technological innovation. Today, IBS Software stands as one of the most successful travel technology companies globally, serving over 200 clients, including many of the world’s largest and most renowned airlines, airports, ground handlers, hotel companies, cruise lines, and energy companies. The company’s business operation spreads across 35 countries, employing over 5000 professionals from 42 nationalities. Its global clientele includes 20 of the top 40 airlines, five of the top 10 hospitality companies, and top cruise companies. Shri. VK Mathews is also a recognized thought leader in the global aviation industry and a regular speaker at various travel and technology events and seminars. He has served as an Executive Council member of NASSCOM, India’s premier body for technology and software, and as the past Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industries (State). He is currently the Chairman of the Group of Technology Companies (Kerala, India). Mathews holds a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, and has completed executive management education at Harvard Business School.

Shri. C. J. George, a Financial Services Industry Entrepreneur, is the founder and Managing Director of Geojit Financial Services Ltd. He has over 30 years of professional experience in the securities market. In the past, Shri. George was a member of the Executive Committee of National Stock Exchange (NSE), Mumbai and National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL), Mumbai.

Shri. Aju Jacob is the Managing director of Synthite industries limited, world's largest producer of value-added spices and oleoresins. He is the youngest son of the late C.V Jacob, who founded Synthite back in 1972.
Shri. Aju Jacob completed his formative education from Kerala, did his Chemical engineering from Bangalore University and MBA PGPMAX from ISB Hyderabad. Shri. Aju Jacob joined Synthite Industries Limited in 1987, a year after completing his Engineering graduation. Throughout his tenure, he has held various key positions within the organization and became the Managing Director in 2024. Under Shri. Aju Jacobs leadership, Synthite Industries has witnessed remarkable growth. The companys annual turnover has increased from just over 6 crores to nearly 3000 crores. During his tenure, Shri. Aju Jacob oversaw the expansion of Synthite from a single production unit to a global operation with more than 10 manufacturing units. Shri. Aju Jacob was the past Chairman, CII Kerala Chapter (2023-2024).

CA. Deepa Varghese, Chartered Accountant - with over 25 years’ experience - 10 years in industry mainly Tele-communication, Retail and Manufacturing and 15 years in practice. An expert in formulating strategies and evaluating proposals for new business start-ups. She is an Insolvency Professional in addition to which she holds certificates issued by ICAI in courses conducted in Systems Audit (DISA), GST, Forensic Accounting and Preparation of Appeals, Drafting of Deed and Documents and Representation before Appellate Authorities and Statutory Bodies. She was the Chairperson (2023-24) (first lady in 55 years of existence of the branch) of Ernakulam Branch of Southern India Regional Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India prior to which as a member of the Managing Committee of the branch from 2019, she has held various positions like the Chairperson of the student’s wing (SICASA) of Ernakulam Branch of ICAI for 2019-20, the Treasurer (2020-21), Secretary (2021-22) and Vice Chairperson (22-23).
She is the financial expert of Board of Public Sector Transformation (BPT) and an Independent Director of M/s. Muthoot Securities Limited. CA. Deepa Varghese is currently the managing partner of M/s D Varghese & Associates, a Chartered Accountants firm founded by her in 2009. The firm has 3 partners and offices at Thodupuzha and Kottayam.

Shri. S Premkumar has got more than three decades of experience in Banking and Finance. He superannuated as the General Manager of Canara Bank. During his tenure with Canara Bank, he had headed Trivandrum Circle of Canara Bank having total business of one lack thirty-eight thousand crores. Besides, he was there in the Board of Director of Kerala Gramin Bank and was the Convenor of State Level Bankers’ Committee of Kerala and UTLBC of Lakshadweep. He was also part of Empowered Committee on MSME of RBI, Empowered Committee on Gramin Bank and Mission 1000 of Kerala State Government. Shri. S Premkumar is having excellent exposure in Project Appraisal and he is a trained expert in Integrated Credit Management, Administration, Finance and Project Implementation of Industries.

P.K. Mayan Mohammed is the Managing Director of The Western India Plywoods Limited, a Listed Public Limited Company since 2014. He is also on the Board of subsidiary companies of The Western India Plywoods Limited.

Shri S Harikishore IAS is from the 2008 batch of IAS (Kerala Cadre). He joined IAS after completing his master's at IIT Kanpur. His previous postings include District Collector of Pathanamthitta, Managing Director of KTDC, Director of Tourism Department, CEO of Life Mission, Executive Director of Kudumbashree, and Director of PRD. Currently, he serves as the Director of the Department of Industries and Commerce and as the Special Officer of the Plantation Department. He has been serving as the Managing Director ,KSIDC since 01.08.2022