Visa services: Zubin Karkaria

Zubin Karkaria founded VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions globally. VFS Global is headquartered in Dubai, UAE, and Zurich, Switzerland, and is a portfolio company of Blackstone, the world’s largest alternative asset manager. The Swiss-based Kuoni and Hugentobler Foundation and EQT, a global investment organization headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, also hold minority stakes in VFS Global.

CAREER TRACK

In 2001, Karkaria conceptualised VFS Global – as an outstanding example of disruptive innovation – and led the company to become a global leader in its space within four to five years of its inception. As of November, VFS Global serves 69 client governments with nearly 3,400 application centres across more than 150 countries, having handled over 300 million applications so far.

Karkaria was also the CEO of the Switzerland-headquartered Kuoni Group (of which VFS Global was a part) globally from 2015 until 2017 when the Group was split-up into stand-alone businesses following its privatization.

Joining Kuoni in 1991, Zubin handled several managerial roles before he was appointed as the CEO and MD of Kuoni India and South Asia in 2005 – managing the Outbound and Domestic tours division, the Business Travel division, and the Inbound Travel division, and simultaneously growing the VFS Global business. He was made a member of the Kuoni Group Executive Board in 2013, and in 2015 he became the first Asian to be appointed as the CEO of Kuoni Group. With a rich experience of over 30 years in the travel and tourism business and in developing a truly global business, Karkaria has taken-on and overcome several challenges successfully. An economic value creator, his success lies in his sharp entrepreneurial sense combined with organisation-building skills.

A visionary leader, Karkaria’s ability to understand and leverage technology has been instrumental in building VFS Global into a technology-led, innovative company that continuously enhances its market leadership position.

BUILDING ON PARTNERSHIPS

In 2002, VFS Global entered in a partnership with the Emirates Airlines to manage UAE visa services for its passengers across 180 countries, marking its first major foray into business with the UAE government. This was followed by the launch of VFS Global operations in the UAE in 2007. Recognising the Middle East’s growing potential, Karkaria established VFS Global’s headquarters in the UAE in 2013. Today, VFS Global has its operations in nine countries in the Middle East, with a workforce of over 1500. The company’s global digital and AI headquarters have been established in the UAE too, with investments in infrastructure, human resources, and advanced solutions.

In recognition of his immense experience and contribution to the broader travel and tourism-related services, Karkaria has been part of several high-powered committees during his career. In June 2023, he was appointed on the National Tourism Advisory Council of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and before that, as an Executive Committee member of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), since December 2022.

ACCOLADES

Karkaria has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Global Game Changers Award at the Indian Awards 2019 presented at the Houses of Parliament in London.

Other honours include the Pioneer of the Visa Services Industry award, Travel Entrepreneur of the Decade award, and appointment as the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite’ (Knight of the National Order of Merit) by the President of the French Republic, François Hollande in 2016.

A commerce graduate from Mumbai University, Karkaria completed his Business Management studies and the Senior Executive Programme at London Business School, one of the world’s most prestigious business schools.