Jay Varkey

Jay Varkey is a results-driven executive with over 17 years of leadership experience in the
global education sector. As Deputy CEO of GEMS Education, he plays a pivotal role in
shaping the strategic direction and operational excellence of one of the world’s largest private
education providers.

Jay’s expertise lies in Business Development, particularly within the GCC region, where he
has cultivated strong relationships with clients and partners. His deep understanding of social
infrastructure, especially in education and healthcare, positions him to lead the group’s
development in these critical areas.

He began his global business development journey with GEMS Education after earning his
M.A. Honours in Business Studies from the University of Edinburgh, followed by an MBA
from London Business School and Columbia Business School. His academic foundation
supports his strategic acumen and commercial insight.

Throughout his career, Jay has held key roles including Group Executive Director of the
Varkey Group, overseeing operations across the UK, Europe, Africa, South Asia, East Asia,
and the Americas.

Jay has led significant innovation through the establishment of core support services including
Threads, Slices, Safecor, and ESM. He is relentlessly driving the education technology
agenda, with a strong and deliberate focus on accelerating the integration of Artificial
Intelligence across teaching, learning, and operational environments. His passion for Edtech
is reinforced through advisory roles in high-growth education technology startups.

Jay remains committed to advancing scalable, sustainable, and future-ready solutions that
elevate education and create meaningful impact worldwide.