Zubin Karkaria, chief executive of VFS Global, has been appointed as the chief executive of Kuoni Group – VFS Global’s parent company and one of the world’s leading travel services provider.

He is the first Indian to be appointed as the head of the 109-year old travel services company, and will concurrently continue in his function as the chief of VFS Global. 

He will continue to be based in Dubai, UAE.

Kuoni is in the midst of implementing a strategic directional shift whereby it has exited from its traditional tour operating business and is increasing its focus on three core activities – global travel distribution, destination services and visa services. 

After exiting the tour operating business, Kuoni is aiming to accelerate the implementation of its new corporate strategy, and that will be one of Karkaria’s key priorities in his new role. 

Zubin Karkaria, 47, founded VFS Global in 2001 and expanded the company successfully as global leader in visa services for governments worldwide.

Within the Kuoni Group the VFS Global Division has shown the strongest growth and profitability.

In the words of Heinz Karrer, chairman, Kuoni Group: “The Kuoni Group has been transformed from a broad-based travel company pursuing a wide range of very different activities into a focussed global service provider for the professional travel industry and governments.

“The board of directors has decided to accelerate the implementation of this new strategic direction, and we have great confidence in Zubin Karkaria, who has so successfully developed VFS Global into a global leader, to lead the Kuoni Group forward.”