Sunny Varkey
Overview
- Source of Wealth
- Education
- Industry
- Service
- Residence
- Dubai
- Marital Status
- Married
- Children
- 2
Biography
Son of Indian expat teachers, who migrated to Dubai in 1959, Sunny Varkey controls GEMS Education, one of the world's largest operators of K-12 schools.
The private education firm secured CVC Capital Partners as its key investor in 2019. CVC is selling a part of its stake.
Sons Dino and Jay run GEMS as group CEO and deputy CEO, respectively.
In June 2024 it got a $2 billion investment from a consortium led by New York-based Brookfield Asset Management. Other investors included Dubai financial services firm Gulf Islamic Investments, private equity outfit Marathon Asset Management and the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
About
Varkey, who never went beyond high school himself, took over the management of his parents' Our Own English School in 1980 at age 23.
GEMS has instituted three awards to recognize outstanding teachers, including one named after Varkey's mother.