Mental Health Great Place To Work
KGiSL Microcollge

Dr Ashok Bakthavathsalam

 

Dr Ashok Bakthavathsalam is the Founder and Managing Director of K.G. Information Systems Private Limited (KGiSL) Group of Companies, Coimbatore, and the Managing Trustee of KG Hospitals, Coimbatore. Armed with a PhD in Software Engineering, his experience spans across diverse business ventures that include IT Products, Services & Consulting, BPO, IT infrastructure, Healthcare, Education & Solar.

KGiSL is part of the $750 million business conglomerate – KG Group. With a heritage of over eight decades, KG Group is known for its philanthropic works and currently employs over 25,000+ people across different geographies.

Dr Ashok Bakthavathsalam is a software engineer-turned-entrepreneur and has been responsible for KGiSL’s growth by playing a key role in both leadership and management of the company. He has been able to predict the industry trends much ahead, which pioneered tremendous growth of IT and BPO services in Coimbatore since 1996. He is a serial entrepreneur who has successfully created companies & institutions using various business models, including JVs, SPVs, Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) and Built-Operate-Manage (BOM).

KGiSL Special Economic Zone, formerly known as CHIL SEZ, celebrated a milestone achievement by surpassing INR 25,000 Crores in software exports, in 2020. The World Bank has acknowledged his efforts for vision-turned-reality in establishing the largest IT SEZ in Coimbatore and for placing the city in the IT map of India.

He was also the Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Coimbatore Zone (2012-2013).

In 2002, he was instrumental in establishing KGiSL Trust, as the Managing Trustee. The Trust has sponsored three academic institutions for higher education. All of them excel in their ability to provide real-world exposure to aspiring IT professionals through innovative instructional technologies while creating earn-while-you-learn opportunities to make their students industry-ready.

Circa 2000, as the Managing Trustee, he pioneered the concept of medical transcription at KG Hospital, Coimbatore, and set up a national award winning, state-of-the-art software system. He was also instrumental in conducting over 1,00,000 free IOL surgeries to the poorer sections of the society.

He is also widely recognized for entrepreneurship, commitment to excellence and delivering high-growth value to alliances and partners. His numerous awards include:

  • Sc. (Honoris Causa) from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)
  • Best ICT Entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu, 2011 – from Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
  • Lifetime Achievement Award in Information Technology – Lions Club International
  • Best Entrepreneur Award for 2009 – Coimbatore Management Association
  • The Outstanding Young Person (TOYP) Award, National Level – India, Junior Chamber International (JCI)

He is an ardent squash player, a coffee enthusiast and a TDD evangelist. He loves to work with students and also dabbles in coding to this day.