Biography of Kochouseph Chittilappilly: Founder & CEO of V-Guard Industries
Biography of Kochouseph Chittilappilly:
Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly, born in 1950, is a
prominent Indian business magnate, writer, investor, and philanthropist. He is
the founder, chairman, and CEO of V-Guard Industries, a major electrical
appliances company. In addition to his role at V-Guard, he has established a
range of successful ventures including Wonderla amusement parks, Veegaland
Homes for real estate, and Chittilappilly Square, a wellness park and event
hub. Through the K. Chittilappilly Foundation, he supports various charitable
and philanthropic initiatives.
Early Life and Education
Kochouseph Chittilappilly was born in December 1950 to C. O.
Thomas of the Chittilappilly house in Parappur, a suburb of Thrissur in the
former State of Travancore–Cochin, now Kerala. He attended a local church
school for his early education and later graduated from Christ College,
Irinjalakuda. He pursued a master’s degree in Physics from St. Thomas College,
Thrissur in 1970.
Career Beginnings
Chittilappilly started his career in 1973 at Telics, an
electronics company in Thiruvananthapuram that specialized in voltage
stabilizers and emergency lamps. He began as a supervisor and worked there for
three years, gaining valuable industry experience.
Founding V-Guard Industries
In 1977, Chittilappilly established V-Guard Industries with
an initial capital of ₹100,000, focusing on manufacturing voltage stabilizers.
Starting with just two employees and a small facility in Thrissur, the company
grew significantly over the years. V-Guard Industries became the leading brand
in India for voltage stabilizers, boasting a wide network of 500 distributors,
3,000 dealers, and 20,000 retailers across the country. The company also
operates service centers throughout India and offers a diverse product range
including pumps, motors, electric and solar water heaters, wiring cables, UPS
systems, and ceiling fans. V-Guard holds a 20 percent market share in the UPS
segment, 15 percent in pumps, 12 percent in water heaters, and 7 percent in
wiring cables.
Innovative Business Model and Diversification
In the 1980s, Kochouseph Chittilappilly faced a significant
challenge when his factories were shut down due to a workers' strike. To adapt,
he introduced a new business model that involved total product outsourcing
combined with stringent in-house quality control. This innovative approach
allowed his business to continue operating despite the shutdown. Later,
Chittilappilly diversified his ventures further by launching Veegaland,
Kerala’s first water theme park, in 2000. Building on this success, he later established
Wonderla in Bengaluru, a larger-scale amusement park. Veegaland was
subsequently rebranded as Wonderla Kochi to strengthen its identity as a
recognized brand. Additionally, Chittilappilly founded Veegaland Developers,
which specializes in constructing ready-to-occupy flats and apartments in
Kochi.
Companies
Kochouseph Chittilappilly is the founder, Chairman, and CEO
of V-Guard Industries, a prominent manufacturer of electrical and electronic
products in India. He also founded and chairs Wonderla Holidays, which manages
several amusement parks across India. His leadership in both the electrical
industry and entertainment sector underscores his significant contributions to
Indian business.
Birth of Wonderla
Wonderla, an amusement park chain, was inaugurated in 2000,
marking a significant diversification from the core business of V-Guard, which
had been established 23 years earlier. During those years, V-Guard expanded its
product range and extended its marketing reach beyond Kerala to Tamil Nadu and
across South India. The company thrived with a team of skilled managers and
engineers who were empowered and trusted to drive its growth.
Biography of Kochouseph Chittilappilly: Founder & CEO of V-Guard Industries/ Indian business magnate, writer, investor and philanthropist/wanderla story
Inspired by his travels abroad with his young children,
where he visited Disney Land, Universal Studios, and other amusement parks,
Kochouseph Chittilappilly was motivated to create a similar experience in
India. He envisioned a smaller-scale amusement park in Kochi, which took about
three years to materialize. The result was the opening of Wonderla in Kochi in
2000. Since then, the success of Wonderla led to the establishment of
additional parks in Bangalore and Hyderabad, with the Bangalore location also
featuring a Wonderla Resort.
Family and Business Leadership
Chittilappilly is married to Sheela, who serves as the
Managing Director of V-Star Creations, a company within their business group.
The couple has two sons: Arun and Mithun Chittilappilly. Arun oversees the
operations of the Wonderla amusement parks, continuing the family's involvement
in the entertainment industry. Mithun, on the other hand, is the Managing
Director of V-Guard Industries, furthering the family’s influence in the
business sector. The family's diverse business interests and leadership roles
reflect their significant impact on various industries.
Awards and Recognition
Chittilappilly has been recognized for his significant contributions and accomplishments. He received the Rashtriya Samman award from the Government of India for being one of the highest taxpayers and the Newsmaker of the Year 2011 award from Malayala Manorama. In 2022, he was honored with the Kerala Sree Award, the third-highest civilian award given by the Government of Kerala.
He was also named the Millennium
Businessman of Kerala by Business Deepika. In the tourism sector, he received
the Tourism Man of the Year 2000 award from Destination Kerala and the Tourism
Man of the Year 2011 award from the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations,
India (ATTOI). Additionally, he was recognized as Manager of the Year 2000 by
the Travancore Management Association.
Advocacy and Political Involvement
As chairman of the Stray Dog Free movement, Chittilappilly
has advocated for government intervention to address the issue of stray dogs in
Kerala and has voiced criticism of legislation that prohibits the euthanasia of
stray dogs. Additionally, as of January 2023, he is a member of the Twenty20
party, serving as an advisory member, reflecting his continued engagement in
public and political issues.
Beginnings of a Writing Career
Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly began his writing career
with his first book, Practical Wisdom, published in 2005. This book provides an
account of practical management techniques based on his personal experiences.
He continued this series with Practical Wisdom 1: In Real Life and Management
(2010) and Practical Wisdom 2: In Real Life and Management (2012).
Autobiographical Works and Translation
In 2011, Chittilappilly published Ormakilivathil, an
autobiographical commentary on social life in Kerala during the 1950s. This was
followed by Ormakalilekku Oru Yathra in 2015, which chronicles his journey to
becoming a businessman and outlines his personal philosophy. Both books were
later combined and translated into English as A Journey Towards Hope.
Inspirational Story in "The Gift"
In 2016, Chittilappilly released The Gift, where he shares
the inspirational story of how donating a kidney enriched his life in ways
beyond material wealth, offering a profound perspective on fulfillment and
generosity.
Kochouseph Chittilappilly: Personal Life and Philanthropy
Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly is celebrated for his
extensive philanthropic work and social contributions. He founded the K.
Chittilappilly Foundation to support various charitable initiatives.
Additionally, the Thomas Chittilappilly Trust, named in his honor, operates an
old age home and a shelter for destitute children. Chittilappilly is also known
for his advocacy of organ donation; he notably donated a kidney to a stranger,
initiating an organ donor chain. Furthermore, he has collaborated with Mathrubhumi
on the "Ente Veedu" project, which focuses on building homes for the
homeless.
Kochouseph Chittilappilly: A Multifaceted Personality
At 69, Kochouseph Chittilappilly stands out as a highly
successful self-made industrialist, businessman, serial entrepreneur,
philanthropist, globe-trotter, and social activist. His life story is both
intriguing and inspiring, reflecting his diverse achievements and
contributions.
Business Ventures and Accomplishments
Chittilappilly's business ventures include V-Guard
Electrical Appliances, Wonderla Amusement Parks & Resorts, and Veegaland
Homes. His success in these enterprises is attributed to his sharp business
acumen, straightforward approach, and a relentless commitment to quality. His
enterprises have become benchmarks of excellence in their respective industries.
Net Worth and Philanthropy
With an estimated net worth of around USD 1.3 billion,
Chittilappilly is a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. His
philanthropic efforts include a remarkable act of charity at the age of 60,
when he donated a kidney to a poor lorry driver. This selfless act garnered
global attention and set a significant precedent in the field of organ
donation.
A timeline detailing Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly's life,
career, and achievements:
1950
Birth: Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly is born in December
1950 to C. O. Thomas in Parappur, Thrissur, Kerala.
1970
Education: Graduates with a master’s degree in Physics from
St. Thomas College, Thrissur.
1973
Career Beginnings: Starts his career at Telics, an
electronics company in Thiruvananthapuram, as a supervisor.
1977
Founding V-Guard Industries: Establishes V-Guard Industries
with an initial capital of ₹100,000, focusing on manufacturing voltage
stabilizers.
1980s
Innovative Business Model: Introduces a new business model
involving product outsourcing and stringent in-house quality control due to a
workers' strike. This approach helps maintain business operations.
2000
Launch of Wonderla: Opens Wonderla, Kerala’s first water
theme park, inspired by international amusement parks. This marks a significant
diversification from V-Guard’s core business.
2008
Veegaland Rebranding: Rebrands Veegaland as Wonderla Kochi
to align with the Wonderla brand’s success.
2009
Veegaland Developers: Establishes Veegaland Developers to
specialize in constructing ready-to-occupy flats and apartments in Kochi.
2011
Autobiographical Work: Publishes Ormakilivathil, an autobiographical
commentary on social life in Kerala during the 1950s.
2012
Continued Autobiographical Work: Releases Ormakalilekku Oru
Yathra, which chronicles his journey to becoming a businessman. Both books are
later combined and translated into English as A Journey Towards Hope.
2016
Inspirational Book: Publishes The Gift, sharing his story of
how donating a kidney enriched his life beyond material wealth.
2017
Philanthropy: Receives recognition for his philanthropic
work and contributions to social causes.
2018
Net Worth: Estimated net worth reaches around USD 1.3
billion, highlighting his success as a businessman.
2022
Awards: Honored with the Kerala Sree Award, the
third-highest civilian award given by the Government of Kerala.
January 2023
Political Involvement: Becomes an advisory member of the
Twenty20 party, reflecting his continued engagement in public and political
issues.
Philanthropic Initiatives:
K. Chittilappilly Foundation: Supports various charitable
and philanthropic initiatives.
Thomas Chittilappilly Trust: Operates an old age home and a
shelter for destitute children.
Organ Donation: Donates a kidney to a stranger, initiating
an organ donor chain, and collaborates with Mathrubhumi on the "Ente
Veedu" project for building homes for the homeless.
Family:
Married to Sheela: She is the Managing Director of V-Star
Creations.
Children: Arun Chittilappilly manages Wonderla amusement
parks, and Mithun Chittilappilly is the Managing Director of V-Guard
Industries.
This timeline captures the key events and achievements in
Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly’s life, showcasing his entrepreneurial
journey, philanthropic efforts, and personal milestones.
