Trailblazers Honoured at Manappuram VPN IBE Awards 2025

The Manappuram VPN IBE Awards 2025 celebrated its 10th anniversary on September 23 with a grand ceremony at the Gokulam Convention Centre, Kochi. Launched in 2015 by Dr. Ajit Ravi as a tribute to his mentor V. P. Nandakumar, Chairman & MD of Manappuram Finance Ltd., the award has grown into a premier recognition platform. Its first edition was held in Sri Lanka, honouring leading business personalities, and the legacy continues strongly a decade later.

This year’s edition honoured stalwarts across diverse fields, with the award being handed over jointly by V. P. Nandakumar and Dr. Ajit Ravi, Chairman of Pegasus..

The list of awardees reflected excellence across multiple sectors:

• Dr. K. Paul Thomas, MD & CEO of ESAF Group of Social Enterprises, received the Beacon of Inclusive Banking Excellence Award.
• S.K. Abdulla, MD of Lakeshore Hospital and Research Centre Ltd., was presented with the Exemplary Leader in Healthcare and Philanthropy Award.
• Dr. Varghese Kurian, Group Chairman & MD of VKL Group, bagged the Business Luminary in Real Estate, Hospitality, and Philanthropy Award.
• Dr. Gokulam Gopalan, producer and media personality, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Indian Cinema.

The event, hosted by Dr. Ajit Ravi, concluded with an atmosphere of admiration and applause, acknowledging leaders who have transformed industries and communities through vision, dedication, and innovation.

Pic Courtesy: pegasus photography/ images are subject to copyright