Varkey assumed his current position in 2017. GEMS Education plans to invest $544.6 million over the next three years to add around 20,000 student seats. In May 2026, it launched GEMS Founders School – Nad Al Hamar, the fifth campus in its Founders network, scheduled to open in August 2026. In February 2026, GEMS Education partnered with the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London (UAL), to bring fashion and creative education expertise to the UAE. Varkey is a founding board member of the YPO Dubai Chapter and a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Education, Gender, and Work.