QI Group’s strategic expansion began in the Far East, establishing its corporate headquarters in Hong Kong and a regional green-certified operational hub in Selangor, Malaysia. From these foundations, QI Group extended its reach into South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Central Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
The QI Group engages in strategic investments in wellness and lifestyle, education, travel and leisure, luxury goods, and retail. The corporation maintains active investments through QI Capital, its investment arm, in various portfolio companies across Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These investments span financial services, education, telecommunications, luxury goods manufacturing, natural food retail, and hospitality management.
Who Is the Owner of QI Company?
Under the stewardship of founders Vijay Eswaran and Joseph Bismark, the QI Group has grown from a startup into a global enterprise. Their commitment to principled leadership and innovative business strategies has driven success across the company’s diverse portfolio since 1998. The founders continue to guide the privately held organization’s direction — Eswaran as executive chairman and Bismark as deputy chairman — working alongside their board of directors to shape strategic decisions.
The Asian financial crisis of 1998 might have deterred most entrepreneurs from launching a new venture, but for Eswaran and Bismark, it presented an opportunity. The two founders established the QI Group during this tumultuous period, with an understanding of Asia’s emerging markets and an unwavering confidence in their vision for a different kind of global corporation.
Malaysian-born Vijay Eswaran holds a degree in socioeconomics and an MBA, having studied in the U.K. and U.S. He began his career by turning around a struggling publishing company in Malaysia within two years, earning praise and promises from the management. However, after the company was sold to a conglomerate and his role was eliminated, he resolved never to work for anyone else again. This pivotal moment marked the start of his entrepreneurial journey, which, combined with his exposure to direct selling models during his time abroad, laid the foundation for his success as an entrepreneur, public speaker, and philanthropist.
Bismark brings an unconventional perspective to his role as QI Group’s co-founder, drawing from his formative years in an ashram. This distinctive background, which includes mastery of taekwondo at the 3rd Dan black belt level and being part of the Philippine national team, has informed his multifaceted approach to business leadership. His personal commitment to wellness — demonstrated through four decades of yoga practice and adherence to vegetarianism — has directly influenced the company’s successful ventures into organic foods and health-focused initiatives.
Strategic Growth Through Diversification
Twenty-six years later, the company has transformed into a multinational conglomerate employing more than 2,000 individuals across 30 countries. The workforce represents nearly 50 nationalities, with a notably balanced gender distribution of 53% male and 47% female employees.
Under Eswaran and Bismark’s stewardship, QI Group has built a diverse portfolio spanning multiple sectors. The organization’s commitment to education materialized with Quest International University in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. QIU has grown to welcome approximately 15,000-plus students from nearly 50 countries. In 2023, the company secured a $21.48 million Sukuk Ijarah program with a leading Malaysian bank to fund QIU’s new campus development in Gunung Lang, Ipoh, Perak, marking QI Group’s inaugural entry into Malaysia’s capital markets.
Qi Group’s luxury market presence strengthened with the acquisition of Swiss watch brand Cimier, which celebrates its centennial in 2024. The company’s hospitality ventures include eco-focused boutique hotels and resorts across Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Turkey, maintaining an impressive average rating exceeding four stars on Google and TripAdvisor.
“Leadership is not about telling people what to do,” Eswaran stated. “A true leader is one who knows how to serve.” This philosophy has become foundational to the company’s management approach.
Bismark’s leadership philosophy challenges traditional corporate hierarchies. “Leadership is often misunderstood. People think that it’s simply a form of recognition, a title. But this couldn’t be further from the truth,” he explained on LinkedIn. His perspective has helped shape an organizational culture grounded in four core values: integrity, service, sustainability, and leadership.
Global Impact and Environmental Stewardship
The corporation’s environmental initiatives reflect its founders’ commitment to sustainability. The company launched a Green Legacy program at the height of the pandemic in 2021 that focused on global reforestation. Through this initiative, more than 25,000 trees have been planted in 10 countries over the past three years.
Prana Resort Nandana exemplifies QI Group’s commitment to sustainable tourism in Koh Samui, Thailand. The resort has achieved a gold rating from the Green Hotel Standard, awarded by Thailand’s Department of Environmental Quality Promotion under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. This certification recognizes the property’s comprehensive environmental initiatives, including digital check-ins, employing QR code menus to minimize paper waste, and using locally sourced ingredients to reduce its carbon footprint.
The 42-square-meter rooms overlook Bangrak Beach, while the property’s strategic location places it 10 minutes from the airport and near key tourist attractions. Eswaran stated, “We must remember the lessons from the pandemic and never take Mother Nature for granted again. The sustainable future of hospitality businesses is likely smaller-scale, authentic, and experiential. Governments, businesses, and consumers must align their tourism practices with the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and a 1.5 degree future.”
The leadership of Eswaran and Bismark continues to drive QI Group’s development as a multifaceted global enterprise. Eswaran stated, “The people who work for the organization are its true assets. A leader who takes care of his people will never have to worry about poor customer service.”
This philosophy has proven effective in building a resilient organization capable of adapting to global market changes while maintaining its commitment to ethical business practices. The combination of Eswaran’s business acumen and Bismark’s holistic management approach has created a unique corporate culture that balances commercial success with social responsibility, positioning the company for continued growth in the global marketplace.
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