Former District Collector of Kozhikode, Kerala, Mr. T O Sooraj has taken over charge as the Director of Kerala Tourism. He succeeds Mr. Alkesh Kumar Sharma, who has now been posted as Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation in the Union Government.

An IAS officer of the 1994 batch, Mr. Sooraj has also served as the District Collector of Trichur and Inspector General of Registration. He also held the posts of RDO in Pala and Muvattupuzha and Sub-collector, Ernakulam. A post-graduate degree holder in Science with a PGDIM and a bachelor’s degree in law, Mr. Sooraj has nine years experience in the forest department, with another year in banking.

A native of Kottarakkara, Mr. Sooraj is a champion of eco-tourism and a sport enthusiast deeply interested in trekking and adventure tourism. He is now settled in Ernakulam with his family including his wife, Suma and children, Rizwan, Rizana and Rizhin.