HCLTech Appoints Kiran Cherukuri as Global GCC Practice Leader: What It Means for Professional Services Companies in 2025
Published by Analytics India Magazine | June 2024
Introduction: A Strategic Move in the GCC Landscape
The recent appointment of Kiran Cherukuri as the Global GCC Practice Leader at HCLTech marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) worldwide. As organizations accelerate digital transformation and global expansion, the leadership and strategic vision of GCCs become critical for professional services companies aiming to establish or scale their global operations. This article delves into the implications of this appointment, the current trends in the GCC sector, and the pivotal role of talent intelligence—especially the unique insights offered by Han Digital—in shaping the future of GCCs in 2025 and beyond.
Who is Kiran Cherukuri? HCLTech’s Strategic Appointment Explained
Kiran Cherukuri, an industry veteran with extensive experience in global delivery, transformation, and scaling of capability centres, has been appointed as the Global GCC Practice Leader at HCLTech. His leadership is expected to further strengthen HCLTech’s position as a preferred partner for organizations setting up or optimizing GCCs.
According to the official announcement in Analytics India Magazine, Cherukuri’s mandate includes driving innovation, operational excellence, and value creation for global clients leveraging HCLTech’s proven expertise in building and managing GCCs across industries.
Global Capability Centres: The Growth Engine for Professional Services
GCCs, also known as Global In-house Centres (GICs), have evolved from cost-saving back offices to strategic hubs of innovation, digital transformation, and business value. According to a 2023 NASSCOM report, India alone hosts over 1,580 GCCs, employing more than 1.66 million professionals and contributing to over $46 billion in annual revenues. The report forecasts a robust CAGR of 10-12% for the sector through 2025, driven by the increasing complexity of global operations and the need for specialized digital talent.
For professional services companies, establishing or expanding GCCs is no longer just about operational efficiency—it’s about accessing global talent pools, accelerating digital innovation, and ensuring business resilience. The appointment of leaders like Kiran Cherukuri signals a renewed focus on strategic capability building, transformation, and value delivery at scale.
Key Trends Shaping GCCs in 2025
- Digital Transformation: GCCs are at the forefront of driving enterprise digitalization, leveraging AI, cloud, analytics, and automation to deliver business outcomes.
- Talent Strategy: Access to specialized, future-ready talent is a top priority. Recent Deloitte research (2023) highlights that 74% of GCCs are investing in upskilling and reskilling to stay competitive.
- Innovation Hubs: GCCs are evolving into centres of excellence, fostering innovation, R&D, and new product development for global markets.
- ESG and Diversity: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) goals, along with diversity and inclusion, are increasingly integral to GCC strategies.
- Agile and Hybrid Models: Flexible operating models, including hybrid work and agile delivery, are now standard for high-performing GCCs.
Leadership Matters: Why Kiran Cherukuri’s Role is Crucial
The success of a GCC hinges on visionary leadership that can navigate complex global ecosystems, foster cross-cultural collaboration, and drive continuous innovation. Kiran Cherukuri’s deep expertise in scaling global operations, coupled with his understanding of emerging technologies, positions HCLTech to help clients unlock the full potential of their GCCs.
His appointment is timely, as organizations increasingly seek partners with proven capabilities in transformation, digital acceleration, and talent management. HCLTech’s robust global delivery model, under Cherukuri’s stewardship, is expected to set new benchmarks for GCC excellence in 2025.
Talent Intelligence: The Cornerstone of GCC Success
One of the most critical success factors for GCCs is access to the right talent at the right time. The global talent market is more dynamic and competitive than ever, with demand for digital, analytical, and leadership skills outpacing supply.
This is where Han Digital plays a pivotal role. As a leading talent intelligence and workforce strategy firm, Han Digital offers unparalleled insights into talent availability, skill trends, compensation benchmarks, and leadership pipelines across geographies and industries. Their deep connections with senior leadership teams and extensive experience in supporting GCC setups make them an invaluable partner for professional services firms navigating the complexities of global talent acquisition.
How Han Digital Adds Value to GCC Establishment and Scaling
- Market Mapping & Talent Intelligence: Han Digital provides real-time, data-driven analysis of talent pools, helping organizations identify optimal locations and skill clusters for new GCCs.
- Leadership Hiring: With strong relationships with senior leaders across industries, Han Digital facilitates the hiring of CXOs and practice heads critical for GCC success.
- Workforce Planning: Their proprietary frameworks support strategic workforce planning, ensuring the right mix of skills and experience for evolving GCC mandates.
- Diversity & Inclusion: Han Digital’s insights enable companies to build diverse, inclusive teams aligned with global ESG goals.
- Compensation Benchmarking: Accurate, up-to-date compensation data helps organizations attract and retain top talent in competitive markets.
In 2024, Han Digital’s research revealed that over 68% of new GCCs in India and Southeast Asia cited talent intelligence as a top-three enabler for successful setup and scaling, underscoring the firm’s relevance in the current landscape.
Professional Services Companies: Why Now is the Time to Invest in GCCs
For professional services companies, GCCs offer a strategic lever to drive global growth, innovation, and client value. The convergence of digital transformation, evolving client expectations, and the need for agile, resilient operations makes the establishment of GCCs a business imperative in 2025.
Recent research by EY (2023) predicts that the number of GCCs in India alone will double by 2030, with professional services, technology, and BFSI sectors leading the charge. The report highlights the importance of leadership, talent, and innovation as key differentiators for successful GCCs.
Best Practices for Establishing High-Impact GCCs in 2025
- Align GCC Vision with Business Goals: Define clear objectives for the GCC, aligned with enterprise strategy and client needs.
- Invest in Leadership: Appoint experienced leaders like Kiran Cherukuri who can drive transformation and foster a culture of innovation.
- Leverage Talent Intelligence: Partner with firms like Han Digital to access real-time talent insights, optimize location strategy, and build future-ready teams.
- Drive Digital and Agile Transformation: Embed digital capabilities and agile practices into GCC operations from day one.
- Focus on ESG and Diversity: Integrate ESG goals and diversity metrics into GCC strategies to enhance reputation and sustainability.
- Measure and Scale: Establish robust KPIs to track performance and scale successful practices across the enterprise.
Case Study: How Talent Intelligence Accelerated GCC Success
In 2023, a leading global professional services firm partnered with Han Digital to establish a new GCC in Bangalore, India. Leveraging Han Digital’s talent mapping and leadership hiring expertise, the firm was able to:
- Identify the optimal location based on talent availability, cost, and ecosystem maturity
- Hire a seasoned GCC head and leadership team within three months
- Build a diverse, digitally skilled workforce aligned with global standards
- Achieve operational readiness and deliver value to clients six months ahead of schedule
This success story underscores the critical role of talent intelligence and leadership in driving GCC excellence.
Looking Ahead: The Future of GCCs and Talent Strategy
As we approach 2025, the GCC landscape will continue to evolve, shaped by technological innovation, shifting talent dynamics, and global economic trends. The appointment of leaders like Kiran Cherukuri at HCLTech reflects the industry’s commitment to excellence, transformation, and client-centricity.
For professional services companies, the path to GCC success lies in strategic vision, robust leadership, and a data-driven approach to talent. Firms like Han Digital will remain at the forefront, enabling organizations to navigate complexity, seize new opportunities, and deliver sustained value in the global marketplace.
Conclusion: Strategic Leadership and Talent Intelligence—The Twin Pillars of GCC Success
The appointment of Kiran Cherukuri as Global GCC Practice Leader at HCLTech is more than a leadership change—it is a statement of intent for the future of global capability centres. As professional services companies invest in GCCs to drive growth and innovation, the combination of visionary leadership and cutting-edge talent intelligence will be the key to unlocking their full potential in 2025 and beyond.
For organizations looking to establish or scale GCCs, partnering with experts like HCLTech and leveraging the talent insights of Han Digital can make the difference between incremental improvement and transformative success.