Leadership Overhaul at Tech Mahindra
In a significant leadership reshuffle, Tech Mahindra Ltd has appointed Santosh Kumar Jha to spearhead its Global Capability Centres (GCC) business. Formerly with Maryland-based TEKsystems, Jha brings deep industry expertise to the Pune-headquartered firm. He assumes the role after a rich career that included a senior vice-presidency at TEKsystems and leadership stints at KPIT, where he helmed sales and business development for over seven years.
This leadership change is part of a broader strategic revamp. Jha replaces Ram Ramachandran, who now leads specialist sales, while Sahil Dhawan has taken over as the country head for India, Middle East, and Africa. Under this structure, country heads for each GCC client will now report directly to Jha, enhancing operational efficiency and strategic alignment.
The Broader Industry Shift
Jha’s appointment is emblematic of a larger trend among top-tier Indian IT service providers. Cognizant, Wipro, and HCL Technologies have each recently appointed new leaders to their GCC businesses, signaling a sector-wide pivot. However, strategies vary: while Cognizant and HCLTech prefer internal leadership elevation, Tech Mahindra and Wipro are bringing in fresh external perspectives.
India remains the world’s largest hub for GCCs, hosting approximately 1,760 centres, with forecasts suggesting this will grow to 2,200 by 2030. The market size is projected to reach an impressive $105 billion. GCCs have evolved from basic support units to strategic innovation hubs for multinational corporations, offering an attractive proposition for IT service firms keen on higher-margin businesses.
Tech Mahindra’s Renewed GCC Focus
Under the leadership of CEO Mohit Joshi, Tech Mahindra is aggressively pursuing GCC expansion as a vital lever for growth. During the company’s analyst call in April, Joshi outlined a three-year roadmap to revive revenue and profitability, with GCCs playing a central role.
Key initiatives include:
- Launch of TechM Consulting: Unveiled in November 2024, this dedicated consulting arm supports strategic engagements with GCC clients.
- SST Next-Gen GCC Offering: Introduced in April 2025, it reflects a comprehensive revamp designed to cater to modern enterprise needs, from Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) models to flexible capacity supplementation.
- Project Fortius: A strategic program aimed at improving margins, rationalizing tail accounts, and boosting top-line growth through targeted initiatives, including expanding the GCC portfolio.
Strategic Partnership with Goodyear
Further cementing its commitment to the GCC space, Tech Mahindra is reportedly in advanced discussions with Ohio-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. to establish a new GCC in Hyderabad. Expected to employ around 300 professionals, the centre will house Goodyear’s R&D and IT operations. This project highlights Tech Mahindra’s evolving model, wherein it provides staffing and operational support, with the eventual transfer of operations back to the client—a common industry practice.
The initiative aligns well with Goodyear’s broader transformation agenda, aimed at centralizing and enhancing their global technology capabilities in cost-effective locations like India.
GCCs: The Future of IT Services
The shift towards GCCs is a strategic recalibration for Indian IT services companies. According to HFS Research CEO Phil Fersht, “Innovation starts in-house and is augmented via the service provider partnership,” underlining the need for a consultative approach rather than traditional outsourcing.
This transition is supported by industry data:
- GCCs employed over 1.9 million professionals and generated approximately $64.6 billion in revenue in FY24.
- A significant share (over 50%) of this revenue stemmed from engineering research and development.
- Cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad are emerging as global hotspots for these centres, driven by robust talent ecosystems and competitive operational costs.
Conclusion
With Jha’s appointment and a renewed focus on the GCC sector, Tech Mahindra is poised to transform its service delivery model, align more closely with client innovation strategies, and chart a course toward sustained growth. The company’s strategic realignment, underpinned by initiatives like TechM Consulting and Project Fortius, is a bold bet on the future of IT services—a future where GCCs are not just back-end support engines but pivotal innovation hubs for the world’s leading corporations.
As Tech Mahindra looks ahead, its ability to navigate this evolving landscape will likely define its trajectory in the highly competitive IT services sector.
