L’Oréal is expanding its global footprint with plans to set up one of its biggest capability centers in Hyderabad, marking a major strategic push into India’s tech and innovation landscape. Other than its existing research hubs in Mumbai and Bengaluru, this new facility will serve a broader global mission, supporting the company’s digital, data, and technology operations across international markets.
The Hyderabad center is expected to become a backbone for L’Oréal’s global technology, innovation, and research initiatives, supporting the French beauty giant’s digital-first ambitions.
The company has already begun building its leadership team for the project, reaching beyond India to tap into its global talent pool. According to people familiar with the development, L’Oréal is exploring senior management candidates not only locally but also from its Paris headquarters, signaling the strategic importance of this hub within its international operations.
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This expansion plan was a major point of discussion during the visit of L’Oréal’s global board to India in October 2025, led by CEO Nicolas Hieronimus. The beauty group currently runs three major research hubs in France, alongside regional centers spread across Brazil, China, India, Japan, South Africa, and the United States.
The renewed focus on India also comes on the heels of a leadership reshuffle announced in July 2025. Jacques Lebel took over as India country manager, stepping into the operational role previously held by Aseem Kaushik, who has now moved into the position of chairman. Lebel brings extensive international experience to the table, having held senior leadership roles at Procter & Gamble and AB InBev.
The decision to double down on its India strategy also comes at a time when L’Oréal India is facing intensified market pressures. The company’s growth slowed to 5% in fiscal 2025, a sharp drop from 14% the previous year, as homegrown direct-to-consumer beauty and skincare brands gained traction, especially among younger urban buyers.
Despite being a well-established global name, L’Oréal currently holds around 8% of India’s face-care segment, indicating both presence and untapped potential. India contributes just over 1% to the group’s annual revenue of more than ₹41 billion ($462 million), making it L’Oréal’s 15th-largest market, a ranking the company is clearly aiming to improve.
L’Oréal is betting big on India’s growth potential, with company projections indicating that the country could break into its top 10 markets in the next few years. The beauty major is targeting annual revenue of around ₹1 billion ($11.3 million) from India, driven by rising consumer demand, digital adoption, and premiumization in the beauty and skincare segment.
Globally, the company has also been expanding its luxury portfolio. In October 2025, L’Oréal acquired Kering’s beauty business in a deal valued at €4 billion ($4.65 billion). Kering, known for high-end labels like Gucci and Saint Laurent, transferred the House of Creed and beauty and fragrance licenses for its luxury brands as part of the transaction.
A key highlight of the acquisition is L’Oréal securing a 50-year exclusive license to create, develop, and distribute beauty and fragrance products for Gucci once its current agreement with Coty expires. The deal reinforces L’Oréal’s push into the luxury beauty space and enhances its access to globally recognized premium brands.
In a sign of Hyderabad’s growing appeal as an innovation and enterprise hub, Mattel, the world’s second-largest toy manufacturer and parent to brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, and Uno has formally opened its Global Capability Center (GCC) at Gowra Palladium in HITEC City. With this move, Mattel joins a rising list of Fortune 500 companies choosing Hyderabad to anchor their technology, analytics, and business operations teams.
The new GCC is designed to act as a strategic backbone for Mattel’s worldwide operations, supporting multiple core functions across the company’s ecosystem. It will drive advanced technology development, deliver data analytics and business insights, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives across markets. The facility will also work on optimizing supply chain and operational efficiencies, while managing enterprise business processes that enhance Mattel’s global performance and scale.
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Beyond the capability center, Mattel is also deepening its focus on India’s fast-expanding toy sector, which is expected to reach ₹3–4 billion ($33.8–45.1 million) by FY 2025–26. The launch of the GCC signals that the company views India not only as an important consumer market, but also as a strategic base for global talent, innovation, and operational excellence.
Hyderabad’s rise as a global enterprise powerhouse shows no signs of slowing. With more than 400 Global Capability Centers already in operation, the city has cemented its reputation as a preferred destination for innovation, technology, and business transformation. It is home to major global hubs of companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Walmart, and Goldman Sachs, underscoring its appeal for Fortune 500 firms seeking talent, scalability, and strategic advantage.
