Building THG Ingenuity India: From Vision to Thriving GCC
Establishing a world-class Global Capability Center mirroring THG's innovation culture and operational excellence
Organization
THG
Role
CTO Global Logistics & Finance
Duration
2024 - 2025 (18 months)
Executive Summary
Led the end-to-end establishment of THG Ingenuity India—transforming a blank canvas into a fully operational Global Capability Center (GCC) with 100+ engineers delivering across logistics, AI, and platform technology. Orchestrated every aspect from legal incorporation, regulatory compliance, infrastructure build-out, to cultural integration between UK and India, setting a new benchmark for global tech expansion.
Quantitative Impact
From EOR to direct payroll with full compliance
LEED-compliant, scalable to 200+ capacity
From vision to fully operational legal entity
World-class tech-centric workspace
GST, FDI, EPFO, ESIC, PT, POSH, RBI, MCA compliant
High-availability redundant internet lease lines
The Challenge
Situation
THG needed to expand its technology footprint to India, not just as an outsourcing destination but as a full-fledged Global Capability Center that would mirror THG's innovation culture, operational excellence, and collaborative DNA. The challenge was building an entire ecosystem from scratch with seamless UK-India integration.
Key Problems
- No legal entity or operational presence in India
- Complex regulatory landscape requiring FDI compliance, tax structuring, and multi-agency coordination
- Need for world-class infrastructure matching UK headquarters standards
- Transition of 60+ engineers from EOR model to direct payroll
- Establishing governance, financial controls, and audit-ready operations
- Building cultural bridge between Manchester HQ and Pune operations
Stakes: Without proper execution, THG risked compliance violations, infrastructure delays, talent attrition, operational inefficiencies, and failure to realize the strategic value of a high-performing GCC contributing to core engineering and innovation.
The Solution
Comprehensive end-to-end orchestration covering legal incorporation, regulatory compliance, infrastructure development, HR transition, governance establishment, and cultural integration. Multi-track parallel execution ensuring speed without compromising compliance or quality.
Legal Entity Incorporation
Established THG Ingenuity Pvt Ltd with end-to-end Ministry of Corporate Affairs filings, PAN/TAN registration, FDI capital inflows, RBI FIRC/FCGPR compliance, working with Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas and PwC India
Regulatory & Banking Setup
Completed GST, IEC, RCMC, EPFO, ESIC, Professional Tax registrations; established HSBC India corporate banking with international wire capabilities
World-Class Infrastructure
Designed and delivered 30,000 sq. ft. LEED-compliant workspace at Phoenix Millennium Towers, Wakad, for 125 engineers with dual Tier-1 connectivity, boardrooms, collaboration spaces, wellness rooms, and 100-seater cafeteria
HR & Payroll Transition
Migrated 60+ engineers from EOR model (Remunance) to direct THG India payroll with full statutory compliance (PF, ESIC, PT, POSH) and digital record-keeping
Governance & Financial Controls
Established board governance, Inter-Company Services Agreement (India-UK), procurement policies, schedule of authority, vendor empanelment, and cost-plus transfer pricing framework
UK-India Collaboration & Culture
Created hybrid work rhythms, hosted UK leadership visits (including Schalk van der Merwe), launched hackathons, AI showcases, and employer branding positioning THG as Pune's aspirational tech destination
Technologies Deployed
Dual Tier-1 Tata Communications
High-availability UK-India connectivity with redundancy
LEED-Compliant Infrastructure
Sustainable, tech-centric workspace with 24x7 power and security
Enterprise IT & AV Systems
Seamless global collaboration and presentation infrastructure
TableSpace Technologies
Workspace design and facility management partner
Additional Impact
Qualitative Impact
- Established seamless governance and audit-ready operations
- Created strong cultural and operational link between Manchester HQ and Pune
- Positioned THG India as aspirational tech destination in Pune market
- Built self-sufficient, high-performance GCC contributing to core engineering
- Successfully transitioned complex EOR model to direct employment
Business Impact
- ▸Enabled THG to scale engineering capacity cost-effectively while maintaining quality
- ▸Created 24x7 development and support capability across time zones
- ▸Established India as strategic hub for AI-driven innovation and platform engineering
- ▸Attracted top-tier engineering talent through employer branding and culture
- ▸Provided blueprint for future GCC expansions in other geographies
Lessons Learned
What Worked
- Parallel multi-track execution (legal, infrastructure, HR) accelerated time-to-value
- Engaging top-tier advisors (SAM, PwC) ensured compliance and risk mitigation
- Strong UK-India leadership collaboration created seamless cultural integration
- Investment in world-class infrastructure positioned THG as employer of choice
Challenges
- Navigating complex FDI, RBI, and inter-company tax regulations
- Coordinating multiple stakeholders (legal, tax, treasury, HR, infrastructure) across geographies
- Transitioning engineers from EOR while maintaining morale and productivity
- Balancing speed of execution with governance and compliance rigor
Key Takeaways
- ✓GCC success requires holistic approach—legal, infrastructure, culture are equally critical
- ✓Early investment in governance and compliance prevents future operational friction
- ✓Cultural integration cannot be delegated—requires active leadership engagement
- ✓World-class infrastructure is not luxury—it's strategic imperative for talent attraction
Board-Level Value Demonstrated
strategic
Demonstrated ability to execute complex global expansion with multi-stakeholder coordination
operational
Built fully compliant, audit-ready GCC from ground zero with no prior presence
financial
Delivered cost-effective engineering capacity while maintaining quality and governance
governance
Established robust legal, tax, and compliance frameworks for international operations
risk
Successfully navigated FDI, tax, employment, and regulatory risks across jurisdictions
cultural
Created seamless UK-India collaboration model with strong cultural integration
Interested in Similar Transformational Results?
Let's discuss how strategic technology leadership can drive your organization forward.