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Hyderabad | 18 November 2025: In a significant move underlining India’s rising stature as a global innovation centre, Sonoco Products Company officially launched its Sonoco Performance Hub, a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad. Shri Sridhar Babu Duddilla Garu officially inaugurated the Sonoco Performance Hub’s new facility in Hyderabad, this week.
A Strategic Investment for Digital Transformation
The forthcoming Hyderabad hub marks a transformative investment by the 125-year-old packaging giant. According to company disclosures, Sonoco has committed up to US $10 million in phase one, signalling deep confidence in the city’s technology ecosystem. Sonoco plans to significantly scale hiring: about 300 technologists over the next 12–18 months, rising to 500 over three years. The hub is located in HITEC City, a major tech and innovation precinct of Hyderabad.
From IT Hub to Deep Capability Centre
Launched initially in February 2025 as an IT Performance Hub, the Hyderabad facility has already grown to employ 145 technology professionals. With its permanent GCC status, the hub will now broaden its remit, not just supporting technology services, but enabling global process excellence.
Sonoco’s long-term vision resonates with this shift. As Rajeev Ankireddypalli, VP & CIO at Sonoco, shared with the Times of India:
“Through the SPH we aim to drive operational excellence through digital services. … Our vision is to expand … as a true GCC, making this a comprehensive centre for other business processes as well.”
Innovation Powered by Emerging Technologies
At its core, the Sonoco Performance Hub will centre around cutting-edge technologies—AI/ML, IoT, data analytics, predictive modelling, and cybersecurity. The company also plans to hire experts in commercial and enterprise solutions such as Salesforce, Oracle, Workday, and ServiceNow.
“In Hyderabad’s dynamic tech ecosystem … local professionals can engage in transformative projects and directly contribute to global initiatives,”
– said Rajeev Ankireddypalli, reinforcing Sonoco’s ambition to integrate its India operations deeply into its global digital roadmap.
Arvind Chittora, appointed Managing Director of the Hyderabad hub, and a Sonoco veteran with over 23 years at the company, added:
“I am truly excited about the opportunity to build the workforce of the future for Sonoco … Hyderabad’s deep talent pool … provides the perfect foundation for this journey.”
Finance CoE: Scaling Beyond Technology
Alongside the Performance Hub, Sonoco has announced plans to set up a Finance Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Hyderabad. This marks the company’s next phase of capability build-out, reinforcing its long-term commitment to India—not just for tech, but also for critical finance operations.
Howard Coker, President & CEO of Sonoco, highlighted the strategic importance of this move:
“Our continued investment in Hyderabad reflects … the incredible talent and innovation we’ve found here. … As we expand to include a finance centre, we are deepening our commitment to building world-class teams that drive long-term value for our customers.”
Why This Matters: Hyderabad as a GCC Catalyst
From SSF Global’s perspective, Sonoco’s Hyderabad centre is more than just cost-leveraging: it’s a strategic vote of confidence in India’s long-term capability maturity. Several themes are worth highlighting:
- Moving up the value chain: Sonoco’s plan to build both technology and finance operations underscores a move away from traditional offshore delivery toward high-value transformation capabilities.
- Talent and innovation synergy: Hyderabad is emerging as a preferred destination for GCCs not just for its scale, but for its innovation-driven ecosystem, particularly in analytics, automation, and advanced digital capabilities.
- Leadership-led commitment: By relocating experienced Sonoco leaders like Chittora and investing in senior talent, the company is signalling sustainability and serious operational intent, not just a short-term experiment.
- GCC maturity momentum: As more global firms invest in full-stack, multi-functional GCCs in India, Hyderabad strengthens its case as a global innovation hub, not just a delivery centre.
Sonoco’s Hyderabad Performance Hub and its planned Finance CoE are strong indicators of the GCC ecosystem’s transformation. For GCC leaders, investors, and policymakers, this move affirms that India is no longer just an outsourcing base, it is becoming a strategic centre for global capability, innovation, and long-term value creation.
