Under Armour Appoints Madhu Natesan to Lead India GCC
" Under Armour has appointed Madhu Natesan as Vice President and Managing Director of its India Global Capability Centre. "
- by Martech Desk
- 1 hour ago
Natesan will lead Under Armour's India GCC, overseeing strategy, operations, talent development and technology capabilities that support the company's global business. The appointment comes as multinational companies continue to scale their India-based capability centres to drive digital transformation, engineering, analytics and enterprise operations.
The India GCC is expected to play a growing role in supporting Under Armour's technology roadmap, product innovation, digital platforms and enterprise services. Global capability centres have evolved beyond traditional back-office functions and are increasingly responsible for delivering strategic capabilities across software engineering, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics and customer experience.
Natesan brings more than two decades of leadership experience across technology, consulting and enterprise transformation. Before joining Under Armour, he held senior leadership positions at several multinational organisations, where he led large-scale digital transformation initiatives, technology operations and global delivery teams. His experience spans business strategy, engineering leadership, operational excellence and organisational growth.
According to the company, Natesan will focus on strengthening the India centre as a strategic innovation hub while building high-performing teams capable of supporting Under Armour's long-term business priorities. The role will also involve expanding technology capabilities and fostering collaboration with global business units across the organisation.
The appointment reflects a broader trend among global enterprises that are increasing investments in India's GCC ecosystem. Companies across retail, consumer goods, financial services, healthcare and technology are expanding their India operations to access skilled engineering talent and accelerate innovation. India is now home to more than 1,800 GCCs, with new centres increasingly focusing on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and digital product development rather than traditional support functions.
For Under Armour, strengthening leadership at its India capability centre aligns with the company's broader digital transformation strategy. The sportswear brand has continued investing in technology to improve consumer engagement, supply chain operations, product development and data-driven decision-making across global markets.
Industry experts note that leadership appointments have become increasingly important as GCCs assume greater strategic responsibility within multinational organisations. Rather than functioning solely as offshore delivery centres, many India operations now lead product engineering, enterprise platforms, innovation programmes and AI initiatives that directly influence global business performance.
Natesan's appointment also comes amid rising competition for experienced technology leaders in India's GCC sector. As companies accelerate AI adoption and enterprise modernisation, demand for executives capable of managing large engineering organisations and cross-functional transformation programmes has increased significantly.
The continued expansion of GCCs has also contributed to India's position as a global technology and innovation hub. Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai and Gurgaon remain preferred locations for multinational corporations establishing engineering and digital capability centres, supported by a large talent pool and mature technology ecosystem.
For marketers and customer experience teams, the growing role of GCCs is becoming increasingly relevant. Many centres now contribute to AI-powered personalisation, digital commerce, customer analytics, loyalty platforms and marketing technology, making them strategic assets rather than operational support units.
Under Armour's latest leadership appointment reinforces this shift. By investing in experienced leadership for its India operations, the company is positioning its GCC to contribute more directly to global innovation and business growth. As enterprises continue expanding technology investments, India's capability centres are expected to play an increasingly central role in developing products, platforms and digital experiences that support worldwide operations.
The appointment also highlights the growing importance of leadership capable of combining technology expertise with business strategy, a combination that is becoming essential as GCCs evolve into innovation-led organisations supporting global enterprise transformation.