Orbia Appoints Bijal Shah to Lead Pune GCC, Focuses on Innovation and Global Business Impact

Orbia has appointed Bijal Shah as Head of its Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Pune, bringing more than 23 years of leadership experience across technology, operations, financial services and capability centres.

The appointment marks an important leadership development for Orbia’s India operations as global companies increasingly look to their GCCs to contribute beyond operational delivery and play a greater role in technology, innovation and enterprise-wide transformation.

Shah will focus on strengthening the Pune centre’s contribution to Orbia’s global businesses, with priorities spanning talent development, technology capabilities, innovation and operational excellence.

Bijal Shah Brings More Than Two Decades of Leadership Experience

Before joining Orbia, Shah served as India Country Head and Board Director at Genworth Financial, where she oversaw functions spanning technology, operations, finance, human resources and sourcing.

Her experience across multiple business functions provides a foundation for leading a capability centre that must align local operations with global organisational priorities.

Shah’s career combines technology expertise with broader operational and leadership responsibilities. This background is particularly relevant as GCC leadership roles increasingly require professionals who can connect technology execution, workforce strategy and business performance.

In a LinkedIn post announcing her new role, Shah highlighted her intention to build on the existing foundation of Orbia’s India GCC and expand its contribution through talent, technology, innovation and operational excellence.

She also emphasised the importance of moving beyond execution to establish GCCs as sources of ideas, capabilities and competitive advantage for the wider enterprise.

Orbia Strengthens Its India Capability Centre

Orbia is a global company headquartered in Mexico with businesses spanning water infrastructure, precision agriculture, connectivity solutions, polymer products, and advanced materials for the energy transition.

The company has more than 22,000 employees, commercial activities in over 100 countries and operations in more than 50 countries.

Its diversified business portfolio connects it to several important global priorities, including food and water security, connectivity, decarbonisation and the energy transition.

Within this international structure, India’s technology and operational capabilities can help support collaboration across business units and geographies.

Shah’s appointment provides dedicated leadership for Orbia’s Pune GCC as the company seeks to strengthen the centre’s capabilities and its contribution to global operations.

Why GCC Leadership Is Becoming More Strategic

The appointment comes amid a broader transformation in India’s Global Capability Centre ecosystem.

Many multinational companies initially established Indian centres to access skilled professionals, improve efficiency and support global operations. Over time, these centres have taken on broader responsibilities across technology, analytics, digital transformation and business-critical functions.

Today, the strategic value of a GCC increasingly depends on its ability to deliver measurable business outcomes rather than simply execute assigned tasks.

This shift requires leaders who can:

• Build specialised capabilities: Develop teams with the skills required to support evolving global business needs.
• Connect technology with business strategy: Ensure that technology investments and operational priorities contribute to organisational goals.
• Drive innovation: Encourage teams to identify opportunities for improvement and develop new solutions.
• Strengthen global collaboration: Build effective partnerships between India-based teams and international stakeholders.
• Improve operational excellence: Establish processes and operating models that support consistent, scalable performance.

Shah’s cross-functional experience aligns with these broader requirements for modern GCC leadership.

Pune’s Role in India’s GCC Ecosystem

Pune has developed into an important destination for multinational technology and capability operations, supported by its engineering talent, technology ecosystem and established corporate presence.

For global organisations, the city offers access to professionals across technology, operations and business functions, making it a potential base for building capabilities that serve multiple international markets.

The effectiveness of a GCC, however, depends on more than its location. Its long-term contribution is shaped by leadership, talent development, alignment with global business priorities and the ability to deliver meaningful outcomes.

For Orbia, the focus on strengthening its Pune centre reflects the importance of developing local capabilities that support its broader international business.

From Operational Delivery to Competitive Advantage

One of the central themes in Shah’s stated vision is the transition from execution-focused work to capabilities that create competitive advantage.

This distinction matters for multinational companies operating across complex industries. A strategically positioned GCC can help organisations strengthen technology capabilities, improve processes, develop specialist talent and identify opportunities that benefit the wider enterprise.

The transition requires sustained investment in people, leadership and operating models. It also requires close collaboration between the India centre and global business teams so that local capabilities remain connected to the organisation’s strategic objectives.

For Orbia, talent, technology, innovation and operational excellence are the key areas identified for strengthening the Pune GCC’s contribution.

The company’s next phase will depend on how effectively those priorities translate into capabilities and outcomes for its global businesses.

GCC Lens: What This Appointment Signals

Bijal Shah’s appointment highlights a broader development in India’s GCC landscape: leadership is becoming central to the evolution of capability centres into strategic business partners.

As global organisations expand their Indian operations, they need leaders who can develop talent, coordinate across functions and ensure that local teams contribute to global priorities.

Orbia’s leadership move reflects this changing expectation. The focus is not simply on maintaining an India presence, but on strengthening the centre’s ability to contribute through innovation, technology and operational performance.

The next stage of GCC growth will be shaped not just by the number of centres companies establish, but by the capabilities those centres build and the business value they create.

For Orbia’s Pune GCC, Shah’s appointment sets the leadership direction for that ambition.

Source: The Economic Times GCC, published October 9, 2026.