Now Reading: Knight Frank eyes India for first Global Capability Centre
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Knight Frank eyes India for first Global Capability Centre
The Story in Brief
Global property consultancy Knight Frank is considering India as the location for its first Global Capability Centre (GCC), which will consolidate its three existing centres of excellence (COEs) in Malaysia, Mumbai and Poland by 2028. Senior partner and group chair William Beardmore-Gray told the Times of India that initial scoping will begin in a few weeks.
The Mumbai COE currently supports occupier services, Malaysia handles occupier services, and Poland focuses on technology for residential and occupier services. Beardmore-Gray said India's growing prominence in the firm's global business, its talent depth and mature real estate ecosystem drove the decision. Knight Frank sees the GCC as a long-term investment in talent and innovation.
India is Knight Frank's third-largest market after the UK and Australia. India's office space stock crossed 1 billion sq ft last year. Beardmore-Gray noted Bengaluru alone absorbs 25 million sq ft annually, exceeding London's long-run average of 12 million sq ft. The firm also sees rising global investor interest from Japan, Singapore and the Middle East across offices, industrial, logistics, data centres and hotels.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Knight Frank's plan mirrors a broader trend of global firms setting up GCCs in India to centralise back-office and tech operations. Over 1,600 GCCs already operate in India, employing roughly 1.9 million people. If Knight Frank goes ahead, it will join rivals like JLL and Cushman & Wakefield, which have had Indian GCCs for years. The key metric to watch is the scoping visit outcome in the coming weeks, as it will determine whether India wins the facility over alternative locations like the Philippines or Eastern Europe.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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