AMCHAM’s Karnataka Chapter, in partnership with CBRE, convened a closed-door CXO roundtable on April 24th at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bengaluru. The session brought together senior leadership from leading member companies for a candid, peer-level exchange on evolving India location strategies. Senior representatives from the following organizations participated: Accenture, Baker Tilly One India, Carelon Global Solutions India, EY, Future Now Center, Gensler, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, IBM Consulting, Mphasis, Steelcase, and Wesco. Titled ‘The India Location Playbook: Lessons from the Ground,’ the discussion focused on how companies are re-evaluating location decisions across Indian cities in response to shifting business needs. Key themes included cost optimization, scalability of operations, access to talent, and the alignment of location strategy with long-term business outcomes. CBRE complemented the discussion with data-driven insights on market trends, cost dynamics, and emerging location strategies across India.

The conversation highlighted the value of peer learning, with members sharing practical experiences on city selection and expansion strategies. Participants discussed the importance of balancing cost structures with talent availability, particularly in emerging and tier II cities, and emphasized the need to integrate business, financial, and workforce considerations into location planning. The role of data-backed insights in enabling informed and forward-looking decisions was also underscored, reinforcing the importance of structured market intelligence in shaping long-term India strategies. The session provided a valuable platform for senior leaders to exchange perspectives, identify common challenges, and explore strategic approaches to optimizing their India footprint.