L’Oréal is establishing one of its largest global capability centres in Hyderabad, separate from its existing Indian research facilities in Mumbai and Bengaluru, as reported by The Economic Times (ET).
The centre will support global technology, innovation and research for the French beauty group.
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The company has begun looking for the project’s senior management, including candidates from its Paris headquarters.
The initiative was a key agenda item during a visit by L’Oréal’s global board to India in October 2025, headed by CEO Nicolas Hieronimus. L’Oréal did not respond to ET’s request for comment.
L’Oréal currently operates three major research hubs in France and regional centres in Brazil, China, India, Japan, South Africa and the US.
The company’s brands include Garnier and Maybelline.
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By GlobalDataThe increased investment follows leadership changes announced in July 2025, when Jacques Lebel was appointed India country manager, succeeding Aseem Kaushik who became chairman.
Lebel previously held senior roles at Procter & Gamble and AB InBev.
L’Oréal India’s growth dipped to 5% in the fiscal year 2025, compared with 14% a year earlier, amid rising competition from direct-to-consumer beauty brands.
The company holds an 8% share of India’s face-care market.
India currently contributes just above 1% of L’Oréal’s annual sales of more than Rs41bn ($462m), making it the group’s 15th-largest market.
L’Oréal expects India to enter its top ten markets in the coming years, with projected annual revenue of Rs1bn.
In October 2025, L’Oréal bought the Kering beauty business for €4bn ($4.65bn). Kering is the owner of luxury brands such as Gucci and Saint Laurent.
The deal included the transfer of the House of Creed and the beauty and fragrance licences for Kering’s luxury brands to L’Oréal.
The acquisition will see L’Oréal obtaining a 50-year exclusive licence to create, develop and distribute fragrance and beauty products for Gucci once its existing agreement with Coty concludes.
