Dick's Bets on Bengaluru: AI Hub to Reach 400 Tech Staff by 2029

Dick's Sporting Goods will build an AI-focused Global Capability Centre in Bengaluru and plans to scale it to 400 technology experts by 2029, a four-year staffing commitment that extends the retailer's technology base well beyond its US footprint.

The center will serve the company's full retail portfolio — Dick's Sporting Goods, Foot Locker and GameChanger — with the stated aim of accelerating data and AI transformation across operations.

Kaushik Das, managing director at DKS Sports in Bengaluru, disclosed the direction of the buildout in a LinkedIn post. He said he is "focused on building an AI-native global capability center that accelerates data and AI transformation."

Who is leading the hub?

Das joined Dick's in July. He previously held managing director roles at Catalyst Brands India and at JCPenney, both based in Bengaluru, and led the integration of JCPenney India's capabilities into the Catalyst Brands portfolio. Earlier, he served as business manager for enterprise business intelligence at Target, also in Bengaluru.

His hiring pattern signals that Dick's is recruiting from the established pool of US retailers' India operations rather than building from scratch.

Bengaluru, frequently described as the Silicon Valley of India, hosts a technology workforce estimated at more than 1 million people, which underpins the talent rationale for the location.

What does the center add?

Dick's already runs some AI technologies, including Coach by Dick's, which supports the digital consumer experience. The new hub is positioned as the mechanism to scale that capability across the wider retail organization rather than as a single-application tool.

The company has not disclosed the investment amount, hiring timeline by year, or which functions — merchandising, pricing, supply chain or customer-facing systems — will be prioritized.

Nike is making a parallel move

Dick's is not alone in shifting capability investment toward Asia. When Nike reported first-quarter earnings on Oct. 1, it detailed a new operating model, dubbed Pace, that realigns the company into three geographies.

The three structures are:

• Americas, combining North America and Latin America
• EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), continuing with existing operations
• APGC, combining Asia-Pacific and Greater China

APGC leadership will relocate to Singapore, with the move expected to occur in fiscal year 2028.

Some on Wall Street see risk in folding Greater China into APGC, given the market's distinct dynamics. Sources familiar with Nike's thinking countered that the change "makes sense" and probably should have been made years ago, because accountability and resources now sit closer to the markets served.

The Pace model also includes a new campus in Bengaluru, framed by Nike as a long-term investment in capabilities and talent. India is already an important growth market and manufacturing hub for the company.

Why it matters for the sector

Two of the largest US sporting goods and sportswear operators are now placing technology and leadership capacity in India and Singapore, a signal that back-office, data and AI functions for Western retail brands are increasingly sourced in Asian hubs.

For vendors and service providers to both companies, the moves suggest future demand for tech talent and enterprise services in Bengaluru will intensify as the Dick's center moves toward its 400-person target.