U.S-based financial institution Citizens Financial Group on Monday (May 18, 2026) said its global capability centre (GCC), located within Cognizant’s new campus, in Hyderabad, has touched 1,000 hires and entering the next phase of expansion focused on advanced AI, data, and digital engineering.Hiring across AI, cloud, data and digital engineering rolesLaunched in 2025, the GCC has scaled into a high‑impact innovation hub helping Citizens Financial Group advance its key priorities across cloud modernisation, AI platforms, cybersecurity and digital product engineering. Citizens Financial Group said it will continue hiring, for the GCC, across AI, cloud, data and digital engineering roles over the next two years.“The GCC is a core part of our global engineering engine, with teams in India working side-by-side with our US teams... reaching the 1,000th hire in Hyderabad in just one year reflects both the strength of our strategy and the exceptional talent we’ve built here,” chief information officer and head of Enterprise Technology and Security at Citizens Financial Group, Michael Ruttledge said.Citizens Financial Group said it is supporting Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Residential Degree College for Women in Telangana through investments in digital infrastructure, AI training, and career readiness. The programme, aimed at strengthening the future talent pipeline in Hyderabad, will equip more than 700 female students from underserved communities with the skills and resources needed to pursue careers in technology.During the launch in April 2025, Cognizant said as Citizens Financial Group’ strategic partner it will build and operate the GCC with programme governance provided by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The GCC is expected to scale up to 1,000 IT and Data and Analytics professionals by March 2026. Published - May 18, 2026 05:15 pm IST