Inside Hilti’s Global Competence Centres: Where Global Expertise Meets Real Business Impact

Written by the Hilti GB / Northern Europe employer brand team – sharing real stories and insights into life, culture and careers at Hilti.

 

What does it take to drive global standards in a company operating in more than 120 countries – while still staying close to local markets and customers?

At Hilti, this is where our Global Competence Centres (GCCs) come in.

Based in key strategic hubs around the world, GCCs bring together experienced professionals who shape how Hilti works globally – from strategy and customer engagement to sales excellence and key account management. Two of these centres are based in Manchester, at Hilti’s headquarters for the Northern Europe Region. They form part of a broader global network that connects regions, markets and teams worldwide.

To understand what working in a GCC is like, we spoke with Fabien Ras, Head of the Global Competence Centre for Account Development, and Corentin Goux, Head of the Global Competence Centre for Large Customers.

Both Fabien and Corentin started their Hilti careers in France, where they worked in sales and marketing roles before relocating to Manchester to lead GCCs.

 

What is a Global Competence Centre?

In simple terms, Global Competence Centres (GCCs) are where expertise is built, scaled and shared globally.

“Competence Centres collect best practices, create global standards, and enable markets to professionalise the way they work,” Corentin explains.

Fabien adds that GCCs exist to ensure Hilti operates with one clear direction globally – while still allowing flexibility at local level.

We build global blueprints and frameworks that markets can adapt to their specific needs. The goal is always the same: to improve performance and create real impact at customer level.

Today, Hilti has eight GCCs worldwide, each focused on a specific offer, customer segment or capability. Two of them are based in Manchester, at Hilti’s headquarters for the Northern Europe Region.

Fabien leads the GCC for Account Development, defining and evolving our structured approach to understanding customers and growing accounts. Corentin leads the GCC for Large & Complex, standardising how we engage our largest customers and enabling sales teams to expand these strategic relationships.

 

Why Manchester?

GCCs are intentionally placed close to the business rather than at Hilti’s global headquarters in Liechtenstein. Manchester was chosen for its strong track record in customer-centric ways of working, its proximity to major global customers, and its ability to attract international talent.

“Being located in major markets helps us stay connected to real business challenges,” Corentin says. “It also creates strong synergies with local sales and marketing teams.”

With diverse teams, an international mindset and English as the working language, Manchester is a natural hub for global collaboration.

 

Working globally, every day

Although each GCC team is based in one location, it works across multiple regions, cultures and time zones every day.

“We design our teams so they can cover the world,” Corentin explains. “Different languages, different cultural backgrounds, different market experiences – that diversity is essential.”

Team members collaborate closely with regional counterparts and market organisations, ensuring global initiatives turn into practical, locally relevant solutions.

It’s a constant flow. From global to region, from region to market – and back again.

Collaboration happens through a deliberate mix of digital connection and in-person presence, supported by a high level of flexibility and commitment.

Early morning calls with Asia, late afternoon discussions with the Americas, and regular alignment sessions with Europe are part of the rhythm.

“It’s demanding,” Fabien adds, “but it’s also the beauty of working globally – you truly understand the business from different perspectives around the world.”

While technology enables efficient coordination and standardised ways of working, travel remains an important part of the role – allowing global frameworks to be shaped by direct market insight. This balance between digital collaboration and physical presence ensures that global strategies are not only aligned, but also practical and relevant locally.

“At a certain point, some conversations simply require being there,” Corentin explains. “Meeting teams on the ground, understanding local realities and seeing the customer context first-hand makes a real difference.”

 

From strategy to execution

One of the defining features of a GCC role is the 360-degree ownership and the broad exposure of opportunities for team members.

“You’re involved across the full spectrum,” Fabien explains. “From shaping global strategic direction at the highest level, all the way to translating that strategy into very concrete actions executed in the field.”

A recent example is a multi-year initiative focused on increasing sales productivity worldwide, including the development of a new digital, AI-powered tool used by sales teams every day.

Corentin shares another example from his area: supporting the setup of a brand new global key accounts in Japan – from strategy design to team structure and implementation.

It’s about bringing global ideas to life locally – and seeing the impact.

 

What kind of people thrive in GCC roles?

There is no single career path into a GCC People come from sales, marketing, engineering, learning and development, and beyond. What they have in common is strong business acumen, the ability to influence, and the motivation to drive change on a global scale. For some roles, leadership experience combined with field-based, customer-facing experience is essential to effectively support teams on the ground and deliver value to customers.

You need to be able to think strategically, but also dive into details when needed.

Fabien highlights three critical skills:

• solid understanding of how the business works
• strong communication and stakeholder management
• experience with project and change management

“These roles are about influencing without authority – across cultures, levels and regions.”

 

A powerful step in a global career

Working in a Global Competence Centre is often designed as a 3-5-year development step – giving experienced professionals exposure to global strategy, senior stakeholders and diverse markets.

“It’s a unique opportunity to broaden your scope and build skills you can take anywhere in the organisation,” Corentin says.

For many, it also means gaining international experience – professionally and personally – while working in highly diverse, global teams.

 

Shaping the future, together

As Hilti continues to evolve, GCCs will play an increasingly important role in driving consistency, sharing expertise and increasing impact across the organisation.

“The goal is simple,” Fabien says. “Avoid duplication, move faster, and focus on what really makes a difference – for our customers and our people.”

 

Curious about building a global career at Hilti?

If you’re looking for a role where you can shape global strategy, collaborate across borders, and make a real impact, we’re the right place to do so. Explore current opportunities and discover where a career at Hilti could take you.