FM to set up largest office outside US in Bengaluru

FM, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers, plans to set up its largest office outside the United States in Bengaluru, reinforcing India’s position as a critical node in the company’s global growth and resilience strategy.

Spanning over 100,000 sq. ft., the new facility will serve as both a Client Experience Centre and a Innovation Hub—a first-of-its-kind investment for the Rhode Island-headquartered firm in Asia-Pacific. The centre will be located inside Manyata Tech Park and is built to drive innovation in data science, artificial intelligence, risk engineering, and digital product development.

“After evaluating multiple cities across Asia, FM selected Bengaluru due to its rich engineering talent pool, AI and startup ecosystem, and proximity to leading research institutions such as IISc. The city’s airport connectivity, business infrastructure, and availability of strategic partners as key factors,” said Srini Krishnamurthy, who has been appointed Senior Vice President, FM India. Krishnamurthy will report to COO Randy Hodge and lead the firm’s multi-year India strategy.

Unlike traditional insurers, FM is known globally for its focus on loss prevention through scientific research, engineering models, and infrastructure resilience. With a presence in 149 countries and revenue exceeding $11 billion, the company stands apart for investing heavily in engineering-backed risk mitigation rather than claims processing.

FM has maintained a presence in India since 2003, but its footprint remained modest until now. This major investment signals the company’s growing confidence in India’s economic trajectory, particularly in sectors like manufacturing, data centers, logistics, telecom, and pharmaceuticals—where uptime and operational continuity are increasingly mission-critical.

The new Bengaluru office will house risk consultants, data scientists, engineers, and software developers. It will also feature fire and sprinkler testing labs, advanced simulation platforms, backup generators, and client training facilities. Inspired by FM’s 1,600-acre research campus in Rhode Island, the centre will help companies visualize risk environments and understand failure scenarios before they occur.

As part of its broader India expansion, FM also plans to open a sales office in Mumbai later this year. The office will bring the company closer to key clients and decision-makers in India’s financial capital, where several large enterprises in energy, finance, and infrastructure are already FM clients globally.

“Bengaluru provides the ideal environment to build a long-term capability hub for the region. We see it becoming a centre of excellence not just for India, but for Asia-Pacific. It will also help drive our science-based solutions and serve as a key enabler of client risk resilience,” said Krishnamurthy.

The company has also received the necessary regulatory approvals to scale operations in India and is currently exploring partnerships with local insurers such as ICICI Lombard and HDFC Ergo to develop localized, co-branded risk prevention products. “These offerings will be tailored to the needs of India Inc., particularly as businesses increasingly seek insurance solutions that go beyond claims to help avoid losses altogether,” he said.

FM’s India operation is expected to scale quickly, with immediate hiring underway for engineering, digital, and advisory roles. The company’s shift from a planned sub-office to a full-fledged innovation and experience centre reflects the depth of opportunity and talent it sees in the Indian market.

FM’s move comes at a time when India is emerging as a top destination for manufacturing investments, large-scale industrial infrastructure, and digital economy expansion. According to industry experts, the demand for predictive, prevention-based insurance services is likely to grow in tandem with India’s industrial and urban transformation.

“India is not just a growth market—it’s becoming a global centre for innovation, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and talent,” said Krishnamurthy. “The Bengaluru centre represents a critical step in FM’s mission to build science-based solutions that empower our clients to manage risk and thrive in an increasingly complex world. This is more than a regional investment; it’s a global commitment to resilience, backed by world-class talent and deep client collaboration.”

FM’s expansion in Bengaluru and Mumbai highlights the company’s commitment to support clients in high-growth regions—while tapping into one of the richest engineering and technology talent pools in the world.

Established nearly two centuries ago, FM is a leading mutual insurance group whose capital, scientific research capability and engineering expertise are solely dedicated to property risk management and the resilience of its policyholder-owners.

According to Colliers, India’s office market has started 2025 on a high note, with gross office leasing across the top seven cities reaching 15.9 million square feet in the first quarter. This represents a 15% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase, driven by strong demand for Grade A office spaces.

Some of the major leasing deals during the quarter includes Applied Materials leasing 835,000 sq ft in ITPL, Whitefield (Bengaluru), Tata Consultancy Services taking up 690,000 sq ft in Ozone Tech Park, OMR (Chennai), JP Morgan Chase & Co. leasing 559,700 sq ft in Embassy Tech Village, ORR (Bengaluru), Walmart securing 465,400 sq ft in CapitaLand, Radial Road (Chennai), Intuit leasing 456,700 sq ft in Embassy Tech Village, ORR (Bengaluru), the report mentioned.

Going ahead as India continues to attract global corporations and expand its domestic businesses, leasing activity is expected to remain strong throughout 2025, making it another promising year for the country’s commercial real estate sector.