The center delivers customer care, finance, HR, commercial services, and advanced analytics, driving operational excellence, insight-led decision-making, and value creation for Tesco.

Known for building high-performing teams and scaling complex operations, Sethi brings a strong people-first leadership philosophy combined with deep operational and transformation expertise.

He joined Tesco 14 years ago as head of payroll in India, leading end-to-end payroll operations for Tesco U.K. and Ireland. He established shared services for HR, pensions, and people transformation, playing a key role in building scalable people operations for the group.

He later became property director, leading cross-functional teams of architects and engineers with end-to-end accountability across planning, design, cost management, maintenance, and store operations for Tesco in the United Kingdom, Central Europe, and Ireland. He was responsible for Tesco’s 15-acre Bengaluru (Bangalore) campus in Karnataka, India, and served as chair of diversity and inclusion for the hub.

Before joining Tesco, Sethi spent 11 years in business process management, leading large-scale operations and transformation programs mainly across banking, insurance, and hospitality.

A certified coach, he is deeply committed to developing future leaders. Sethi actively coaches young professionals, believing that psychological safety is the foundation of a sustainable growth culture.

Tesco Business Solutions (TBS) is the single service organization for the Tesco Group, with operations across India, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Hungary. TBS was recognized as the World’s Best Global Business Services by the Shared Services and Outsourcing Network in 2023 and 2025, and was runner-up in 2024.

Are you already using or planning to use AI in your business in Hungary? How do you think this may change the economy here?

AI is already embedded in Tesco’s operations across Central Europe, including Hungary, and it is firmly focused on improving customer outcomes and operational efficiency.

In retail operations, AI-driven pricing analyzes real-time competitor data, demand signals and customer behavior to dynamically price thousands of products, helping ensure fair, competitive pricing, strong availability, and sustainable margins.

AI also enables customer targeting and personalization through programs such as the Tesco Clubcard, using purchase history and preferences to deliver relevant, value-led offers that make everyday shopping simpler.

Looking ahead, generative AI is accelerating decision-making by turning complex data across customers, stores, and products into instant analytics dashboards, root-cause insights, and automated reporting. This allows teams to act faster, simplify operations, and spend more time focused on customers.

Views on CEOs learning Hungarian range from “I’m just too busy” to “You have to learn the language to understand the culture.” Where do you stand on that spectrum?

For me, it’s not an either–or choice. English works well for business, but language is a powerful bridge to culture. As a leader who cares about inclusion, learning some basic Hungarian expressions makes a real difference. Even a few phrases help build trust, put colleagues at ease, and encourage more open conversations. It allows you to sense the real pulse of the organization, rather than relying on assumptions or secondhand signals.

What has surprised you most about doing business in Hungary, and life here in general?

The depth and quality of talent in Hungary and how understated it is globally. The country has exceptional strengths in engineering, mathematics, AI, medicine, and psychology, producing sophisticated thinkers with strong theoretical grounding and problem-solving capability. The outdated perception of “low-cost labor” quickly disappears once you work with Hungarian professionals.

From a business perspective, trust and personal relationships matter deeply. People may appear cautious or reserved at first, but once trust is built, partnerships are stable and long-term. I’ve also noticed a tendency to understate capability: many professionals with international-level skills don’t self-promote loudly, which can surprise leaders coming from more visibly confident cultures.

Many expats are surprised by how safe, calm, and livable life in Budapest is. The city offers a strong sense of security, excellent public transport, and a walkable lifestyle. In my experience, Budapest stands out as one of Europe’s safest capitals, and that makes a meaningful difference to both work and life.

What’s your favorite hospitality or entertainment setting in Hungary, and why?

I’m drawn to quiet, design-led cafés and slower spaces. Many expat leaders come from high-pressure, hyper-competitive environments, and these settings offer something different. In a naturally reserved culture, they feel like emotionally safe spaces, not just places to meet or work. What I appreciate most about Budapest is the sense of stillness and simplicity, the slowness, safety, depth, and even silence. That calm has been grounding for me, helping me grow not just as a professional, but as a person. It provides cultural richness without chaos, and that balance is something I value deeply.

This article was first published in Top Expat CEOs 2026.