DEEP DIVE
agenda with the data centre
industry already accounting
for circa 5% of global
power consumption and
rising. Therefore, we have to
continuously evaluate how
to deploy cooling in the most
efficient way.
How do you deal with
stress and unwind outside
the office?
I find going to the gym and
playing squash takes my mind off
things. You have to focus 100%
on the game.
What do you currently
identify as the major areas of
investment in your industry?
Cooling – technologies to meet
demand from ever rising rack
densities and compute loads.
Capacity – but with an increasing
shift towards high performance
computing space will be less the
issue as it will be how we deploy more
power into smaller spaces.
www.intelligentdatacentres.com
AI – intelligent buildings technologies
for enabling predictive automated
control, delivering improved up-time
and plant efficiency.
Cybersecurity complemented by physical
security in a layered continuum.
What are the region-specific
challenges you encounter in
your role?
None really because NGD is viewed
regionally, nationally and globally by
OTHER HOT
TOPICS INCLUDE
RACK DENSITIES
AND EFFICIENCY
AND WHETHER
IT’S BETTER TO
CONCENTRATE OR
SPREAD ASSETS.
different customer groups. Out of town
is coming of age. NGD chose Wales
for its space, lower cost and power
advantages compared to London/
M25. Our business growth and talks
with prospective clients shows they
understand the value of our offering.
What changes to your job role
have you seen in the last year and
how do you see these developing
in the next 12 months?
I was appointed CEO so I am now doing
more top-down thinking – previous roles
felt very bottom up.
What advice would you offer
somebody aspiring to obtain a
senior position in the industry?
Start at the bottom – do your time – work
it through, don’t lose sight of ambition
but ensure you have the experience and
foundations to understand the business
and lead it when you get there. A good
mentor will also be able to help you
grow and evolve with the business. In
addition to that see that personal goals
and business goals are not exclusive –
sometimes they can be the same thing. ◊
Issue 02
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