DEEP DIVE
WE ‘ DEEP DIVE ’ WITH LEE MYALL , CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER , KAO DATA , WHO TELLS US ABOUT LIFE INSIDE
AND OUTSIDE THE OFFICE .
Kao Data develops and operates advanced data centres for high performance colocation . Lee Myall , Chief Executive Officer , Kao Data , talks about what first made him consider a career in technology and what he believes is the current hot talking point in the data centre space .
What would you describe as your most memorable achievement in the data centre industry ?
Before joining Kao Data , my experience of working with data centre organisations ran across the complete spectrum of mission-critical digital infrastructure sectors , including telco , software , cloud services and connectivity . I ’ ve been lucky to have worked with some first-class colleagues and within industryleading teams , and there have been a number of achievements to which I am proud of . One that truly stands out was during my time at Interoute , where my role predominantly sat within sales and business transformation . I led the inception of a new complex solutions division , pioneering the company ’ s IaaS / cloud computing business units , who were responsible for servicing largescale , blue chip organisations .
Although not a single memory alone , my team undertook a number of complex Digital Transformation projects , which helped grow the Interoute business to € 750 million . This contributed to its US $ 2.3 billion acquisition by GTT in 2018 , which was a very rewarding moment . Projects like this helped me to hone my leadership skills and taught me things about short- and long-term strategies .
The first is that customers come first , always , and more so when meeting demanding timescales . Yet to deliver that service , it ’ s crucial that you execute a strategic plan with a team that is motivated , appreciated and have the right expertise at the start . The second is that vision is key in delivering long-term goals , with both resilience and tenacity required to reach them . Transforming Interoute ’ s European division didn ’ t happen overnight , but with the right people invested in the long-term strategy , we achieved something truly remarkable during my time with the company .
What first made you think of a career in technology / data centres ?
My fascination with technology is one of my early memories and I ’ ve been lucky enough to see first-hand how new and innovative technologies have impacted both global businesses and changed consumer buying habits . Data centres , cloud and digital connectivity have been transformative in every sense of the word , and the possibilities that this sector presents are truly remarkable .
At Kao Data , for example , we design , build and operate data centres for intensive computing – from High Performance Computing ( HPC ) in life sciences , genomics and FinTech , to Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) organisations developing Machine Learning algorithms and even autonomous vehicle technologies . Our foundations are built on innovation and we continue to be inspired by the hyperscale community , adopting principles aligned with energy efficiency and sustainability .
As a consumer , I am one of those rare breeds that actually read the manuals ! I want to know exactly what I ’ m buying , how it works and be confident that it will deliver exactly what I need . I believe that approach is also crucial when working with high-growth , scale-up and blue-chip organisations , who have to know that you , and your team , can deliver solutions to help overcome their challenges .
Kao Data , and data centres in general , are the pinnacle of this . They connect
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