Kao Data Appoints Spencer Lamb as CEO to Sustain AI Growth

The UK's race to build AI-ready digital infrastructure is accelerating, with Kao Data appointing Spencer Lamb as its new CEO.

In doing so, the specialist developer and operator of data centres for AI hands operational leadership to one of the company's longest-serving C-suite executives.

Spencer joined the business in 2020, as its Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer.

He will take on his new role as CEO with immediate effect, succeeding Doug Loewe, who stepped down in July 2025 after nearly two years as CEO.

The leadership change comes as demand for high-density compute capacity continues to reshape the UK data centre market, particularly as AI workloads drive new requirements around power, cooling and scalable infrastructure.

“I have loved my time at Kao Data, and I am excited to step up and lead the company as its CEO,” says Spencer.

“One of the biggest strengths of Kao Data is our 'player-manager' mentality, recruiting from within to develop and grow our people, which is exactly what this role calls for.

“I am looking forward to ensuring Kao Data continues to play a strong and defining role in the UK's AI infrastructure story, and that we keep delivering for our customers, our people and the communities we operate in.”

Expanding AI-ready capacity

As CEO, Spencer will oversee Kao Data's day-to-day operations alongside the company's broader growth plans as it develops additional AI-ready data centre capacity across its expanding portfolio.

A key part of his role will involve ensuring the company's design, construction and delivery strategy can keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI compute requirements.

He will work alongside Founder and Executive Chairman David Bloom, who will continue overseeing strategic priorities including financing, investment structures and long-term partnerships.

Together, the pair will guide the continued development of Kao Data's platform as competition intensifies among operators seeking to support AI-driven demand.

“Spencer's appointment formalises what has been an increasingly natural evolution in how we lead this business,” says David Bloom, Founder and Executive Chairman at Kao Data.

“As CEO, Spencer will drive Kao Data's operations and day-to-day growth strategy, while I remain directly focused on the strategic priorities that will shape our next chapter: major financing, capital partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and our ongoing engagement with government on the UK's AI infrastructure agenda.

“This is a leadership structure built deliberately for scale, and I am excited about what we will build together.”

Building a national data centre platform

During his six years at Kao Data, Spencer has played a significant role in shaping the company's commercial and infrastructure strategy, particularly across AI, enterprise and financial services markets.

He also helped oversee the development of Kao Data's Harlow campus, which has become a major location for high-performance computing, AI infrastructure, scientific research and life sciences workloads.

Under the company's broader expansion strategy, Kao Data has grown from a single-site operator into a multi-location platform spanning Harlow, Slough, Northolt, Park Royal in West London and Greater Manchester, with additional developments planned.

The company's growth reflects broader momentum across the UK data centre sector as operators seek to secure land, power and investment to support AI infrastructure demand.

AI infrastructure and energy demands

More recently, Spencer has become a prominent voice in discussions around the UK's AI infrastructure ambitions and the role data centres will play in supporting economic growth.

Alongside industry activity around new compute deployments, he has worked with local and central government to raise awareness of the relationship between AI growth, energy infrastructure and data centre development.

The appointment signals Kao Data's intention to continue expanding its position within the UK's AI infrastructure market as demand for advanced compute environments accelerates.