Top 10: Data Centre Leaders in APAC
The data centre market in APAC is continuing to expand, as big tech organisations look to invest in the region. In 2029, it is anticipated that the market will swell to as large as US$150.59bn, in line with the dramatic growth of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI)
However, the APAC market is not without its challenges, with the expectation that half of existing engineering staff in the region will be retiring by 2025, despite roughly 2.3 million members of staff being needed to run data centres around the world.
With this in mind, Data Centre Magazine considers some of the leading data centre industry figures based in APAC who are eager to advance innovation across the region.
10. Sunil Gupta - Co-founder & CEO at Yotta
Sunil Gupta has extensive experience in the worlds of data centre, cloud and managed IT services. Often referred to as the ‘data centre man of India’, he has built and operated the highest number of third-party data centres in India, including some of the largest hyperscale facilities. He does this, whilst ensuring each meets stringent quality demands of global OTT players.
Prior to co-founding Yotta, Sunil has worked for high-profile companies such as NTT Global Data Centers and Cloud Infrastructure, GTL Ltd and Reliance Communications.
9. Craig Scroggie, CEO & MD at NEXTDC
With more than 30 years of experience in the IT industry, Craig Scroggie is the CEO and Managing Director of NEXTDC. He currently leads a team of experts in delivering the critical power, security and connectivity for global cloud computing providers, businesses and governments across Asia.
Based in Australia, Craig has worked across a range of organisations committed to digital transformation, including Asia Pacific Data Centre Holdings Limited, Nitro, Symantec, EMC Corporation, Yamaha and Fujitsu.
8. Laura Coad, Chief Data Centre Officer at AirTrunk
Laura Coad holds a strong commercial background across property management across APAC and EMEA. Having been promoted to Chief Data Centre Officer in February 2024, her mission is to continue the operational management of AirTrunk’s hyperscale data centre platform, which spans six data centres, five markets and four countries.
Prior to AirTrunk, Laura worked with Digital Realty for two years as Regional Manager of Portfolio Operations. She holds a strong reputation built on her successful leadership.
7. Kamal Nath, CEO at Sify Technologies
Nath has more than 30 years of experience in IT, communications, cloud and digital industry and was a first day user when mobile telephony was launched in India on 31st July 1995. He first joined Sify in 2012 and quickly transitioned the organisation into one of the most comprehensive ICT solutions and services providers in India.
During his tenure, Sify has consistently grown in revenue and profitability, whilst emerging as a preferred service provider partner for businesses, those within the public sector and the Indian government.
6. Jeremy Deutsch, President - Asia Pacific at Equinix & Chairperson at Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association (APDCA)
Jeremy Deutsch has more than two decades of solutions innovation and leadership experience in the IT industry, with the majority of those years serving in product, sales and executive roles at Equinix. Currently the President of Asia-Pacific at Equinix, he is experienced in building cohesive and motivated teams that are continually committed to improvement.
Prior to his current role, he was the Managing Director for Equinix Australia, where he successfully led the company’s acquisition of Metronode.
5. Wai Meng Wong, CEO at Keppel Data Centres
Wai Meng Wong has been the CEO of Keppel Data Centres since 2016, where he has overseen end-to-end acquisitions and the design, development and management of the company’s data centres. As the company’s CEO of data centres, he currently spearheads the company’s journey towards becoming one of the leading data centre developers and solutions providers in Europe and APAC.
Prior to Keppel Data Centres, he worked for BT, most recently as Vice President, BT Advise in Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa & Turkey. Here, he specialised in IT, network, security, unified communications, CRM and mobility.
4. Anila Jiang, Chief Information Officer at Digital Realty
With more than a decade of experience providing strategic leadership and management of IT operations, Anila Jiang has worked to bring the latest innovations and technology solutions to businesses and governments alike.
Anila has worked at Digital Realty for more than seven years, working to develop and implement a comprehensive IT strategy for the organisation to ensure operational efficiency. Her work at Digital Realty also sees her automating and streamlining IT processes to meet specific business needs, whilst implementing software and security solutions to protect data assets, promote business continuity and reduce costs.
3. Ashish Arora, CEO at Nxtra by Airtel
Ashish Arora is often described as a dynamic, entrepreneurial and result-oriented leader with more than 20 years of experience leading business in telecom, data centre and IT sectors. As the CEO of Nxtra by Airtel, Ashish is responsible for defining the company’s strategy, which includes building new hyperscale data centre parks, driving revenue growth and managing mission-critical infrastructure.
In his previous roles, he has served as the CEO for Global Business, Enterprise Business and Emerging Business at Airtel Business.
2. Bimal Khandelwal, CEO of India at ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC)
Bimal Khandelwal became the new CEO of STT GDC India at the start of October 2024, as he aims to leverage his extensive data centre experience to power Indian tech growth.
Often described as a key driving force behind STT GDC's India division as it continues on its expansion strategy, Bimal has helped refine the company’s focus to consider responsible development and sustainable growth.
First joining the organisation in 2017, he has played a critical role in shaping robust processes and government practices, including in financial processes. He was formerly Chief Financial Officer for STT GDC India and has been instrumental in leading the company’s capital procurement strategy and execution of growth.
1. Yee May Leong, Managing Director at Equinix Singapore
Yee May Leong is responsible for leading Equinix’s business strategy in Singapore. Having joined the company in 2019, she focuses on facilitating digital transformation of businesses to support the government’s plan to establish Singapore as the digital hub in Asia, by helping global companies execute their digital strategies.
Yee May has led her team to expand Platform Equinix in Singapore and drive an improved sustainability strategy. As a diversity, inclusion and belonging ally and a global executive sponsor of WeAreEquinix, she supports equality and underrepresented groups within the company and the local community.
An industry veteran, Yee May has more than 35 years of experience across big technology organisations in Singapore. She has worked with the likes of IBM, Lotus, F5 Networks and Orange Business Services.
Check out our lifetime of achievement award feature on Yee May Leong HERE.
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