Kao Data Announces Paul Finch as Interim CEO as it Enters Next Phase of Data Centre Expansion at its North East London Campus
Kao Data, the home of innovation and the UK’s leading entrant to the wholesale colocation data centre market, has announced that Paul Finch is to lead the company as interim CEO through the expansion phase of the 43.5MVA campus development. The announcement is made as incumbent, Jan Daan Luycks stands down from the company based on his decision to return home to the Netherlands.
Paul Finch has 30 years of progressive experience in the industry, including over a decade at senior management level, focussed on data centres, technical real estate and complex engineering infrastructure. Paul was the first person recruited to the senior management team at Kao Data, and this new appointment demonstrates the company’s commitment to the next phase of its wholesale data centre development.
David Bloom, Partner at investors, Goldacre said, “Paul Finch has successfully led the strategic operations and platform delivery function, resulting in Kao Data’s entry into the London wholesale multi-tenant data centre (MTDC) market. The breadth and depth of his technical expertise combined with his operational knowledge have been evidenced by the outstanding performance outcomes achieved thus far for our customers and investors alike. It is evident that Paul and his highly experienced senior technical team provide the highest quality resources based on tailored customer requirements. He is the perfect appointment to take Kao Data through this important next phase and has the full support of the Board. The Board would like to take the opportunity to wish Jan Daan Luycks all the best as he returns to the Netherlands and thank him for his tremendous contributions in completing the first chapter of the Kao Data story.”
Paul Finch stated, “I’m proud to have the opportunity to lead Kao Data through this interim period and build on the solid foundations created. The Board have demonstrated their belief in me to not only ensure the digital infrastructure execution cycle continues seamlessly, but also that the broader business strategy aligns with ever-changing market dynamics and evolving technologies. Kao Data is well set to deliver a strong customer advantage and continued success in a competitive and maturing market”.
Under the operational leadership of Paul Finch, Kao Data has recently made headlines with two prestigious industry awards: Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility at the Datacloud Global Awards 2019, and Real Estate Deal of the Year for Goldacre Noe and Legal and General Capital at the Finvest Awards. Both events took place in Monaco in June this year.
About Paul Finch
Paul Finch is Interim CEO and COO at Kao Data, providing strategic direction, innovation and leadership in the creation and delivery of the digital infrastructure platform for today’s Cloud and Edge computing requirements. Initially joining the team as CTO, he subsequently took on broader responsibilities as COO, successfully bringing Kao Data Campus (+£230m, 43.5MVA) to the London multi-tenant data centre market in 2018.
Named as one of the Data Economy 50 “The Top Influencers in Data Centres, Cloud and Data,” Paul is a highly respected technical thought leader, skilled in data centre product strategy, platform delivery, strategic operations and sales enablement. He maintains an acute focus on how the evolution of technology together with increasing end-user expectations are influencing the future shape of the data centre landscape, as well as connectivity product-sets and services.
During his 30 year career, Paul has played key roles at Fortune 500 corporations and publicly traded REIT’s including CBRE and Digital Realty Trust, as well as embryonic start-ups and scale-ups. In total, he has overseen the creation and execution of global developments exceeding £1.0bn in capital deployment and supporting over 200MW of technical space.
Under his operational leadership, Kao Data made headlines with two prestigious industry awards: Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility at the Datacloud Global Awards and Real Estate Deal of the Year for Goldacre Noe and Legal and General Capital at the Finvest Awards, Monaco, 2019.
He has also been engaged at a policy level representing the data centre industry, having made formal representation in Europe and North America on draft data centre policy, standards and regulations.
Paul Finch’s many credentials include: Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers, Voting Executive Committee Member of ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.9 (TC9.9) – Mission Critical Facilities, Data Centres, Technology Spaces and Electronic Equipment (2014-2018), TC9.9 Sub-Committee Marketing Chair (2018 – Present), TechUK Technical Committee Member, EUDCA Technical Committee Member.
He holds a BSc (Hons) in Building Services Engineering from London South Bank University, PgDip in Engineering Management from Brunel University and has completed the General Management Programme at the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School.
source kaodata
Industry: Data Centre / Data Center
Latest Jobs
-
- Senior Client Microsoft Security Delivery Consultant - Hybrid (London | Remote)
- London
- N/A
-
Senior Client Microsoft Security Delivery Consultant - Hybrid (London | Remote) We are seeking an experienced technical Security Consultant to help clients deploy and enhance their cyber defences across Microsoft and vulnerability management technologies. You will work with enterprise customers to deliver tailored solutions across threat detection, endpoint protection and exposure management, ensuring security platforms are efficient, integrated and aligned with operational goals. Whilst you won't do the design yourself- you will work alongside technical Presales to document, agree and then deliver the solution. You will have experience leading delivery the implementation and improvement projects, providing hands-on support with configuration, integration and optimisation. You will assess existing environments, recommend enhancements and guide clients on best practice to strengthen visibility and control. Strong experience with SIEM, XDR and vulnerability tooling (Microsoft & Tenable ecosystems ideal) Understanding of Azure security, identity and access controls Background in consulting or project-based cyber delivery Clear communication skills with the ability to engage senior stakeholders Extra points if you have the SC-100. You must be eligible to achieve UK Security Clearance to be considered for this role.
-
- Account Director | Cyber Security Consulting | UK - South East
- London
- N/A
-
Account Director | Cyber Security Consulting - Financial Services | UK - South East. New Role due to Growth We are looking for an experienced Account Director to develop and expand existing relationships across the financial services sector, working with investment firms, asset managers, private equity groups and strategic partners to deliver intelligent cyber consulting and a bespoke Cyber product offerings. You will act as a trusted advisor, helping organisations strengthen digital resilience, manage third-party and regulatory risk and adopt a proactive approach to cyber assurance. Key Responsibilities Manage a defined portfolio of financial clients, understanding business priorities and aligning tailored cyber solutions. Drive new client engagement while nurturing existing partnerships through a consultative, long-term approach. Present the benefits of advanced cyber services including threat intelligence, vulnerability management, incident readiness, and continuous risk monitoring. Collaborate with technical and delivery teams to ensure smooth engagement from proposal through to implementation and ongoing support. Prepare proposals, negotiate commercial terms, and clearly articulate value and business outcomes. Build trusted relationships at senior and board level. Ideal Profile Strong background in cybersecurity, consulting, or risk management within financial services. Skilled communicator with proven success managing and growing key accounts. Able to translate complex technical insight into commercial and strategic value for clients. Confident engaging with senior stakeholders and decision makers. Please note: Sponsorship is not available.
-
- SOC Analyst- Level 2- Hybrid Greater London
- London
- N/A
-
SOC Analyst- Level 2- Hybrid Greater London New opportunity created through continued growth. We’re looking for a SOC Analyst (Level 2) to strengthen a growing managed security team. You’ll work hands-on with Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR, investigating alerts, responding to incidents, and helping improve how clients stay protected. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys unravelling security events, thinking critically under pressure, and making a real difference day to day. What you’ll do · Investigate and respond to security activity across SIEM and endpoint tools · Analyse network and log data to uncover real threats · Support automation initiatives to streamline response processes · Help maintain visibility, data flow, and performance across SOC platforms What you’ll need · Practical experience using Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR · Confident working with KQL or similar query languages · Understanding of attacker tactics and response techniques · SC-200 certifications would be nice. · Experience supporting multiple customer environments Please note: Sponsorship is not available.
-
- Senior SOC Engineer - UK - New role due to growth
- London
- N/A
-
Senior SOC Engineer – New role due to growth We are hiring a Senior SOC Engineer to take the lead across security operations for a growing managed service. You will lead detection, response and onboarding activity across multiple clients, helping shape how the SOC evolves. Expect variety; from fine-tuning alerts and threat hunting to supporting customers and mentoring junior analysts. What you’ll bring · Strong experience across SIEM, EDR, and threat detection tools · Confident working with customers in a managed service environment · Skilled in scripting or query languages such as KQL or PowerShell · Knowledge of frameworks like NIST, ISO27001, MITRE ATT&CK · Calm communicator with a problem-solving mindset · Experience with Azure Lighthouse or delegated access models · Prior involvement in automation or SOC improvement projects Location: South East England- Hybrid role Please note: Sponsorship cannot be offered now or in the future.