Open Access Data Centres (OADC) today announced the appointment of African data centre industry leader Dr Ayotunde Coker as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Under his leadership, OADC will support and accelerate Africa’s digital transformation by constructing and operating a pan-African network of world-class, client-centric, Tier III certified data centre facilities and a unique core-to-edge open-access edge data centre ecosystem, comprising hyperscale, regional and OADC Edge DCs.
Dr Coker has over 35 years of international experience across Europe, USA, Asia and Africa. For the last eight years, he has been CEO and Managing Director of Rack Centre, building it into a household name in West Africa and a leading data centre brand in Africa, with global recognition and numerous international awards. Prior to that, he worked as MD and CEO of Emerging Markets Payments, West Africa, repositioning the business as a top brand in its market, and before that as Group CIO of Access Bank.
His distinguished 28-year career in the UK included roles at Ford, Cap Gemini, eMCSaatchi UK, Egg Bank, British Petroleum and the UK Ministry of Justice. Dr Coker earned a Shell-sponsored Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of South Wales and is a Ford of Europe-sponsored postgraduate alumni of Cranfield University which presented him the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2020.
With numerous business leadership awards, he is the current President of the Africa Data Centres Association and served as Chair of the UK Government Enterprise Architecture Board. Commenting on his appointment, Dr Coker said, “This is a dynamic period for businesses in Africa, with transformation driving rapid expansion of the continent’s digital infrastructure. I am excited to be joining OADC, which is set to play a huge role in establishing and growing the pan-African digital infrastructure and cloud ecosystem that will underpin this expansion – supporting cloud operators, content providers, the wholesale community and major enterprises in extending their reach and operations across the continent.”
“I am delighted to be leading OADC in transforming Africa’s digital capabilities, driving its deployment of a network and vibrant ecosystems of world-class, open-access digital infrastructure at strategic interconnection points throughout the continent. An opportunity for Africa to leapfrog the world,” he added.
Dr Coker has elected to be based in Lagos, Nigeria, a central geographical location in Africa and the location of OADC’s newest Tier III open-access data centre on the largest data centre campus in West Africa.
“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Tunde as CEO of Open Access Data Centres at this critical period in the company’s development. Having secured $200m in funding at the end of 2021, we are now engaged in transforming Africa’s digital infrastructure with the most extensive deployment ever in Africa of open-access national, regional and edge data centres.” Chris Wood, WIOCC Group CEO said. “Tunde’s depth and breadth of experience and leadership, together with his stature and contacts in the African data centre industry will, I’m sure, be instrumental in ensuring the company’s success.”
