OVHcloud has changed its governance by ending the split between the roles of Chair and Chief Executive, and appointing the company’s founder to the new joint role.
At a Board meeting earlier this week, directors unanimously appointed founder Octave Klaba as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of OVH Group, with the change taking effect the same day. The move brings to a close Benjamin Revcolevschi’s term, with the Board thanking him for his commitment over the past year.
According to the Board, the newly unified structure is intended to align vision, strategy and execution more tightly as the company enters its next planning cycle.
Octave Klaba, the person who founded back in 1999, commented, “We are launching our new five-year Strategic Plan, during which our customers will be able to benefit from the last 10 years of massive investments, first in data centres and then in software.
“In the coming months, I will present our 2026-2030 strategic plan, ‘Step Ahead’, to guide our teams and support our customers, while generating value for our shareholders.”
Pierre Barrial, Lead Director and Chair of the Remunerations and Nominations Committee, added, “The Board of Directors is convinced that reuniting the roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer under Octave Klaba’s leadership will strengthen the velocity and efficiency of OVHcloud’s management.
“Octave Klaba will lead the Group with determination and agility, as he has done during OVHcloud’s most decisive years, in a context that requires vision, rigorous execution, and innovation capacities. In a rapidly growing cloud market, his expertise, knowledge of the company, and understanding of customer and industry trends will enable OVHcloud to implement its strategic plan and build an operational roadmap for the coming years.
“The Board of Directors thanks Benjamin Revcolevschi for his contribution and commitment during his tenure and wishes him every success for the future.”
Founded in 1999 in northern France, OVHcloud has grown from a hosting provider into a European cloud platform. Klaba has served as Chair since 2018 and has been closely involved in long-term strategy, including the group’s shift toward public and private cloud services and its focus on data sovereignty and openness.
It’s not the founder’s first time as CEO, however. He’s previously held the role from 1999 to 2015, and then more recently between 2017 and 2018. With Revcolevschi now departing OVHcloud, the decision was made to bring back Klaba to the role – especially at such a crucial time for the company.
Speaking before his departure, outgoing CEO Benjamin Revcolevschi noted, “Proud to have contributed to building a Group that is robust and more efficient. OVHcloud has delivered the expected performance and strengthened its commercial, operational, and institutional credibility in an unprecedented international context. I am leaving my position happy to have been part of this chapter in the group’s history.
“I am convinced that OVHcloud has a solid organisation and a committed team, ready to take on challenges with confidence. Octave Klaba is the ideal person to consolidate OVHcloud’s position and lead the group towards its future goals. I wish him every success and would like to sincerely thank all our employees, who can be proud of what they accomplish every day.”