Schneider Electric has appointed Matthew Baynes as Vice President of its Secure Power and Data Centre division for the UK and Ireland, with immediate effect.

Baynes takes on the role at a time of accelerating demand for digital infrastructure, as data centre development continues to scale alongside growing interest in AI deployment. The appointment also lands amid renewed political focus on the sector, with recent UK plans to back AI adoption expected to increase pressure on power, cooling and wider critical infrastructure.

In the new position, Baynes will lead Schneider Electric’s Secure Power and Data Centre business across the UK and Ireland, working with channel partners and wider stakeholders on what the company describes as sustainable and resilient infrastructure deployment.

“The UK is one of Europe’s most important and vibrant digital infrastructure hubs and with AI accelerating demand, the next few years present a major opportunity to strengthen its global leadership position. At the same time, Ireland continues to play a critical role in the region’s digital ecosystem, with its data centre market serving key customers globally,” said Matthew Baynes, VP, Secure Power and Data Centre division, Schneider Electric, UK and Ireland. 

“Data centres are engines for jobs and competitiveness, supporting growth that benefits the digital economy, local communities, and empowering innovation. This is a pivotal moment to shape their role in the UK and Ireland’s digital future, and I’m delighted to accept this new role at such a crucial time.”

Focus on scaling infrastructure for AI-driven demand

Schneider Electric said Baynes will prioritise preparing the UK and Ireland for increased demand tied to AI workloads, with a focus on deployment capabilities and ecosystem partnerships. The company highlighted collaboration with its EcoXpert partner programme, the IT channel and local stakeholders as part of its approach to supporting data centre growth.

Baynes’ remit covers Schneider Electric’s secure power and data centre activity across the two markets, including critical power, energy management, software, services and lifecycle support. The company positioned the role as central to helping customers navigate a period defined by rising compute density, sustainability requirements and continuing pressure on grid capacity.

“Matthew’s deep experience in global strategy and both local and regional execution makes him uniquely positioned to lead our Secure Power business in the UK and Ireland during this critical period of growth,” said Pablo Ruiz-Escribano, Senior Vice President, Secure Power & Data Centre division, Europe. 

“His track record in building high-performing teams, influencing complex ecosystems and scaling data centre programmes will be instrumental as our customers navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.”

Baynes’ background in global partners and colocation strategy

Baynes is a long-standing figure in the data centre industry and has spent nearly 20 years working across Schneider Electric’s data centre business, according to the company.

Most recently, he served as Global Vice President for Strategic Partners and Cloud and Service Providers, leading a team focused on major cloud, hyperscale and colocation customers. Schneider Electric said the function expanded significantly during his tenure, growing from an early-stage capability into a global operation supporting large data centre players.

Before that, Baynes held the position of Global Colocation Segment Director, where he launched Schneider Electric’s first multi-country targeted account programme. The company described this as becoming a core pillar of its wider global strategy.

Earlier in his career, Baynes held senior data centre roles across the UK and Ireland following Schneider Electric’s acquisition of APC in 2007, and he spent several years in the Netherlands supporting European operations.

The company also noted Baynes’ involvement in industry bodies and councils including techUK and the European Data Centre Association (EUDCA), where he has contributed to policy discussions and sustainability initiatives.