Kao Data has confirmed that long-standing Chief Technical Officer Paul Finch will step down after more than a decade, moving to a new role as Senior Advisor to the Board. As part of the move design and construction responsibilities will transfer to Chief Operating Officer Pete Judson, whose remit now spans design, construction and operations.

Finch helped shape Kao Data’s engineering, design, operational and construction strategies, serving at various points as Interim CEO, COO and CTO. He supported the growth of infrastructure for the company’s customers across cloud, AI, high-performance computing, life sciences and financial services, and helped establish its reputation in high-performance, energy-efficient facilities.

Speaking about his time at Kao Data, Finch, noted, “From our earliest moments, the founding investors asked me to embrace their vision – building on the legacy of Sir Charles Kao OBE, by creating an advanced infrastructure platform, serving an enviable and diverse, blue-chip customer portfolio. Our achievements together during the last ten years were made possible by the trust and accountability of our shareholder consortium – Goldacre, the Noe Group, Legal & General and Infratil – and the talented, dedicated professionals and friends who joined me on this journey, for whom I will always be grateful and wish continued success.”

David Bloom, Founder and Executive Chairman, said of the transition, “On behalf of Kao Data I would like to express our utmost thanks and gratitude to Paul, who has played a fundamental role in shaping Kao Data into one of the UK’s most respected data centre platforms. From its earliest days, Paul brought exceptional clarity of vision, engineering excellence, and calm leadership to a complex and ambitious undertaking.

“I’d like to thank Paul for his dedication, integrity, and unwavering commitment to our mission, which have been exemplary. While we will miss his day-to-day participation, we look forward to his continued involvement as Senior Advisor to the Board.”