Start Campus appoints senior leaders for SINES DC project

Start Campus has announced the appointment of two experienced executives to its senior leadership team as part of its go-to-market strategy and next growth phase.

Omer Wilson has been appointed as Chief Marketing Officer and José Luis Arnau as Head of Sales. These appointments are aligned with the company's preparation to expand its operations at the SINES DC project in Portugal, which is poised to become a significant player in the European data centre landscape.

The SINES DC development is noted for its substantial grid access, with 1.2 GW secured, and its commitment to sustainability by integrating an innovative ocean-water cooling system. This system is part of Start Campus's strategy to deliver sustainable and efficient data centre solutions. The project aims to contribute EUR €1.2 billion annually to the Portuguese economy and create thousands of jobs, fostering Portugal's role as a digital transformation hub in Europe.

Robert Dunn, CEO of Start Campus, expressed his confidence in the new appointments. "The additions of Omer and José to our team will accelerate our ability to deliver a world-class, AI-ready, and sustainable data centre environment for our customers. Both these highly experienced executives will help us deliver the best possible products for our customers, from turnkey to bespoke solutions, making SINES DC Europe's premier data centre campus," he said.

Omer Wilson, who joins from Qarbon Technologies where he served as CMO, brings over 25 years of industry experience, including roles at Digital Realty and Pure Data Centres Group. Commenting on his new role, Wilson said, "I am thrilled to join Start Campus as Chief Marketing Officer at such a transformative time for the digital infrastructure industry. Portugal is rapidly becoming the 'digital gateway' to Europe. It is positioned to become a global hub for sustainable data centres, with its strategic location, robust connectivity through subsea cables, and leadership in renewable energy. The SINES DC is a prime example of innovation and sustainability coming together to set new benchmarks for the industry."

José Luis Arnau joins Start Campus with over 30 years of international business experience, having most recently served as Sales Director at Digital Realty. In his previous role, he led negotiations with major telecommunications providers and enterprise clients. "Start Campus represents the perfect combination of strategic location, sustainability, and customer-focused solutions," Arnau remarked. "The chance to be part of Europe's largest data centre campus project and work with a vibrant international team to develop this groundbreaking initiative is a captivating opportunity."

The SINES DC project, with an investment value totalling EUR €8.5 billion, is designed to use 100% renewable energy and targets an industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.1, highlighting its commitment to sustainability and efficiency.