This brings an end to a period that saw commendable growth in the company’s West African operations.

In a personal statement shared on LinkedIn, the Regional Executive for West Africa confirmed he would be leaving the business, shedding light on what he described as a defining chapter in his career and the company’s development across the region.

“After 5+ incredible years, it’s time for me to sign off from Africa Data Centres (ADC).

What started as a bold experiment-stepping into a new market as a challenger-has evolved into a definitive chapter of growth, resilience, and success.

We didn’t just build data centres; we built the infrastructure for the future.

The journey was far from linear. It was defined by:

The Steep Curves: Navigating the complexities of a new market and turning challenges into competitive advantages.

The Milestones: Moving from our first rack to becoming a well-established, trusted partner in the colocation space.

The Culture: Building an organisation from the ground up that prioritises both operational excellence and a bit of fun along the way.

To my team and colleagues: You are the heartbeat of this success. Thank you for the late nights, the strategic breakthroughs, and the countless cups of coffee that fueled our progress. I am immensely proud of the “well-established” powerhouse we’ve become.

I’m walking away with great memories and a sharp focus on what’s next.

To my network: Stay tuned-I’m excited to share my next chapter with you soon.”

Dr Krish served most recently as Regional Executive for West Africa, a role he assumed in September 2022 after previously working as Chief Technology Officer at the company.

During his tenure, ADC expanded its regional and edge data centre footprint, becoming a key infrastructure provider that supports cloud adoption and local data hosting across several African markets.

Africa Data Centres, part of Cassava Technologies, operates one of the continent’s largest networks of carrier- and cloud-neutral data centre facilities. The company has been important in supporting digital transformation efforts, particularly as businesses shift workloads to the cloud and governments push for stronger data localisation.

Demand for data centres across Africa is increasing fast, driven by fintech growth, increasing internet usage and tough regulatory expectations around where data is stored.

In Nigeria especially, Dr Krish consistently argued that local data infrastructure is critical for digital sovereignty, improved security and long-term economic value.

Before joining ADC, he held senior leadership roles across Nigeria’s connectivity and data infrastructure sector, including positions at Medallion Communications Limited and Century Data Integrated Services Ltd. His career spans more than three decades across data centres, cloud services, connectivity and managed IT operations.

His exit comes at a time of strong competition in Africa’s digital infrastructure space, as global hyperscale cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft and Google strengthen their presence on the continent, increasing pressure on regional operators to scale quickly and maintain local relevance.

ADC has not yet announced a successor or provided details on leadership changes following his departure.

ADC is part of Cassava Technologies a pan-African technology leader providing a vertically integrated ecosystem of digital services and infrastructure enabling digital transformation across Africa.

As a key stakeholder with over three decades in the Data Centre, Cloud, Connectivity, and Managed IT Services industries, Dr. Krish is renowned for his significant contributions in building the most number of data centres in the region.

Dr Krish is vastly experience in incubating startups and positioning them as challengers in high growth markets where they operate.

His impressive experience in running businesses includes complete life cycle management of the business includes: business planning, end-to-end P&L ownership, product development, sales/business development, go-to-market strategies formulation and execution, establishing multi megawatt Data Centre projects, service delivery, procurement, HR, finance and other business support functions, establishing systems and processes including integrated BSS and OSS automation, as well as applying the latest AI trends across the business-functions

He is a recipient of several awards by various institutions recognizing his impeccable contribution toward the development of the Data Centre Industry and the overall ICT sector in Africa over the years.

In this interview, Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, the regional executive – West Africa & Morocco- at Africa Data Centres (ADC), speaks on sundry issues impacting the tech industry. Excerpt:

Would you say the 2024 global economic challenges still affect the tech industry, particularly from your perspective in Africa?

Dr. Krish: 2024, a year of significant uncertainty across the globe, also had its share of challenges for Africa. However, we chose to take these challenges as learning opportunities—making the necessary adjustments and finding ways to adapt and move forward.

In the tech industry, change is constant; each day brings something new. We saw the rise of Nvidia and AI, and now, overnight, we’re discussing Deepseek. As a tech professional, it’s crucial to stay adaptable and embrace global changes while exploring how to apply them locally and regionally.

Technology continues to evolve daily, infiltrating our personal lives and promising more advancement throughout the year. These developments are likely to create significant employment opportunities across various sectors.

What strategic priorities should the tech industry focus on in 2025 to stay competitive?

Dr. Krish: In the midst of a rapidly changing technological landscape, companies are navigating the transformative power of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT). A striking 85% of businesses report that adopting AI has already improved productivity. McKinsey notes that companies using AI extensively can increase their cash flow by 122% over a five-year period.

These innovations are reshaping industry frameworks and altering competitive dynamics—startups leveraging blockchain technology are disrupting financial services and attracting substantial funding. This shift compels established players to rethink strategies, invest in digital transformation, and adapt to new consumer expectations driven by rapid technological advancements.

Looking at 2025, AI is at the centre of global conversations, supported by big data, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, which play a critical role in the tech ecosystem.

What trends are shaping data centre adoption in Africa amid the rise of cloud and AI?

Dr. Krish: As the drive to develop artificial intelligence and related technologies grows, so does the demand for data processing capacity—fuelling a data centre boom across Africa, despite infrastructure challenges.

In recent years, investment in African data centres has increased, though not at the same scale as more established economies.

Since 2022, new carrier-neutral data centres have been commissioned, with more in the pipeline. Key construction activity is underway in Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa. These developments are supported by efforts to improve regulatory frameworks, energy infrastructure, and connectivity—while also promoting digital transformation, cloud adoption, and addressing the skills gap.

However, the continent still lags behind global benchmarks, accounting for less than 2% of the world’s co-location data centre supply. Notably, more than half of this capacity is concentrated in South Africa, according to the Africa Data Centres Association.

Currently, cloud services for Africa are largely served from South Africa and Europe. As demand rises, we’re seeing the emergence of local cloud regions in Nigeria and Kenya, with further expansion expected in Morocco, Egypt, and other countries.

What are the best ways for industry stakeholders to collaborate and accelerate data centre adoption in Africa?

Dr. Krish: Among African data centre operators, we have five to six key players. Collaboration should focus on capacity sharing across locations and real-time communication regarding available resources.

Initiatives like the Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA) are gaining traction, and we expect greater clarity on collaborative strategies moving forward.

We also need to prioritise human capacity building and enhanced network connectivity between data centres. This will simplify client operations across multiple providers and drive a more integrated infrastructure ecosystem.

What role should governments play in accelerating Africa’s data centre expansion?

Dr. Krish: Take Nigeria as an example—regulatory bodies like the NDPC and NITDA play pivotal roles in driving data centre growth. When governments advocate for digitalisation and data localisation, the local cloud and data centre industries benefit significantly.

A major opportunity lies in repatriating African government data—over 75% is currently hosted outside the continent. Bringing this data back home would be a substantial driver for local industry, demonstrating leadership from the front.

Additionally, governments should consider reducing customs tariffs on data centre-related imports. While free zones exist, most are located outside city limits—areas where clients typically prefer data centres to be.

Do you see a substantial market opportunity for data centres in Nigeria?

Dr. Krish: The Nigerian data centre market presents significant growth opportunities, driven by increasing cloud adoption, digitalisation, and the need for secure and scalable data storage.

The market size is estimated at 136.7 MW in 2025 and is expected to reach 279.4 MW by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.37%.

Additionally, colocation revenue is projected to increase from USD 251.1 million in 2025 to USD 578.1 million by 2030, reflecting a CAGR of 18.15%.

Data localisation initiatives and digital transformation efforts are driving profound changes in the Nigerian data centre market, with government emphasis on local data hosting leading to increased domestic investments.

Widely recognized as the industry’s most respected annual event in Nigeria, the Awards ceremony acknowledged Dr. Krishnan’s (often referred to as “Dr. Krish“) unwavering dedication and significant contributions to the nation’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) landscape.

“We are delighted to present you with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s distinguished Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Lecture,” declared Mr. Ken Nwogbo, founder of Nigerian CommunicationsWeek, the event organizer. The Lecture Series itself focuses on initiatives propelling Nigeria’s position on the global ICT map.

Mr. Nwogbo further highlighted that Dr. Krish was one of only four individuals selected for the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award by a rigorous selection committee.

“This recognition honours their consistent commitment to providing innovative ICT solutions and services that fuel Nigeria’s thriving digital economy”, Nwogbo said.

Dr. Ranganath boasts over three decades of experience in the global ICT sector, collaborating with various multinationals across emerging markets.

His impressive career includes managing complex projects in developing economies and fostering strong relationships with leading global players across industries.

A key figure in establishing and managing networks and data centers in emerging economies, Dr. Krish possesses a proven track record of optimizing resource allocation for achieving organizational goals.

He is also actively involved in promoting local African content and crafting long-term ICT strategies and roadmaps for various African countries, with a specific focus on West Africa’s telecommunications infrastructure development.

At the gathering, which hosted personalities from both government and the private sector, Knowhow Media, the organizer of the event noted that the digital economy in Nigeria has experienced a remarkable evolution, driven by the vision, innovation and dedication of pioneering individuals.

One of those pioneering individuals is Dr. Krish, who the organizer argued brought his over three decades of expertise in global markets mechanics with diverse multinationals across Emerging Markets, especially in data centers that is today part of the engine room driving the digital economy.

“We are glad to honour and celebrate you for your exceptional contributions as one of the “50 Most Valuable Personalities (MVP) in Nigeria’s Digital Economy. This honour is a recognition of your commitment to fostering and sustaining the growth of the digital economy and Nigeria as a country,” said Olusegun Oruame, Vice Chairman of Knowhow Media.

The “50 Most Valuable Personalities in Nigeria’s Digital Economy” is a spotlight on exceptional individuals, who have propelled Nigeria’s digital economy forward. The recognition acknowledges their achievements and leadership and seeks to inspire, honour and pave the way for continued innovation and progress in the vibrant digital landscape of Nigeria.

Reacting, Dr. Krish, who is represented at the ceremony by Eugene Uka, head of Sales-West Africa at Africa Data Centres said recognizing him among the Top 50 MVPs in Nigeria’s digital economy is a testimony that his little contributions are being noticed and he will keep contributing the best of his abilities to the Nation’s growth.

“For me, this is a recognition I believe Dr. Krish will live to remember,” Eugene told Journalists on the sideline of the event.

Speaking on the data centres space, where Dr. Krish is presently playing an active role, Eugene noted that by 2027, the data centres ecosystem in Nigeria is projected to experience a remarkable 220% growth, reaching a valuation of $288.8 million. Thus, contributing massively to the growth of digital economy and ultimately, the economy in general.

This growth, he believes, captured the attention of global players seeking investments in Nigeria.

This time, it is the management of TechCastle Foundation, who saw him worthy of the recognition at this year’s Africa Tech Alliance Excellence (ATAEx) Awards, which was organized in partnership with Techeconomy.

The award was the highlight of the Africa Tech Alliance Forum (AfriTECH 3.0) with the theme: “Technology-as-a-Service (TaaS) in Emerging Economy”, held in Ikeja-Lagos last week.

“This award is a great approval rating for you in recognition of your innovations, contributions and commitments to the growth of data centre sub-sector in Africa’s region,” said Chike Onwuegbuchi, Co-Founder of TechCastle Foundation, while presenting the award to Princess Isreal, Key Account Manager at Africa Data Centres on behalf of Dr. Krishnan Ranganath.

Meanwhile, in a telephone conversation, Dr. Krish acknowledged that the award is coming at a time the data centre ecosystem in Africa is beginning to experience patronage from both local and international organisations, owing to the advocacy for local content hosting.

“It gladdens my heart that the effort some of us have put into the data centre ecosystem is gradually yielding results and contributing to the industry, which presently accounts for 17.47 percent of Nigeria’s total GDP, amounting to ₦3.1 trillion ($6.7 billion) in the first quarter of 2023 according to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS),” he said.

He disclosed that Africa Data Centres in Lagos is adding more capacity to cater for the local requirements needed to attract more organisations to host their content and data in Nigeria and indeed Africa.

Industry veterans’ recognition of Dr. Krish’s contributions to the African data centre ecosystem and promoting local content across Africa and to the world did not start today.  Recalled, he was also crowned the ‘Man of the Year’ at Africa’s Beacon of Information and Communications Technology Merit and Leadership Award 2023.

Dr. Krishnan Ranganath is a Senior Executive with over three decades of experience in global markets mechanics with diverse Multinationals across Emerging Markets.

He has worked with numerous IT/ITES and Telecommunications players for a range of large and very elaborate projects.

Dr. Krish has managed multi-million-dollar projects, land large and disparate teams across various regions and time zones.

And he is a key stakeholder in the initiation and management of multiple networks & data centres across geographies.

Dr. Krish as he is fondly called in the industry is receiving this award less two months when he was crowned Man of the Year in May at the Beacon of Information and Communications Technology Award, organized by CommunicationsWeek Media.

Giving reasons why Dr. Krishnan was awarded the ICT Merit Award, the organizer stated that it was for his contribution to the technology and business space in Nigeria and other African countries, especially with the evolving data centre ecosystem.

“Sequel to your contribution to the technology and business space in Nigeria, especially with the evolving data centre ecosystem, we have decided to Honour and celebrate his good works, we are conferring on you the prestigious ICT Industry Merit Award,” announced Don Pedro Aganbi, Lead Consultant at TechTV, organiser of the awards.

Receiving the award on behalf of Dr. Krishnan, Mr Eugene Uka, Head of Sales West Africa for Africa Data Centres, thanked the organizer for recognizing Dr. Krishnan, who he described as a thorough professional for the award.

The Titans of Tech Awards, popularly called Nigeria’s Tech Industry Grammy, was a follow-up of the Pan African Digital Initiatives Summit and Exhibition (PADISE) with the theme ‘Infrastructure Protection, Cyber Security & Connectivity as Growth Drivers in the Digital Age.’