As I approach my fourth year at Kao Data, I’ve found myself reflecting on the remarkable journey we’ve taken as a business. When I first joined, I knew I was stepping into an ambitious organisation with big plans for the future of data infrastructure, but what we’ve accomplished in such a short time has far exceeded my expectations. Today, Kao Data stands as one of the UK’s most exciting and forward-thinking data centre operators and I couldn’t be prouder of the people who have made that possible.
The saying “you’re only as good as your team” is one that I’ve always believed in. It’s easy to talk about strategy, investment and technology, but at the heart of every success story is a group of individuals who give their all day in and day out. From the very beginning, I’ve been passionate about supporting those I work alongside – encouraging development, recognising contributions and building an environment where people feel proud of what they do. Our collective achievements at Kao Data are the direct result of the knowledge and dedication of our people who continue to deliver excellence in everything they do.
Within our Data Centre Operations function, I’m fortunate to work with some truly exceptional professionals including Chris Small, James Cocorane, Wayne O’Connell, Charlotte Blackburn and Joe Dailly. Their experience, commitment and attention to detail ensure that our facilities consistently perform to the highest standards. For me, leadership has never been about individual credit; it’s about recognising the people who make success possible. This team embodies that principle, delivering time and time again to support our clients and uphold our reputation for operational excellence.
A major milestone in our journey has been the creation of our Targeted Operating Model. After a rigorous onboarding process, our partnership with CBRE recently reached its first anniversary and continues to go from strength to strength. With the support of our Service Delivery team, including Alfie Meeks and Rene Sajan, we’ve made significant progress in delivering a large-scale CAPEX replacement plan while also managing our day-to-day relationships with key stakeholders. Over 95 CBRE personnel now play an active role in our operations, helping us maintain the level of service and reliability our customers expect.
Alongside these operational achievements, our Delivery and Construction team has made huge strides in expanding our footprint. With the support of colleagues such as Scott Manton, Gary Kilmister and Fraser Clarke, we’ve delivered an impressive 12MW of capacity at our Slough facility, completed our second data centre, KLON-02, in Harlow and are now well into the construction phase of KLON-03, the UK’s first 17.6 MW fully liquid cooled facility, which is on track to be ready for service in Q4 2026.
Looking further ahead, plans are already underway for further expansion in Harlow, the development of our Stockport facility and several exciting advanced-stage projects beyond. It’s an incredible achievement for such a driven and capable team and a clear signal of the growth still to come.
What makes Kao Data truly special, however, goes beyond bricks, mortar and megawatts. It’s also about the passion our people bring to supporting the wider community. Working closely with our marketing team, we’ve taken great pride in championing education and skills development through initiatives such as the UTC Digital Futures programme, the Kao Seed Fund (Stockport and Harlow), the Kao Academy, UTC Heathrow Digital Futures programme and the Critical Careers initiative. These projects give us the opportunity to inspire the next generation of digital talent and help young people see the exciting potential within our industry.
Looking back on these past four years, I feel incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. The progress we’ve made is a testament to the hard work, collaboration and belief that runs through every part of this organisation. Kao Data is more than just a company – it’s a community of people who care deeply about what they do and who share a collective ambition to keep pushing forward. As we look ahead to the next chapter of growth and innovation, one thing is certain: it’s an exciting time to be part of the Kao Data team.
Mike Tamblingson
Mike is Kao Data's Operations Director and has over 25 years of experience working within the international data centre, cloud and wider technology industry.