Kao Data appoints new CFO
Author: Joe Peck
Data centre developer and operator Kao Data has appointed Bruce Claassen as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), with the appointment taking effect on 1 October 2026.
Bruce joins Kao Data as the company progresses developments in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and Park Royal, West London, alongside its AI-ready campus in Harlow, Essex.
He brings more than 20 years of experience leading finance organisations across multinational and multi-sector businesses, with experience in capital investment, refinancing, and finance team development.
Bruce joins from Global Switch, where he spent four years as Group Finance Director and most recently Acting CFO, leading the company’s finance organisation across Europe and APAC, overseeing refinancing programmes, and supporting its international expansion.
He comments, “The data centre industry is experiencing an unprecedented period of transformation, and I am excited to be joining one of the UK’s leading digital infrastructure businesses as it continues to support growing demand from the AI and hyperscale cloud sectors.
“I look forward to working closely with the board, our investors, and the leadership team to deliver Kao Data’s long-term growth strategy, building on the company’s strong foundations and reputation for developing and operating data centres engineered for AI and advanced computing workloads.”
New CFO joins as Kao Data expands
Spencer Lamb, CEO at Kao Data, says, “Bruce brings extensive experience of operating within fast-paced, high-growth, private equity-backed businesses, together with deep expertise in capital investment and refinancing.
“We are delighted to welcome him to Kao Data as CFO. His combination of digital infrastructure expertise, financial leadership, and private equity experience makes him an excellent fit as we continue to accelerate our growth ambitions and meet increasing customer demand.”
Bruce began his career in international listed companies before moving into senior finance roles at Towergate, Worldpay, RAC, and Global Switch. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in London and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
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