IXAfrica Data Centre Limited [IXAfrica], a prominent developer and operator of hyper-scale data centers in East Africa, is delighted to introduce Snehar Shah, CFA, as its newly appointed CEO. Mr. Shah brings to the team a rich and diverse background spanning more than 25 years across various industries and geographies. His extensive experience in building and managing businesses positions him to lead IXAfrica Data Centre to new heights as the company embarks on its next phase of growth.
With a career spanning over 15 years at the Global Telecoms Operator, Orange, encompassing various leadership roles in Finance & Strategy across the UK, Europe, and East Africa, Snehar has played a pivotal role in the African startup ecosystem. He has successfully built and led businesses such as Eaton Towers as Regional CFO (acquired by American Tower in 2018], Azuri Technologies as GM, Africa [empowering over 250,000 households across five African countries], and most recently, Moringa School as CEO [a leading coding bootcamp provider in the region], where he also assumed roles as a Non-Executive and Chair of their Tech Advisory Board.
“Our company has always had ambitious plans and aspirations, and we have consistently delivered on them by bolstering our team with top talent boasting a proven track record in the global market. The Board of Directors and I are thrilled to welcome Snehar, who joins IXAfrica at a pivotal moment in our company’s exponential growth, charting the next strategic steps for our ongoing investment in Kenya.” says Guy Willner, Chairman of IXAfrica.
Tosin Awoyinka, Senior Vice President at Helios Investment Partners, added, “Snehar’s arrival is eagerly anticipated and warmly welcomed by the IXAfrica team. Our business is exceptionally positioned to facilitate the evolution of the Kenyan and East African digital ecosystem, and Snehar enhances this trajectory with his leadership acumen, organizational development skills, and an impressive network in the enterprise world.”
Driven by surging demand for internet connectivity in Kenya from a youthful and rapidly expanding population, IXAfrica secured a $50 million investment to expedite the development of its Nairobi campus and recently unveiled plans for a secondary data center campus. The Company is poised to establish a dominant position in Kenya, delivering much-needed hyperscale-ready capacity to the market.
Snehar Shah holds a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Imperial College, London, in addition to qualifications in Chartered Accountancy from PwC and the Chartered Financial Analyst [CFA] credential. He has been recognized among the Top 40 under 40 by Business magazine.
