CTO, Data Center
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - Data Centers
Location: Singapore / APAC
Confidential Search
About the Company
Our client is a rapidly expanding digital infrastructure platform focused on developing, owning, and operating next-generation data center assets across Asia Pacific. Backed by strong institutional investment, the organization is entering a significant growth phase and seeks an experienced technology leader to shape its long-term technical strategy and platform development.
Position Overview
The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) will serve as the senior-most technical executive responsible for defining and executing the organization's technology, engineering, innovation, and infrastructure strategy.
The role requires a visionary leader with deep expertise across data center design, engineering, operations, sustainability, emerging technologies, and hyperscale infrastructure. The CTO will partner closely with the CEO, Board, investment stakeholders, customers, and regional leadership teams to drive technical excellence, platform standardization, innovation, and long-term competitive advantage.
This executive will oversee the full technology lifecycle, from site selection and concept design through construction, commissioning, operational optimization, and AI-ready infrastructure deployment.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Leadership & Strategy
- Develop and execute the company's long-term technology and infrastructure roadmap.
- Act as the primary technical advisor to the Executive Leadership Team and Board.
- Shape technology investment strategies supporting regional expansion and growth objectives.
- Drive standardization of technical platforms, engineering methodologies, and operational frameworks across all markets.
- Establish a culture of innovation, engineering excellence, and continuous improvement.
Data Center Technology & Engineering
- Lead all engineering and technical functions across development and operational portfolios.
- Define technology standards covering:
- Electrical infrastructure
- Mechanical cooling systems
- Building management systems
- Network and connectivity architecture
- Control systems
- Commissioning methodologies
- Reliability engineering
- Oversee technical due diligence for new developments, acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic investments.
- Ensure facilities meet the requirements of hyperscale cloud, AI, enterprise, and colocation customers.
AI & Next-Generation Infrastructure
- Develop strategies for AI-ready and high-density computing environments.
- Drive adoption of advanced cooling technologies including liquid cooling and hybrid cooling solutions.
- Evaluate emerging technologies in:
- Artificial Intelligence infrastructure
- GPUs and high-performance computing
- Modular construction
- Digital twin technologies
- Automation and predictive maintenance
- Smart operations platforms
- Position the platform for future customer demand and evolving technology requirements.
Project Development & Delivery
- Provide executive oversight of engineering and technology aspects of all development programs.
- Approve technical standards and design frameworks across greenfield and brownfield projects.
- Partner with Development, Construction, Procurement, and Operations teams to ensure successful project execution.
- Lead technology risk management and technical governance processes.
Operations & Reliability
- Establish reliability standards and operational performance benchmarks across the data center portfolio.
- Drive initiatives to improve uptime, resiliency, energy efficiency, and service quality.
- Lead root cause investigations for critical incidents and major operational events.
- Ensure long-term asset performance and lifecycle optimization.
Sustainability & ESG
- Develop strategies to improve PUE, energy efficiency, and water usage effectiveness.
- Drive renewable energy integration, battery technologies, and carbon reduction initiatives.
- Support sustainability commitments and environmental compliance requirements.
- Evaluate innovative energy and cooling technologies to enhance long-term competitiveness.
Customer & External Engagement
- Act as a trusted technical advisor to hyperscale, cloud, AI, and enterprise customers.
- Participate in commercial pursuits, customer solutioning, and strategic partnerships.
- Represent the company at industry conferences and executive-level industry engagements.
- Build relationships with utilities, regulators, technology vendors, consultants, and academic institutions.
Team Leadership
- Build and lead a high-performing regional technology and engineering organization.
- Develop succession planning and leadership development programs.
- Foster collaboration across Engineering, Development, Construction, Operations, and Commercial teams.
- Attract and retain top technical talent across APAC.
Requirements
Experience
- Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Master's Degree preferred.
- Minimum 20 years of experience within mission-critical infrastructure, data centers, cloud infrastructure, or digital infrastructure.
- At least 10 years in executive leadership positions.
- Proven track record leading multi-country data center development and operational platforms.
- Experience supporting hyperscale, AI, cloud, colocation, or large enterprise customer environments.
Technical Expertise
- Deep knowledge of mission-critical infrastructure systems.
- Extensive understanding of:
- Data center architecture
- Electrical distribution systems
- Power generation and backup systems
- Cooling infrastructure
- AI and HPC environments
- Liquid cooling technologies
- Commissioning and operational readiness
- Lifecycle asset management
- Reliability and resiliency engineering
- Strong understanding of regional regulatory frameworks and international standards.
Leadership & Commercial Skills
- Executive presence with the ability to influence Board-level stakeholders and investors.
- Strong commercial acumen and investment mindset.
- Experience presenting technical investment cases and business strategies.
- Ability to balance growth, operational performance, innovation, and risk management.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit an application along with an updated CV of yours detailing your relevant experience to this job ad.
Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
Recruitment Consultant: Ken Tan
EA Registration No: R22111317
EA License No: 16S8194
FAQs
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