Digital Realty has announced the appointment of Marcel Louw as Managing Director for Africa, tasked with leading strategic operations across the continent and expanding its renowned global data centre platform, PlatformDIGITAL.
In his new role, Louw will oversee the company’s activities in Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Ghana, building on existing operations and driving further growth. He will report to Paula Cogan, Managing Director for EMEA at Digital Realty, supporting the company’s long-term vision for Africa’s digital development.
Bringing over 20 years of experience in fund management and infrastructure investment, Louw joins from Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Managers, an Africa-focused private equity fund manager. There, he helped establish several funds and led major infrastructure projects, including data centres developed through a joint venture with Digital Realty. His background also includes five years at The Carlyle Group’s Structured Credit Group in London, as well as positions at Goldman Sachs and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
“Marcel’s deep experience in infrastructure investment and fund management across Africa, Europe, and the UK will be vital as we advance our next phase of growth on the continent. His track record of delivering large-scale infrastructure projects aligns perfectly with our mission to support enterprises as they scale and innovate in Africa,” said Paula Cogan.
Building on a strong foundation in Africa, Digital Realty is actively expanding its data centre footprint and interconnection capabilities across the continent. The company aims to foster economic growth, facilitate cross-border collaboration, and connect African businesses to the global digital economy. To date, Digital Realty has invested over US$2 billion in Africa and has been ranked number one on Cloudscene’s Data Center Ecosystem Leaderboard in the region.
“Africa is one of the most dynamic digital frontiers in the world, with its influence on the global digital economy continuing to grow. As the leading data centre provider in the region, Digital Realty is uniquely positioned to deliver the infrastructure that connects Africa to the rest of the world. Together with our talented team, we will continue building platforms that drive innovation, expand opportunities, and deepen Africa’s integration into the global digital ecosystem,” said Louw.
