Rack Centre taps Lars Johannisson as CEO to lead expansion in Africa
Business a.m
Rack Centre, West Africa’s best-connected carrier and cloud neutral data centre, has announced the appointment of Lars Johannisson as its new chief executive officer, effective January 2024.
Speaking on his new role as the CEO of Rack Centre, Johannisson expressed excitement at the opportunity to lead Rack Centre and build on its success as the region’s leading carrier and cloud neutral Tier-III data center. He recognised the company’s achievements in building and operating one of the most modern and secure data centers in West Africa and highlighted its market-leading position in a rapidly growing sector.
Johannisson also stated his commitment to driving the digital transformation in Nigeria and noted the importance of Rack Centre’s new hyperscale-ready, 12MW data center facility in Lagos, which is set to launch in 2024.
The new CEO brings to Rack Centre a wealth of experience in the telecommunications, IT delivery, and managed services industries. He has worked in Africa for 14 years and has successfully executed large B2B projects in more than 30 Sub-Saharan countries.
Johannisson is a highly accomplished executive with a strong academic background and extensive experience in transformative industries. He holds an MBA in General Management/Finance from Stockholm School of Economics and has completed the Stanford University Executive Programme on “Design, Innovation, and Business Transformation,” which is renowned for its focus on human-centered design and innovation. He has also participated in discussions on digital and economic inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa and sponsored initiatives to train and hire youth in IT through partnerships with major corporate social responsibility partners.
Prior to joining Rack Centre, Johannisson was the CEO of Teleperformance in Sub-Saharan Africa, heading the world’s leading company in digital CX and BPO in the group’s emerging market and previously at Ericsson, SolarNow and the YNV Group.
Jasper Lankhorst, Group CEO of Rack Centre, expressed enthusiasm over Johannisson’s appointment, highlighting his wealth of experience and robust industry knowledge.
“We are delighted to welcome Lars Johannisson as the new chief executive officer of Rack Centre. His wealth of experience and strategic leadership will propel Rack Centre to new heights. I have full confidence in Lars’s ability to steer our company towards continued success, and I look forward to working closely with him to advance our position as a leading data centre provider,”Lankhorst said.
Rack Centre’s robust ecosystem includes over 64 telecommunication carriers, Internet Service Providers, global Tier 1 networks, and pan-Africa international carriers. The company achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first International Finance Corporation (IFC) EDGE certified data centre in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This certification officially designates Rack Centre as the first Green Certified Data Centre in Africa, further solidifying its position as the most connected facility in the West African region, according to its Peering DB ranking.