Technology services firm Rackspace has continued its expansion in the EMEA market with the appointment of Andy Brierley as its new UK general manager.
The move forms part of the company’s ongoing strategic and investment plans across the region, which also includes an expansion into the Middle East and new leadership across DACH, the Netherlands, Nordics, as well as the Middle East and Africa.
Brierley joins Rackspace from IBM where he has gained more than 20 years’ experience, most recently holding the position of vice president and executive partner for Cloud Application Innovation in its Global Business Services Division.
Prior to that role, he spent seven years as IBM’s vice president of IT Systems Integration and Consulting within its Global Technology Services segment, as well as four years as vice president of Strategic Outsourcing.
The hire follows the recent appointment of EMEA managing director Martin Blackburn, as well as new general managers for the Netherlands, Germany and the Middle East.
“I’m delighted to be joining the company at such a pivotal moment in the region,” Brierley commented. “The significant investment will further cement Rackspace’s position as the best partner to accelerate the business value of the cloud for years to come.”
In addition to the new appointments, Rackspace also announced its expansion into the Middle East with the launch of a new office in Dubai. The new hub will enable the business to better serve more than 500 existing customers in the region as well as support the dynamic, growing cloud market, Rackspace said.
Globally, the firm employs more than 6,000 people with expertise in applications, data, security, hybrid and multiple clouds. In addition to its freshly-announced Dubai office, Rackspace also has offices in Australia, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the US and the UK.
“The EMEA market is a strategic priority for Rackspace and I am delighted to have Andy Brierley leading our largest team in the region,” said Martin Blackburn, general manager of the EMEA region at Rackspace. “I know that with his ambition and specialist expertise we’re only going to be better placed to accelerate the value of the cloud for new and existing customers.”
