Cloud infrastructure
10 data center site selection experts
These ten site selection, site acquisition and data center real estate leaders have chosen and secured locations for data centers at large cloud and technology companies. A reader can learn how these teams weigh land, power, permitting and incentives when they pick a site, and how they decide between buying land and leasing capacity.
Professionals to explore
01—10Alaa Raafat
LinkedInExperience: Senior Acquisition and Investment Manager, Data Centers Supply Strategy · Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Senior Acquisition and Investment Manager, Data Centers Supply Strategy at Amazon Web Services (AWS) since September 2023; the profile headline describes senior data center acquisitions, site selection and real estate strategy at AWS. Other Amazon roles include Head of Real Estate and Construction, Amazon Business UK&I (2023) and Real Estate Program Management Lead, Worldwide Grocery Real Estate (2021–2023).
Geoff H.
LinkedInExperience: Head of Real Estate, Data Centres (EMEA) · Amazon Web Services
Head of Real Estate, Data Centres (EMEA) at Amazon Web Services since January 2025, where his profile says he leads real estate and M&A strategy across 16+ EMEA countries, overseeing site selection. He was previously Principal Region Manager, Data Centre Strategy & Site Acquisition (EMEA) at Amazon Web Services (2022–2024) and Director, Real Estate & Investment Attraction at Edmonton International Airport (YEG) (2014–2020).
Jess Simmonds MRICS
LinkedInExperience: Lead EMEA - Global Infrastructure Energy and Location Strategy · Google
Lead EMEA - Global Infrastructure Energy and Location Strategy at Google since October 2017; the profile describes a chartered surveyor in Google's Global Infrastructure team focusing on data centre site selection and acquisition strategy across EMEA. Jess Simmonds was previously Senior Surveyor, Advisory & Transactions Services, Data Centre Solutions at CBRE (2016–2017).
Jesse Lovrien
LinkedInExperience: Director, Data Center Site Selection and Land Development · The San Francisco Compute Company
Director, Data Center Site Selection and Land Development at The San Francisco Compute Company since May 2026, where his profile says he delivers land and power solutions for multi GW data centers throughout North America. He was previously Data Center Land Development Manager - Cloud Operations and Innovation - AMERS at Microsoft (2024–2025) and Senior Real Estate Development Manager - Data Center Supply Solution - AWS Global Expansion at Amazon Web Services (AWS) (2022–2024).
Kevin Williams
LinkedInExperience: Director AMERS Data Center Site Selection · Microsoft
Director AMERS Data Center Site Selection at Microsoft since July 2008, where his profile describes managing site acquisition and leasing activities for datacenters in North America. His other Microsoft roles include Director, Data Center Services (2006–2013), Director, Workplace Strategies (2005–2006) and Director, Facilities (2003–2005), and he lists land acquisition, economic development and tax incentives among his specialties.
Leslie Nichols-Rage
LinkedInExperience: Regional Site Acquisition Director · Microsoft
Regional Site Acquisition Director at Microsoft since September 2016; her profile headline describes her as Americas Regional Lead Data Center Site Acquisition Manager, and the role is listed as Americas Regional Lead: DC Leasing. She was previously Senior Project Manager (2013–2016) and Business Administrator (2006–2013) at Microsoft.
Matthew Bourne
LinkedInExperience: Director - Data Center Acquisition - Leasing · Microsoft
Former Director - Data Center Acquisition - Leasing at Microsoft (2023–2026), a role his profile places in Data Center Acquisition, Americas, and in Site Selection - Leasing at Meta since March 2026. He was also Director of Strategy and Development at STACK Infrastructure (2020–2022) and Technical Program Manager - Infrastructure at Google (2023).
Melanie Kiely
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Global Site Selection & Acquisition · Oracle
Former Senior Director, Global Site Selection & Acquisition at Oracle (2024–2026), and Corporate Vice President, Corporate Development and Head of Data Center Strategy & Acquisition at AMD since May 2026, where her profile says she leads the development and execution of data center strategy for the company's long-term AI growth. At Microsoft she was Senior Director, CO I Global Portfolio Management & Lease Center of Excellence (2022–2024).
Paul R. Silliman, Esq.
LinkedInExperience: Data Center Acquisitions · NVIDIA
Data Center Acquisitions at NVIDIA since January 2021 and former Director - Real Estate Acquisitions at Microsoft (2016–2021). His profile describes planning, strategy, site selection, acquisitions and development to support hyper-scale cloud infrastructure. He was also VP & General Counsel at 365 Data Centers (2012–2016) and is an active member of the California State Bar.
Zane Niyazbekov
LinkedInExperience: Infrastructure Supply Development Manager - site selection manager (acquisition and lease) · Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Infrastructure Supply Development Manager - site selection manager (acquisition and lease) at Amazon Web Services (AWS) since August 2024. The profile cites experience across energy, data center site selection, real estate development, colocation and BTS agreements, and says the role supports multi-MW compute expansions at AWS. Zane Niyazbekov was previously Global Account Manager (2023–2024) and Business Development Manager (2019–2022) at ABB.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's region and deal type to your decision, since a North American land purchase, a power-constrained European market and a leased capacity deal each call for different experience. For power and utility questions favor people whose roles combine energy and location strategy, and for contract and deal structure questions favor those in acquisition or leasing roles.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01Which factors ruled out the most candidate sites in your searches, and how early did you test power availability?
- 02How did you work with utilities, local governments and economic development groups on incentives, zoning and timelines?
- 03When did you choose to self-build versus lease or use build-to-suit capacity, and what drove that decision?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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