10 Microsoft data center leaders
Senior Director, Datacenter Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO I), Director of Datacenter Operations, Des Moines Metro and Datacenter Operations Director, UAE are among the current titles held by these Microsoft data center leaders. A reader can learn how data center leaders run their sites at Microsoft from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Adnan Baig
LinkedInExperience: Datacenter Operations Director, UAE · Microsoft
Adnan Baig has been Datacenter Operations Director, UAE at Microsoft since September 2025. At Microsoft, Adnan Baig was Data Centre Operations Manager, UAE from 2022 to 2025 and Data Centre Site Operations Manager from 2020 to 2022, and Adnan Baig was IBX (Data Centre) Manager at Equinix from 2017 to 2020.
Brian Taaffe
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Global Data Center Operations. Microsoft. · Microsoft
Brian Taaffe has held the title "Senior Director, Global Data Center Operations. Microsoft." at Microsoft since January 2024, based in Ireland. At Microsoft, Brian Taaffe was Data Centre Operations Program Director, EMEA Region from 2018 to 2024, Data Centre Operations Program Manager, EMEA Region from 2016 to 2018 and Data Centre Critical Enviroment Program Manager, EMEA Region from 2013 to 2016.
Enver Spahalic
LinkedInExperience: Director Datacenter Operations – DFW Metro · Microsoft
Enver Spahalic has been Director Datacenter Operations – DFW Metro at Microsoft since April 2024. At 365 Data Centers, Enver Spahalic held the title Site Director & Regional Vice President of Data Center Operations from 2023 to 2024 and was Senior Director, Data Center Operations from 2022 to 2023, and Enver Spahalic was Senior Director, Data Center Operations at Sungard Availability Services from 2019 to 2022.
Nick Hengelman
LinkedInExperience: Snr Regional Director | EMEA Central · Microsoft
Nick Hengelman has been Snr Regional Director | EMEA Central at Microsoft since May 2025, based in The Randstad, Netherlands. At Microsoft, Nick Hengelman was Netherlands Director Datacenter Operations from 2022 to 2025, Campus Operations Director in 2022 and Datacenter Operations Manager from 2021 to 2022.
Peter Prokein
LinkedInExperience: Director Data Center Operations · Microsoft
Peter Prokein has been Director Data Center Operations at Microsoft since January 2025, based in Santa Clara, California. Peter Prokein held the title Data Center Leadership at Amazon Web Services (AWS) from 2023 to 2025 and at Google from 2016 to 2023, and held the title IT & Data Center Leadership at Aspirus Health from 2014 to 2016.
Preston Gilmore
LinkedInExperience: Director Datacenter Operations, Charlotte Metro · Microsoft
Preston Gilmore has been Director Datacenter Operations, Charlotte Metro at Microsoft since May 2026. At CoreSite, Preston Gilmore was Director - Data Center Operations from 2025 to 2026 and Senior Manager - Data Center Operations from 2024 to 2025, and Preston Gilmore held the title Commanding Officer, USS HAWAII (SSN 776) at US Navy from 2021 to 2023.
Rich Massie
LinkedInExperience: Director of Datacenter Operations, Des Moines Metro · Microsoft
Rich Massie has been Director of Datacenter Operations, Des Moines Metro at Microsoft since October 2024, based in West Des Moines, Iowa. Rich Massie was Vice President, Safety, Quality & Sustainability at Ohmium from 2023 to 2024, Commanding Officer of Naval Base Kitsap at US Navy from 2021 to 2023 and Commodore, Submarine Squadron 19 at US Navy from 2019 to 2021.
Sadik Antwi-Boampong
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director, Datacenter Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO I) · Microsoft
Sadik Antwi-Boampong has been Senior Director, Datacenter Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO I) at Microsoft since September 2026, and the profile says the role leads datacenter operations for the Chicago Metro. At Microsoft, Sadik Antwi-Boampong was Director, Datacenter Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO I) from 2024 to 2026, and Sadik Antwi-Boampong was Senior Leader, Head of Battery Operations at Tesla from 2023 to 2024.
Silvana Filippin
LinkedInExperience: Data Center Operations Director · Microsoft
Silvana Filippin has been Data Center Operations Director at Microsoft since November 2025, based in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. Silvana Filippin held the title Sr. Operations Leader Data Centers at Amazon Web Services (AWS) from 2022 to 2025, was Data Center Cluster Manager at Amazon from 2017 to 2022 and was Latin America Regional CIO at GE Oil & Gas from 2011 to 2017.
Yasumasa Ichida
LinkedInExperience: Datacenter Operations Director - Japan · Microsoft
Yasumasa Ichida has been Datacenter Operations Director - Japan at Microsoft since May 2025, based in Tokyo, Japan. At Microsoft, Yasumasa Ichida was Datacenter Operations Director - Japan East from 2023 to 2025, Datacenter Operations Manager from 2017 to 2023 and Logistics Service Engineer from 2013 to 2017.
Choose the right perspective
Match the metro, country or region a person leads to the market or site question you have. Weigh whether you need someone with a global view of operations or someone who runs a single metro or country day to day.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your datacenter operations role at Microsoft?
- 02How do you staff and organize operations as a metro or region adds new capacity?
- 03What has your own work taught you about handling incidents across several data center sites?
Reaching Microsoft data center leaders
How can I contact one of these Microsoft data center leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Microsoft, based on profile data retrieved on October 24, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Microsoft data center leaders?
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Can an AI agent ask one of these Microsoft data center leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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