Phil Nicholson joins Datum to drive partnership growth

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Datum's new Partner Director

We’re pleased to welcome Phil Nicholson as Datum’s new Partner Director. Phil will be spearheading our efforts to develop new channels and foster vibrant communities within our partner network. With a strong background in cloud-managed services and consulting, Phil has worked extensively with large enterprises, delivering transformative outcomes for their stakeholders.

We caught up with him to ask him some poignant questions. Over to you, Phil …

A career driving innovation in technology sales

I’ve been fortunate to spend my entire career in the technology industry, navigating a range of dynamic and rewarding roles. My early days were shaped by working with US software giants such as Microsoft, from there I ventured into building Attenda, which grew to become one of the UK’s leading IT managed services companies. More recently, I have been privileged to contribute to global advisory and consulting businesses, holding key roles at Gartner and Cognizant. Each experience has deepened my expertise and strengthened my passion for driving innovation in technology.

A notable project in my career

One project I am particularly proud of from my time at Attenda was the development and leadership of client engagement and delivery teams. Over the course of more than 10 years, I worked closely with these teams to achieve exceptional outcomes in client loyalty and satisfaction. By fostering strong relationships, implementing effective strategies, and maintaining a commitment to excellence, we consistently elevated the client experience. This achievement was not only a testament to the team’s dedication but also to the robust frameworks we built to ensure long-lasting success with our clients.

Why the move to Datum?

What excites me most about joining Datum is the incredible opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of a company I’ve admired for over a decade. Having observed Datum’s evolution over the past 12 years into a premium enterprise-grade data centre provider with multiple locations and an unrivalled client base, I’m thrilled to now be part of the team. Datum’s success has been built on strong relationships with its channel partners, consultancies, and commercial property advisors, and the chance to advance these partnerships further is truly motivating. With new capacity being introduced in Farnborough and Manchester, I’m eager to help accelerate growth in these channels and continue building Datum’s reputation as a trusted partner in the industry.

Top priorities for my first 100 days at Datum

My top priorities are to rapidly gain a deep understanding of the business, its capabilities, and its client and partner ecosystem. I also plan to meet as many clients and partners as possible to foster strong relationships and ensure alignment with their goals. With Datum’s ambitious targets for 2025, it’s critical to hit the ground running – starting early will position us for success and enable us to achieve our objectives.

Sustaining motivation – passions and hobbies outside work

Outside of work, my passions are centred around seasonal outdoor activities that keep me inspired and energised. During winter, you’ll find me on the ski slopes in France, fully immersed in the thrill of the mountains. When summer arrives, I enjoy road cycling or hiking in both the UK and France. To add to the mix, I also indulge in a bit of waterskiing whenever I can – I’m always drawn to anything that combines the outdoors with an active lifestyle.

We’re excited to welcome Phil to our growing team. His wealth of experience and strategic insights make him an invaluable addition as we continue to expand and strengthen our partnership network – Datum Connect – a vital extension of our services. By complementing and enhancing our core colocation offerings, our partners enable us to remain singularly focused on delivering exceptional colocation solutions. Being part of the Datum ecosystem opens the door to shared opportunities, collaborative marketing efforts, and combined service offerings. Some of our partners provide complementary solutions that help clients achieve their business objectives, while others benefit from referring or reselling our expert, accredited colocation services. Interested in joining our network? Get in touch to explore the possibilities.