DataBank CEO Raul Martynek is stepping down after a decade at the helm of the data center company.

Martynek will leave his role on January 1, 2027, and take up the position of executive chairman of the DataBank board.

He will be replaced by Kevin Ooley, the firm’s current CFO and president.

Raul Martynek
Raul Martynek – DataBank

As executive chairman, Martynek will “focus on long-term strategy, major capital relationships, and the company's expansion activities,” DataBank said.

"Leading DataBank has been the pinnacle of my career,” said Martynek. "Kevin has been my partner in every major milestone we've achieved, and I have tremendous confidence in his leadership as DataBank enters its next phase of growth. He has a deep understanding of what makes DataBank special and the vision and operational discipline to lead DataBank as we scale into our next phase of growth."

Having joined DataBank when it was acquired by DigitalBridge in 2016, Martynek took up the role of CEO the following year, and has helped grow the company's footprint from six data centers in three markets to its current portfolio of more than 70 data centers in 25 markets.

Ooley, who has worked for the Dallas-based firm since 2011, said it was an “honor” to take over as CEO. “I've seen this company evolve from its earliest roots,” he said. “My focus will remain on executing our growth strategy by providing our 2,200+ customers with the geographic reach and capabilities they need to succeed in the new era driven by AI adoption."

DataBank has plans to grow its footprint, and in the last year has raised financing totaling $4.7bn, including a $1.6bn credit facility expansion and extension, and a $1.1bn securitization. In April, it secured a $2bn loan to fund an expansion in the Dallas area.

Marc Ganzi, CEO of DigitalBridge, said: "Raul's leadership has been transformative, not just for DataBank, but for the data center infrastructure category as a whole.

"In Kevin, we have a successor who knows every facet of the business and has the full confidence of the Board to lead DataBank into its next decade of growth."

More in North America