Dimension Data Taps New Cloud Chief

its acquisition of cloud contender OpSource

Steve Nola, who has been CEO of Dimension Data in Australia for the last 10 years, will now take the helm of the Cloud Solutions group.

The just-launched Cloud Solutions group comes on the heels of Dimension Data's acquisition earlier this month of OpSource, a Santa Clara, Calif.-based cloud and managed hosting provider. At the time of the acquisition, Dimension Data America's CEO Jere Brown said the OpSource buy was a major step forward in Dimension Data's "cloud services journey" as the massive Johannesburg, South Africa-based systems integrator eyes cloud computing as the next big shift. Dimension Data wrapped OpSource's cloud and managed hosting offerings into the new Cloud Solutions unit, which Nola will lead.

Nola brings cloud computing know-how to the role having been active in Dimension Data's Australian cloud push, which saw the acquisition of Sydney-based managed services, hosting and cloud player BlueFire three years ago.

"I am excited about my new role leading the Group's cloud initiatives," Nola said in a statement. "We've already seen success in the Australian market on this front through our cloud asset, BlueFire. Our clients are increasingly expressing more and more interest in starting their own journey to cloud services. As a Group, we believe the time is right to place greater focus on this fast-developing space, and significantly increase our offerings and activities."

Dimension Data said that along with running the Cloud Solutions group, Nola will continue to retain executive oversight for Dimension Data's businesses in the Australian region. Additionally, Rodd Cunico, Dimension Data's Southern Region Manager for the past decade, succeeds Nola as CEO Dimension Data Australia, with specific focus on Dimension Data's Systems Integration business within the region. Nola and Cunico assume their new roles immediately, Dimension Data said.

"Steve has been nominated to accelerate the group's cloud strategy based on his strong 22-year track record with Dimension Data as an executive and a leader with proven execution skills, and ability to drive value," Brett Dawson, Dimension Data's Group CEO, said in a statement. "Under Steve's leadership, the Australian business has grown from revenues of $365 million in 2002 to over $1 billion today. Steve has also successfully transformed the Australian business from a reseller into an IT outsourcing and managed services focused business. In addition, his experience with cloud architecture, telecommunications, services, and IT outsourcing stands him in good stead to establish and grow Dimension Data’s global Cloud Solutions business."