Describe your current job role and a summary of the business model of your organisation?
Tassos is the regional leader for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Central Asia region at Vertiv, and part of the EMEA sales management organisation. He is primarily responsible for managing and enhancing the region’s performance in delivering excellent, high-quality services to customers and partners.
In his current role, Tassos led the regional restructuring of Vertiv, uniting the Middle East, Türkiye, and Central Asia into the METCA region. His foremost achievement has been developing a highly capable regional team and implementing effective go-to-market strategies since January 2023.
What keeps Tassos up at night are the growth opportunities and how Vertiv will serve its customers over the next decade amidst the rapid evolution of data centre technologies.
What are your strengths and abilities that you bring to the above role?
From an early age, Tassos has been immersed in various cultures beyond his own. Spending significant time in different countries, he has developed the ability to quickly adapt to multicultural environments in the Middle East and beyond. This experience has made him confident in liaising with and leading people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities.
His strong educational background in mechanical engineering enables him to understand and coordinate the complex demands of the data centre industry. He is adept at addressing the specific requirements that localisation might entail, such as the need for unique solutions in data centres in the Middle East due to extreme temperatures, compared to those in Northern Europe.
Please describe the expectations of the end customers that you address. What are their pain points today?
With the rapid technological evolution driven by AI adoption, the primary expectation of his clients is to receive fast, reliable, and future-proof technology.
For example, a significant challenge faced by colocation data centres today is the need to quickly modify and adapt their white space offerings to accommodate the unprecedented levels of power and cooling demands driven by graphics processing unit technologies, which are essential for AI applications.
Additionally, these deployments must be scalable in an uninterrupted manner. Tassos and the Vertiv team are fully equipped to meet these expectations. They have developed local expertise that is on par with, if not superior to, other regions.
Which generic technologies and innovations can make a difference to your end customers business?
Vertiv, with nearly six decades of experience in the data centre industry, consistently leads in technological advancements. Specialising in power and cooling solutions for data centres, Vertiv stands out with cutting-edge offerings in both areas.
For instance, Vertiv’s Trinergy Cube, a 2MW high-power hot-swappable modular uninterruptible power supply, UPS, boasts an efficiency of up to 99.5%. Complemented by Vertiv’s Battery Energy Storage Systems, these solutions provide reliability. Furthermore, as AI applications demand increasingly powerful GPUs, which generate substantial heat, liquid and hybrid cooling solutions become imperative.
Vertiv’s direct-to-chip cooling technologies efficiently dissipate heat, rendering AI operations viable and efficient.
Which non-competitive business in the region do you admire for innovative usage of technology?
In the region, there are standout examples of businesses leveraging technology in non-competitive sectors that Tassos deeply admires. One such example is the Dubai government’s pioneering efforts in establishing a unified digital experience.
Through initiatives like the UAE Pass, individuals can access a variety of applications seamlessly. A notable one is DubaiNow, which consolidates local obligations such as utility bills, telecom bills, and vehicle registration into a single, user-friendly dashboard. This integrated approach sets a global standard, unmatched by any other country.
Another commendable case is Careem, initially recognised for its taxi services. Today, Careem’s platform offers far more than just transportation. Users can access a plethora of services, from groceries and medical assistance to delivery, laundry, home cleaning, and bike rentals, all through a simple app interface.
This innovative solution not only enhances convenience but also significantly saves valuable time by streamlining everyday tasks with just a tap of a button.
Which aspects of your job role do you find rewarding and which challenging?
Tassos finds immense fulfilment in witnessing the growth of his team and colleagues at Vertiv, knowing that he contributes to their professional and personal development. However, he grapples with maintaining a delicate balance between work and personal life, striving to harmonise both realms effectively.
How do you best like to de-stress and re-charge off work?
Tassos finds solace and rejuvenation in his cherished hobby, which demands focus and tranquillity. Since the age of 10, his passion for aviation has been nurtured through remote-controlled airplanes. Engaging in this hobby not only allows him to unwind but also fulfils his love for aviation, providing a perfect outlet away from work.
