Paul Hood appointed COO of AVK to lead expansion in innovative power solutions

AVK, the leading supplier of innovative power solutions for data centres in the UK and Europe, has announced the appointment of Paul Hood as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Renowned for his engineering expertise, Paul brings extensive leadership experience to the role, having been Managing Director and COO of Yondr Group, a key player in the data centre industry.

Paul Hood's career spans significant roles, including Global Operations Director at Pure Data Centres Group and engineering positions at Barclays and JP Morgan. At JP Morgan, Paul was responsible for managing data centre infrastructure across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, overseeing a substantial $90,000,000 operating budget.

His focus has historically been on systems and control engineering, later expanding into the comprehensive management of building electrical systems. Paul's core strengths include sound judgement, common sense, and initiative, ensuring his success in the high-demand data centre sector.

Alongside his engineering management skills, Paul has advised on environmental, health, and safety inspections and fire prevention strategies. Furthermore, he co-founded the Universal Technical College (UTC), supporting STEM education for young people aged 14-19 in the UK.

“I am genuinely excited about Paul joining our team,” says AVK CEO Ben Pritchard. “He has a superb engineering brain, he is a very logical thinker and he has a real passion for working hard. Essentially, he believes in what he does. Paul doesn’t just bring vast global experience to AVK, he is a leader who has done it all. With Paul on board, AVK is going to be well placed to play a frontrunning role in the critical infrastructure power space in the UK and Europe.”

Paul adds: “I have a reputation for bringing the whole ‘boots to boardroom’ element of being a COO; I’ve worked as an engineer and I want to be an enabler for our engineers and take their viewpoint to the board. I’m also known for investing in people, getting decisions done and getting things over the line and I’m truly excited about my forthcoming journey at AVK.”

Paul's appointment marks a strategic time for AVK, with plans to enhance its integrated power solutions. His role will involve advancing AVK's Service & Maintenance operations, reinforcing client partnerships, and expanding the company's power chain capabilities. AVK aims to provide seamless end-to-end experiences, solidifying its position as a leader in energy solutions within the data centre market.

Under Paul's guidance, AVK will strengthen its offerings, from microgrids to modular energy solutions, setting a new standard in the industry. His leadership will be instrumental in elevating AVK’s influential market position, ensuring it remains at the cutting edge of power solutions for data centres.