BCS Consultancy appoints Chris Coward as new COO

BCS Consultancy has named long-standing executive Chris Coward as Chief Operating Officer, in a move that signals a new phase of international expansion for the data centre advisory firm amid rising AI-related demand.

Coward steps into the role after more than eight years at the company. He previously helped guide BCS from a small UK-focused start-up into a multi-region consultancy with operations across Europe and the Middle East.

His appointment follows the planned departure of co-founder Scott Shearer from the leadership team after a decade of growth. The change comes as the business places greater emphasis on operational maturity, digital tools and consistent delivery across markets.

BCS, headquartered in London, advises on the planning, delivery and operation of data centres and other critical digital infrastructure. The company positions itself as a specialist across the full lifecycle of projects, from early-stage strategy to ongoing optimisation.

Leadership transition

Coward joined BCS in 2017 as one of its first employees. Since then he has worked closely with co-founders James Hart and Shearer as the firm scaled beyond its domestic base.

BCS now employs more than 165 specialists across five offices in London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Vienna and Milan. The consultancy has supported over 300 projects and advised on more than £20 billion of data centre investment, and reports annual revenue above £22 million.

The new COO has been central to building the company's project management operations during this period of growth. He has also led development of its people and talent programmes, including the creation of an apprenticeship scheme aimed at widening entry routes into the data centre sector.

BCS links this initiative with industry concerns over a shortage of skilled workers in design, construction and operation of digital infrastructure. The company says the programme also builds long-term capability within its own ranks.

Announcing his appointment, Coward highlighted the influence of the founding team on the company's culture.

"I've had the privilege of working closely with James and Scott for much of my career, and want to thank them both for their leadership and trust, which have shaped both my journey and the culture of BCS," said Chris Coward, Chief Operating Officer, BCS Consultancy. "As BCS becomes an increasingly global business, my primary focus is to ensure we have the right operational structure, technology and support in place to deliver consistently for our clients, while staying true to the ethos that makes BCS different - a people-first, human-led business, backed by deep, technical, data centre expertise."

AI demand and strain

The leadership change comes as demand for data centre capacity increases in line with growing use of artificial intelligence and other data-intensive applications. BCS publishes a quarterly Data Centre Commercial Report that tracks sentiment and trends among sector professionals.

According to the latest edition, 92% of surveyed professionals expect data centre demand to grow through 2026. Respondents identify AI as a major driver of this outlook.

The same report indicates that 85% of facilities remain unprepared for AI adoption. Only 14% of sites in the survey say they can deliver AI at scale.

BCS notes that the industry faces several structural challenges at the same time. These include persistent skills shortages, power constraints in key markets, supply chain disruptions and pressure to design and operate more energy-efficient and resilient infrastructure.

The company says these combined factors place greater weight on operational leadership and planning. It also says investors and operators place closer scrutiny on project execution and long-term performance.

Operational focus

In his new post, Coward will concentrate on strengthening internal systems as BCS grows, and on the firm's use of digital tools and data. The consultancy says it wants consistent service delivery standards across geographies while maintaining its stated emphasis on human-led engagement with clients.

BCS describes its work as spanning project management, cost management and strategic advisory services. It works on new builds, expansions, upgrades and decarbonisation projects for data centre operators and other organisations that run mission-critical infrastructure.

The company expects AI adoption and digital transformation projects to support continued expansion of its addressable market. It also points to the need for upgrades at many existing facilities that are not yet suited to high-density, AI-focused workloads.

Under Coward's operational leadership, BCS plans to embed more structured processes across its regions while it continues to expand internationally. The firm says it aims to align operational discipline with its work on sustainability and long-term value for clients as the next wave of digital infrastructure projects moves ahead.