Managing Director

Managing Director – Data Centre Cooling

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Sector: Data Centre Cooling / Mission-Critical HVAC

Reporting to: International Headquarters

Employment type: Full-time

Aire Search is supporting a global market leader in data centre cooling and mission-critical HVAC solutions with the appointment of a Managing Director for its South African operations.

This is a rare opportunity for an ambitious senior leader to take full ownership of a growing market and build a high-performing business across South Africa and the wider African region.

The Opportunity

As Managing Director, you will lead the company’s South African activities, with responsibility for developing the Johannesburg operation into a recognised centre of excellence for data centre cooling and mission-critical HVAC.

You will have significant autonomy and will act as the key senior representative of the organisation in the market, working closely with the international headquarters.

This role would suit an experienced second-in-command —such as a Sales Director, Technical Director, Head of Engineering, Deputy Managing Director or similar—who is ready to take the next step into full general management responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full operational, commercial and P&L responsibility for the South African business.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams across sales, engineering, projects, service and operations.
• Build and execute the local market strategy in alignment with the organisation’s global objectives.
• Develop the existing operation into a scalable, market-leading business.
• Identify and secure high-value projects with data centre operators, hyperscalers, EPC contractors, consultants and other key stakeholders.
• Strengthen the organisation’s position within the South African and wider African mission-critical cooling market.
• Develop long-term relationships with customers, partners, suppliers and industry stakeholders.
• Oversee sales activities, project delivery and service operations.
• Monitor financial and operational performance, ensuring strong commercial discipline.
• Drive process improvement, transformation initiatives and a culture of accountability and collaboration.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, safety and sustainability requirements.
• Represent the organisation at senior level across the data centre, construction, infrastructure and HVAC sectors.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in general management, country management or senior operational leadership.
• A strong track record of leading multidisciplinary teams and managing a profit centre or P&L.
• Significant experience within data centre cooling, mission-critical HVAC, precision air conditioning or a closely related technical sector.
• Strong knowledge of the South African data centre, telecommunications, technical infrastructure or critical facilities market.
• An established network among data centre operators, hyperscalers, EPC contractors, consultants, MEP contractors and other relevant decision-makers.
• Demonstrable experience in business development, strategic sales and complex project environments.
• The commercial and operational capability to manage the full business cycle, from market development through to project execution and after-sales service.
• An entrepreneurial, hands-on approach, combined with the maturity to operate at executive level.
• The ability to lead change, structure a growing organisation and create a high-performance culture.
• A background in engineering, business administration or a related discipline.
• Fluency in English.
• Based in Johannesburg, or willing to relocate to the Johannesburg metropolitan area.

Why Join?

• The opportunity to step directly from a senior number-two position into a Managing Director role.
• Full ownership of the South African business and the opportunity to shape its future direction.
• The backing, technology, resources and stability of an established international market leader.
• The opportunity to build a high-profile business in one of the fastest-developing areas of the African infrastructure market.
• Direct exposure to major data centre, infrastructure and mission-critical projects.
• A senior executive remuneration package, including performance-related incentives linked to business growth and success.

If you are an ambitious senior leader in the data centre cooling or mission-critical HVAC sector and are ready to take full ownership of a market, we would be keen to hear from you.