New COO Chris Coward to lead BCS Consultancy growth

BCS Consultancy has announced Chris Coward as its new Chief Operating Officer, taking on a leadership role in the global data centre consultancy. This transition represents a development in the company’s strategic leadership and long-term growth objectives.

The shift follows the departure of Scott Shearer, a co-founder of BCS, after a decade of growth and customer-focused service. Chris Coward steps into his new role, aiming to provide consultancy and value to clients across the entire data centre lifecycle.

Chris joined BCS in 2017 as one of the early employees and has supported the company’s expansion from a UK consultancy to an international business with more than 165 specialists in five offices worldwide. Under his influence, BCS has supported 300+ projects and advised on over £20bn of investment, generating annual revenue of more than £22m.

During his tenure, Coward worked on BCS’s project management capabilities and the company’s expansion from a startup to a multi-regional organisation. He helped establish BCS's apprenticeship programme, aiming to tackle the sector’s skills shortage while enhancing the company’s long-term capabilities.

As BCS ventures into its next phase of expansion, focusing on operational maturity and lasting value, Chris will play an important role. His strategy includes strengthening operational foundations and heightening digital adoption, while maintaining BCS's defining characteristic: a human-led, client-centric approach.

Chris Coward remarked on his recent appointment, expressing gratitude for the mentorship of James Hart and Scott Shearer. His ambition is to ensure that BCS's global operations possess the right structures and technological support necessary to deliver consistent service.

BCS continues to support demanding digital initiatives, delivering support throughout the lifecycle of essential systems. Their recent Q4 Data Centre Commercial Report shows ongoing demand for data centre capacity, with projected growth through 2026, although few facilities are prepared for AI integration.

The field faces multiple challenges, including skill shortages, power restrictions, and resilient infrastructure demand. In response, Chris says he is concentrating on reinforcing BCS’s operational base, enhancing digital preparedness, and aligning with the company's distinctive people-first philosophy.

This leadership transition occurs as BCS continues to grow, highlighting the firm’s emphasis on operational efficiency and sustainability in digital infrastructure.