Kent, a global leader in engineering services, announces the acquisition of Sudlows Consulting, a leading design and engineering firm specialising in data centres. This marks Kent’s strategic entry into the high-growth international data centre engineering market and strengthens its commitment to sector diversification and sustainability.
Headquartered in Dubai with offices in India, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa, Sudlows Consulting is renowned for its expertise in the nascent yet fast-growing data centre markets of these regions. Since its establishment in 2014, the firm has successfully delivered over 100 data centre projects across 20 countries.
The global data centre sector has experienced extraordinary growth, with a 16% CAGR between 2017 and 2024, and forecasts indicating an 11% CAGR from 2024 to 2028. This surge is fuelled by global megatrends such as increasing data usage, cloud adoption, the rise of Artificial Intelligence, and data sovereignty regulations mandating local data hosting. These trends present a non-cyclical growth opportunity expected to span decades.
Together, the two organisations aim to drive transformative change in the sector by advancing lower-carbon production methods, aligning with Kent’s broader sustainability commitments.
“Our acquisition of Sudlows Consulting is more than just a business opportunity—it’s a strategic leap into a sector primed for long-term growth,” said John Gilley, CEO of Kent. “We’re excited to partner with a team that not only shares our vision for innovation and sustainability but also brings a proven track record in delivering world-class data centre projects. Together, we will shape the future of data centre engineering while advancing global security and reducing environmental impact.”
John Rippingale, CEO of Sudlows Consulting, said, “Joining forces with Kent is a significant milestone for Sudlows Consulting. This collaboration not only validates our achievements over the past decade but also amplifies our capacity to deliver cutting-edge data centre solutions on a global scale. We are excited about the synergies this partnership brings and look forward to a future of shared success.”
