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Meet our data centre project leaders.
Security, resilience, performance.
Our dedicated Hoare Lea Mission Critical and Data Centre team works with hyperscale operators, colocation providers, enterprise and technology clients, infrastructure developers, investors, energy companies and new market entrants across the UK, Europe and internationally.
Our experience spans the full data centre lifecycle—from site appraisal, due diligence and test fits through planning, masterplanning and detailed design to construction support, commissioning and operational upgrades.
Our core MEP team works alongside our in-house skilled professionals from our firm and our parent company Tetra Tech in security, fire engineering, ICT, acoustics, air quality, sustainability, digital engineering and societal insights, with civil, structural and architectural designers and utilities and energy experts completing the wider multidisciplinary team.
Derek Main, covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa
With over 40 years’ experience within the building services and construction industry, Derek leads the mission-critical and data centre sector team covering the EMEA region. He specialises in early client engagement for site or portfolio acquisition, including test fits, strategic optioneering, and conceptual design for various delivery strategies on urban sites or campuses. He has delivered large-scale, complex data centre developments across the UK, Europe and the Middle East, including hyperscale campuses and collocation facilities. Derek brings extensive expertise in single or full multidisciplinary delivery involving various disciplines that could include Civil, Structural and Architectural (CSA), MEP and other data centre supporting disciplines.
Let’s talk DerekMain@hoarelea.com
Chris Goodwin, covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Chris has over 20 years’ design experience, with five in the mission critical sector, specialising in data centre development across the UK and Europe. He leads our London Technical Division and Mission Critical team, bringing together 25 multi-disciplinary engineers to support clients at the earliest and most important stages of a project. His focus is early-stage MEP feasibility, helping clients make informed decisions on site selection, test fits, technical due diligence, concept design, and planning pathways before major investment is committed. Working closely with Tetra Tech and colleagues from our firm, Chris provides a multidisciplinary approach that identifies constraints, unlocks opportunities, and supports resilient, high-value outcomes. He has also contributed to data centre programmes across several European markets as well as India.
Let’s talk ChrisGoodwin@hoarelea.com
Mark Ryder, covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Mark is a Director with over 35 years’ experience who works closely with clients to understand their strategic business needs for delivering mission critical and data centre projects across the UK and EMEA. He specialises in leading design and delivery teams on complex schemes, bringing strong commercial awareness and risk management expertise. Mark has extensive experience across hyperscale and high-performance computing facilities, supporting projects from concept through to delivery.
Let’s talk MarkRyder@hoarelea.com
Dan Compton, covering Southeast UK
Dan is a Project Director with over 25 years’ experience in the building services industry, with a strong foundation in site-based delivery. He leads multidisciplinary teams across complex mission critical and data centre projects, including large-scale campus developments. Dan brings a practical, delivery-focused approach, combining technical expertise with hands-on experience to ensure efficient, buildable solutions across all project stages.
Let’s talk DanielCompton@hoarelea.com
Steve Bonser, covering Southwest UK
Steve is a Director with 30 years’ experience delivering complex, technology-led projects. Steve has been with the business for over 25 years and is a Chartered Electrical Engineer. His background in electrical contracting allows him to design resilient schemes that can both be readily deployed and maintained in operation.
He leads multi-disciplinary teams to deliver large-scale, multi-megawatt masterplan developments, including one of Europe’s largest data centre campuses, bringing a focus on efficient, technically robust solutions aligned with demanding operational requirements.
Let’s talk SteveBonser@hoarelea.com
Justin Tan, covering Central UK
With over 20 years of experience at Hoare Lea, Justin has worked across a diverse range of sectors and played a pivotal role in establishing the firm’s Cambridge office, where he is based.
Justin’s mission-critical expertise spans the financial, science and research and data centre sectors, including expert witness engagements. His project portfolio includes enterprise and colocation environments across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, encompassing new builds, upgrades, and replacements across the full project lifecycle – from due diligence through to delivery and completion.
Recognised for building strong client relationships and leading multidisciplinary teams on technically complex schemes, Justin brings particular expertise in live environment upgrades and large-scale, high-performance infrastructure. He takes a proactive approach to identifying opportunities and managing risk, consistently delivering high-quality outcomes for his clients.
Let’s talk JustinTan@hoarelea.com
Oliver Rose, covering Northern UK
Oliver is a Director with over 13 years’ experience delivering data centre projects across the UK and Europe. A Chartered Electrical Engineer, he specialises in leading complex programmes, with particular expertise in power infrastructure upgrades within live environments. Oliver combines technical leadership with strong delivery focus, ensuring projects are efficiently coordinated and executed across all stages for major data centre and mission critical clients.
Let’s talk OliverRose@hoarelea.com