Introducing Yassine Rifai as Director of Data Centres at JLL
Yassine Rifai has recently joined JLL in a newly established position as Director of Data Centres for France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, operating within the EMEA Project & Development Services division. This strategic move aims to propel JLL’s growth in the sector and enhance its presence in key European markets by bolstering the firm’s senior project management capabilities.
Bringing almost two decades of experience in real estate, engineering, and data centres, Rifai is poised to offer clients strategic guidance and oversee the successful delivery of crucial projects within his designated regions. His expertise will be instrumental in navigating French bureaucratic processes and local urban planning regulations throughout the project lifecycle. Based in Paris, Rifai will be reporting to Maxime Michaux, Head of Engineering, France.
Jonathan Kinsey, EMEA Lead and Global Chair of Data Centre Solutions at JLL, expressed enthusiasm about Rifai’s appointment, stating, “His addition to our team brings invaluable expertise that will support our expansion in French-speaking markets amidst the sector’s upward trajectory.”
Insights into the Data Centre Market
JLL’s analysis reveals a significant uptick in data centre demand across the EMEA region, with 742MW of hyperscale self-build projects currently in progress and an additional 2,661MW in the pipeline. This momentum suggests that the EMEA market is on track to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% through 2027, surpassing the projected global growth rate of 15%.
Rifai, a graduate of the esteemed Skema Business School in France, has held various engineering and project management positions in Morocco, the Middle East, and France, with a specialization in data centres. Prior to joining JLL, he served as the Data Centre Project Director at Turner & Townsend in Paris.
Driving Growth in the French Market
France remains a pivotal European market, presenting unique challenges related to regulatory hurdles and land availability. Kinsey highlighted Rifai’s tailored skill set as a crucial asset in establishing a dedicated local hub of expertise to aid clients in navigating these challenges and adapting to the evolving sector landscape. Rifai’s comprehensive understanding of the local construction market and track record of delivering large-scale projects in the region position him as a valuable addition to the JLL team.
