Nordic data center company DigiPlex will have a new CEO starting on March 1, 2020.

Wiljar Nesse will succeed Gisle M. Eckhoff, who will remain as an advisor to the Board. Nesse previously worked as EVP of financial services at IT software and service company TietoEVRY, a DigiPlex customer.

New year, new job

Wiljar Nesse
Wiljar Nesse – DigiPlex

Nesse has held senior roles at chemical company Elkem, financial information firm Dow Jones, and as CEO and part-owner of financial advisory Manamind AS.

“I am delighted and honored to be appointed CEO of DigiPlex and join a company at the forefront of the booming Nordic data center industry," Nesse said. "I am really looking forward to joining the DigiPlex team and work together with new colleagues and customers to take advantage of the market opportunities ahead."

Outgoing CEO Eckhoff added: “I would like to thank the DigiPlex family, as well as our customers and partners for five fantastic years as CEO. With the momentum achieved over the past few years, the timing is right to place DigiPlex in the hands of new leadership supported by the great team in place.

"I look forward to being able to spend more time with my two young children and continue to support DigiPlex’s growth journey in my new role as advisor to the board."

Under Eckhoff, DigiPlex has grown across the Nordic region, opening or expanding data centers in Oslo, Stockholm, and Fetsund, among others. In 2018, the company entered the Danish market with the acquisition of a Telia data center in central Copenhagen. Major customers for the renewably-powered company include Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.

But the company has faced some setbacks, most notably in 2018 when a gas-based fire suppression was accidentally triggered at its data center in Väsby. This caused connectivity issues, taking down the Nasdaq Nordic stock exchange for several hours.

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