UniCloud Africa Limited has appointed Krishnan Ranganath as its new Chief Executive Officer, as the company expands its cloud infrastructure across the continent amid growing demand for local data control.
The pan-African cloud company said the leadership change comes as it launches enterprise-grade sovereign cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in six countries: Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Zambia, Senegal and Mozambique.
Ranganath, a former West Africa executive at Africa Data Centre, takes over at a time when African governments and businesses are pushing for greater control over their data, driven by concerns over latency, regulation and reliance on offshore cloud providers.
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“UniCloud is at the heart of Africa’s cloud development,” Ranganath said. He said the company plans to deploy fully sovereign infrastructure across the continent and form partnerships to support growth.
The company operates under a 'One Cloud, One Africa' strategy, providing services designed to keep data within national borders while meeting local regulatory requirements. This approach is gaining momentum as countries tighten rules on data protection and digital sovereignty.
UniCloud said its infrastructure is designed to provide a scalable alternative to foreign cloud providers, which often host African data in Europe or other regions, causing delays and compliance challenges.
The move positions UniCloud to compete in a rapidly growing market, where demand for cloud services is increasing due to digital adoption, fintech growth and government digitalization efforts.
Ranganath said the company will also deploy graphics processing units (GPUs) in selected markets to support artificial intelligence workloads, reflecting the growing importance of AI infrastructure in Africa's digital economy.
However, he acknowledged challenges including high energy costs, limited infrastructure in some areas, and the complexity of integrating AI systems.
“While the challenges are significant, the opportunities are greater,” he said.
UniCloud plans to expand into additional markets including Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia and Côte d'Ivoire as part of its continental growth strategy.
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Outgoing CEO Ladi Okunye, who will remain on the board, said Ranganath's experience in building digital infrastructure across Africa makes him well suited to lead the company's next phase.
The appointment comes at a time when competition in Africa's cloud market is intensifying, with global hyperscalers and regional data center operators increasing investment in local infrastructure.
As more African countries look to maintain control over their digital assets, companies like UniCloud are betting that demand for sovereign cloud solutions will continue to grow.
