Alex Helly Jean Thiran Campus Manager, Sedenak Tech Park
“Malaysia is advancing rapidly as a digital economy, and Johor is becoming an important part of that progress. I wanted to bring home what I had learnt over the years and contribute to an industry that is creating new opportunities for Malaysians,” says Alex.
Scaling up, stepping up
In 2024, Alex marked a new chapter in his life by joining Bridge Data Centres (BDC) where he became a Campus Manager for MY06, the Company’s flagship hyperscale campus in Sedenak Tech Park in Johor, Malaysia.
Alex is today one of Malaysia’s first few globally certified EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Facilities Operations Managers.
The new role significantly expanded the scale of Alex’s responsibilities and strengthened his capabilities as a leader.
As the MY06 campus scaled, it needed round-the-clock operations across multiple mission-critical buildings. Each building is bound by the customer’s strict Service Level Agreements (SLAs), the operational demands and commitments that a data centre must meet, including guaranteed uptime. To meet those demands, Alex’s responsibilities evolved from managing operations directly to leading teams of managers. This required him to build the same discipline into his leadership that the job demands on the ground, in an environment where reliability is non-negotiable.
That discipline is tested daily. Uptime measures how consistently a data centre’s systems stay running without interruption. Alex’s team is held to a 99.999% uptime target, and they have met that mark for four consecutive years. The team monitors systems around the clock, carries out maintenance without disrupting live operations, and responds to the moment any issue appears. Together with his team, Alex ensures seamless continuity for critical data centre operations that thousands of people and businesses across Malaysia depend on daily.
Alex is also among the country’s first EXIN EPI Certified Data Centre Facilities Operations Managers. The certification reflects advanced expertise in managing, maintaining and optimising daily data centre operations, while ensuring high availability, safety compliance, and resource efficiency. It is a standard he brings to MY06 daily, and one that BDC anchors across all its campuses in Malaysia.
Developing the next generation of leaders
Recognising that many new colleagues enter the industry without data centre ecosystem experience, Alex took the initiative to develop a structured training programme to help new joiners adapt and integrate into the critical environment. Modules are delivered by subject-matter experts, including electrical, extra-low voltage, fire and mechanical engineers, enabling employees to deepen their skills and knowledge. The training programme has been adopted across BDC’s Malaysian campuses.
Alex and his BDC Malaysia colleagues at an overseas team building trip.
Alex also equips his managers to take the lead in guiding new hires. Each building manager is responsible for ensuring new joiners successfully complete the training programme and subsequent assessments.
To sustain operational excellence, the programme includes periodic refresher training and assessments to ensure that all team members remain current with evolving technologies and BDC’s high operational standards.
Through such efforts, Alex fosters a culture of knowledge transfer, accountability, and leadership development. Seeing new joiners excel and progress into leadership roles is particularly rewarding for him.
“A strong succession pipeline is essential to future-proofing BDC’s capabilities and supporting the industry’s continued growth. I am proud to see Malaysia standing tall as a leading digital hub. We have the talent and expertise to support world-class data centre operations and meet the needs of global customers and AI demand for the region,” says Alex.
One highlight of Alex’s time at BDC was receiving the Best Trainer Award for developing the new-joiner training modules. The recognition strengthened his commitment to advancing his career with BDC while developing the next generation of talent.
Working in the fast lane
Alex relishes the innovative, challenging, fast-paced environment at BDC.
“My superpower? A combination of Spider-Man and Dr Strange,” he says laughing. “My experience allows me to sense, like Spider-Man, when operations may encounter issues. My ability to anticipate what is needed to resolve an issue comes from recognising patterns and analysing different possibilities, just like Doctor Strange,” he adds.
He explains, “No two days are the same. Even with preventive maintenance and predictive risk analysis, unexpected issues can occur. This is where extensive operational knowledge, together with strict compliance with industry standards, allows us to respond effectively and maintain our operational excellence.”
Alex describes himself as an introvert who becomes an extrovert at work, as his role requires regular discussions with managers and team members. He encourages employees to speak openly about the issues they face, helping them navigate professional and, at times, personal challenges.
He credits BDC with developing his people-management skills by providing an open environment that strengthens internal capabilities and supports career progression for high-performing individuals. His commitment remains steadfast as he works to enable more Malaysians to chart their own paths and build sustainable careers in this fast-growing industry.
“I am grateful for the opportunities at BDC that have accelerated my career growth. More importantly, I am humbled by the opportunity to help develop the next generation of Malaysian talent,” says Alex.
“As a Malaysian, it is exciting to see our country progressing and building the capabilities needed to compete globally. I hope the work we are doing here will help strengthen Malaysia’s position as a leading data centre hub and create meaningful careers for many more Malaysians.”
Working in Johor gives me more time with my family. When we sit down together to watch our favourite shows or use the digital services that are now part of everyday life, I feel proud knowing that the work we do behind the scenes helps make these experiences possible.
“It is meaningful to be part of the digital technology infrastructure quietly supporting Malaysia’s progress and taking our country forward.”