JLL strengthens EMEA Data Centre leadership to drive client growth and market expansion

• Paul Foreman joins as Director of Transactions, EMEA Data Centres
• New appointment to lead transactions business, strengthening position across EMEA Data Centre platform
• Foreman brings 25+ years of experience from senior roles at CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, and CyrusOne

LONDON, 14, September, 2026 – JLL has appointed Paul Foreman as Director of Transactions, EMEA Data Centres, to lead the firm's transactions business and help drive the continued growth and development of the firm’s EMEA Data Centres platform, with particular focus on transactions leadership, client relationships, market intelligence and the integration of JLL’s wider capabilities.

In his role, Foreman will lead the transactions team and work to strengthen its integration with JLL's wider data centre capabilities. His focus will be on enhancing the firm's transactions approach and helping data centre operators and clients understand how JLL's integrated platform can support them throughout the asset lifecycle. He will work to position JLL's coordinated service offering across Transactions, Project and Development Services, Facilities Management, and Consulting to deliver greater value for clients, helping them understand the full value of the firm’s services to leverage them more strategically throughout the asset lifecycle.

Foreman brings more than 25 years of real estate experience spanning tenant representation, transaction management, and global sales operations, combined with hands-on operator expertise that provides a distinctive perspective in the advisory space. He previously held senior leadership roles at CBRE, where his extensive brokerage background led to him overseeing EMEA Transaction Management, and at Cushman & Wakefield, where he drove regional investor and occupier growth initiatives. Most recently, at CyrusOne, he worked across asset management, transactions and commercial operations within the company’s European portfolio, giving him direct insight into the priorities and challenges facing data centre operators.

"We are very delighted to welcome Paul to our leadership team at such a pivotal moment for the EMEA data centre market," said Assad Noori, Executive Director, EMEA Head of Data Centres. "His deep transactional expertise, combined with his proven ability to build client relationships and drive commercial performance, positions him perfectly to lead our transactions business as we help clients secure capacity in an increasingly competitive landscape."

He added: "Paul's experience spans the critical areas where our clients need the most sophisticated guidance – from site selection and lease negotiations to market intelligence and strategic advisory. His leadership transactions capability will be instrumental in delivering the differentiated solutions our clients require."

The appointment comes as JLL's EMEA Mid-Year Data Centre Report 2026 identified record growth across the region, with FLAP-D markets on track to deliver approximately 453 MW in 2026 –roughly tripling 2020 volumes – while live capacity reached 3.8 GW. The research highlights a fundamental market shift, with specialist capital now driving 58% of acquisitions and 86% of recent volume coming from cross-border transactions, as new entrants increasingly scale through platform trades rather than single-asset deals. With greenfield sites rising from 8% to 39% of the 2026–28 pipeline and hyperscale developments now averaging 175 km from traditional hub cities – up from 46 km – the sector is experiencing its most significant geographic transformation in a decade, driven by AI-scale power requirements and grid constraints in established markets.

"I'm incredibly excited to be joining JLL at such a dynamic time for the EMEA data centre market," said Foreman. "The sector is evolving rapidly, and clients are navigating unprecedented complexity around capacity, power, sustainability, and AI-driven demand. What makes JLL uniquely positioned is our ability to deliver true lifecycle intelligence – bringing together transactions, project delivery, facilities management, and consulting in a coordinated way that adds measurable value at every stage."

He added: "Leading the transactions team, my focus is on strengthening our market position and making it easier for clients to access JLL as an integrated platform rather than a collection of individual services. As client requirements become more complex, there is a real opportunity to enhance our transactions capability and work alongside our specialist teams to support better infrastructure decisions."

Reporting to Assad Noori, Head of Data Centres, Work Dynamics EMEA, Foreman will primarily work based across the firm’s London offices.

1. What will Paul Foreman be responsible for in his new role at JLL?
 

Foreman will lead JLL's transactions business across EMEA Data Centres, focusing on strengthening client relationships, market positioning, and the integration of transactions with JLL's broader data centre platform. His primary focus is leading the transactions team and working to enhance how clients can leverage JLL's full spectrum of capabilities – connecting Transactions, Project and Development Services, Facilities Management, and Consulting to deliver coordinated lifecycle solutions.

2. What experience does Paul Foreman bring to this position?
 

Foreman brings over 25 years of real estate expertise spanning tenant representation, transaction management, and global sales operations, combined with direct operator experience. He previously ran EMEA Transaction Management at CBRE and held further senior Client Management and Sales Enablement roles at Cushman & Wakefield, and most recently deployed lease administration and asset management frameworks across Cyrus One's European portfolio.

3. Why is JLL making this appointment now?
 

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the EMEA data centre market, which is experiencing record growth with FLAP-D markets on track to deliver approximately 453 MW in 2026 – roughly tripling 2020 volumes. As the sector undergoes its most significant geographic transformation in a decade, driven by AI-scale power requirements and grid constraints, clients require more sophisticated guidance across site selection, lease negotiations, and strategic advisory.

4. How does this role differ from traditional data centre advisory positions?
 

Rather than focusing solely on transactions, Foreman's role is designed to connect JLL's full spectrum of capabilities – acting as "the glue" that ensures clients receive integrated solutions across the entire asset lifecycle. This approach recognizes that many data centre operators are still maturing in their procurement strategies and need coordinated guidance that spans transactions, project delivery, facilities management, and consulting.

5. Where will Paul Foreman be based?
 

Foreman will be based primarily across JLL's London offices and will report to Assad Noori, Head of Data Centres, Work Dynamics EMEA.

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