Turner & Townsend names Niralee Shah Asia Pacific lead

Turner & Townsend has appointed Niralee Shah as Data Centre Services Lead for Asia Pacific, based in Singapore.

She will support the growth and delivery of the company's data centre business across the region, working with clients and regional leaders on service delivery, client relationships and programmes in key markets.

The appointment comes as investment in data centres across Asia Pacific continues to rise, driven by demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence and broader digital transformation. Turner & Townsend has more than 1,000 specialists supporting hyperscale and colocation clients across 14 markets in the region.

Regional demand

Asia Pacific has become a major market for data centre development as operators and investors expand capacity to meet rising computing and storage needs. Advisory and programme management firms have also been adding sector specialists as clients seek support on complex builds, supply chains and energy-related issues.

Turner & Townsend is a programme management company with more than 23,000 people in 64 countries, working across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources. The business is majority-owned by CBRE Group, while its partners retain a significant non-controlling interest.

Shah brings more than 15 years of experience in business operations, strategic planning, financial management and client services across Asia Pacific. Her background includes roles with organisations in real estate, technology and professional services, tied to business growth, operations and large infrastructure programmes.

She has worked across markets and cultures in the region and is fluent in English, Japanese and Hindi. Her remit will span Asia Pacific as Turner & Townsend looks to deepen its position in the data centre segment.

Commenting on the appointment, Sumit Mukherjee outlined the company's view of regional market conditions.

"Asia Pacific remains one of the world's most dynamic regions for data centre development, with unprecedented demand for digital infrastructure creating significant opportunities across its markets.

"Niralee's appointment further strengthens our regional team and reinforces our commitment to helping clients successfully deliver critical digital infrastructure programmes, combining our market-leading expertise in data centre delivery, power, transmission and renewables," said Sumit Mukherjee, Managing Director, Head of Real Estate, Asia Pacific, Turner & Townsend.

Growth focus

The hire reflects continued competition among professional services firms to secure work tied to digital infrastructure expansion in Asia Pacific. Data centre projects in the region have drawn interest from property groups, cloud providers, private capital and engineering firms, particularly in markets where demand for capacity is outstripping supply.

Singapore remains a key base for many regional executives in the sector, even as development activity spreads across North Asia, South-East Asia and other fast-growing markets. Companies operating in the space are also dealing with land constraints, grid access, sustainability requirements and construction costs.

Shah said the market backdrop made the move significant for both the company and its clients.

"I'm excited to join Turner & Townsend at a defining moment for the data centre sector. Demand across Asia Pacific is being reshaped by AI, cloud and digital transformation, and clients need partners who can navigate that complexity with confidence. Turner & Townsend has an exceptional platform of expertise and experience, and I see significant opportunity to build on that foundation. I look forward to working with our clients and teams across Asia Pacific to support their ambitions and contribute to the continued growth of the business," said Shah.