Thabang Innocent Motapane
Data Center Manager
Johannesburg,Gauteng
Summary
As Data Centre Operations and Facilities manager, I form part of a dedicated, data centre and emissions reduction team who are responsible to implement a clear data centre operating and governance model within MTN to create portfolio visibility, enable greater efficiency and optimize the data centre asset portfolio across 19 markets in Africa. Extensive experience on overseeing data centre operations, physical security, facility management, hardware/equipment maintenance and supervision of facility personnel. Possessing excellent client facing skills, natural problem solving and analytical skills and able to contribute to the development of best data centre practice, procedures and policies within a company. I am passionate about Critical Infrastructure Management.
Talented Manager with expert team leadership, planning, and organizational skills built during successful career. Smoothly equip employees to independently handle daily functions and meet customer needs. Diligent trainer and mentor with exceptional management abilities and results-driven approach.
Insightful Manager with experience directing and improving operations through effective employee motivational strategies and strong policy enforcement. Proficient in best practices, market trends and regulatory requirements of industry operations. Talented leader with analytical approach to business planning and day-to-day problem-solving.
Offering blend of leadership qualities and strong desire to learn and grow within management environment. Delivers insights into strategic planning and operational procedures, coupled with excellent communication and organizational skills. Ready to use and develop these skills in Data Center senior manager role.
Results-driven management professional with proven ability to lead teams to success. Strong focus on team collaboration, operational efficiency, and achieving measurable outcomes. Adept at strategic planning, process improvement, and fostering culture of accountability and excellence. Known for adaptability and consistently meeting changing organizational needs.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
year of post-secondary education
Work History
Manager: Data Centre Operations and Facilities
MTN Group
Johannesburg
01.2023 - Current
- Establish and maintain a live, unified view of the MTN data (and switching) centre portfolio and other relevant infrastructure inventory
- Track implementation and execution of asset category technology RFP's, build projects and due Diligence
- Track sustainable technology change across the Data center portfolio to further aid MTN in the achievement of parallel climate sustainability and ensure readiness to support innovative technologies
- Define and implement DC operating and governance model between Group and markets/ 3rd party and business unit
- Create of DC operational policy on target efficiency, utilization levels, ideal state architecture, risks etc
- Track DC and infrastructure portfolio performance and drive improvement of portfolio PUE across 19 markets in Africa
- Carryout business continuity and energy efficiency processes and ensure operational integrity
- Monitor and support execution of remaining DC asset optimization plan across Group
- Govern and detail DC CAPEX budget, DC ROIC and review all DC business cases for greenfield Sites
- Manage all 3rd party partnerships and drive new partnership discussions, identifying opportunities to optimize the data centre asset portfolio through acquisitions, disposals and partnerships
- Drive operational evolution to reduce cost of ownership and improve performance according to business needs
- Drive execution of the data centre certification plan and disaster recovery plan according to business needs
Data Centre Operational Specialist
SASOL PTY
Johannesburg
01.2016 - 01.2022
- Risk and capacity management within data centre physical infrastructure for 10 facilities within SOUTH Africa and Mozambique
- Team, vendor and contract/SLA management
- Procurement: Prepare RFPs, bid proposals, contracts, scope of work reports, and other documentation for data center projects and associated efforts
- Data Centre Facilities infrastructure management
- Data Centre Network management
- Server, Storage and Backup Management
- SHE REP
- Projects completed: Temane server room Refresh (Mozambique), Overhaul Secunda Data Center's (HVAC, Fire Suppression, Static UPS Replacements), Installation of server room monitoring system, Commvault backup migration project
Data Centre Manager
South African Reserve Bank (SARB)
Pretoria
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Policies and Procedures: Development and implementation of detailed operational procedures required to run data centre operations in the mission critical environment
- Physical security management, ensure correct rack level security
- Risk management within data centre physical infrastructure
- Capacity management on all Network Critical Physical Infrastructure
- Vendor management/contract management
- BCP assistant coordinator
- Completed Projects: Implemented true A + B configuration on data center's power reticulation, Infrastructure hardware refresh (server, network and storage), Designed Tier 3 head office data Centre and prepared migration plan
Data Centre Specialist
First National Bank (FNB)
Johannesburg
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Cabling/Rack management to ensure the cabling and rack management standards are adhered too
- Capacity Planning
- Produce rack level Floor plans and documentation, including power and NW line diagrams
- Equipment installation
- Install client equipment/Racks in accordance with manufacture's standards
- Enforce change control procedures within the DC
- Data centre budget management
- Client billing
- Ensure the correct client billing mechanisms are in place
- Verify integrity of client invoices
- Reporting
- Produce SLA reports, capacity planning and variance reports
- Work with other 3rd party suppliers, partners and vendors
- Imparting training to junior staff
- Facility Management
- Projects Completed: Build and implement containment solution for a DR site, Build and commission secondary DC (Gen, UPS, HVAC, Fire suppression), Hardware migration to new data centre, Network room upgrade (switches, trays, power and cabling), DCIM Implementation (StruxureWare)
Data Centre Technician
Telkom SA
Pretoria
01.2002 - 01.2011
- Data Center's rack and floor management (12OO m²)
- Hardware and power installation
- Capacity planning for Power, HVAC and floor space allocation
- Draw and update floor plan using AutoCAD software
- Network and cabling
- Data Centre physical security
- Facility management
- Projects Completed: UPS Upgrade (implementing ring design configuration), Audit DR site and designing floor layout, Implementation of Telkom Mobile hardware
Education
National Diploma: Electrical Engineering - Electrical Engineering
Witwatersrand Technikon
Johannesburg 06.2003 - 07.2003
Management Development Programme - Management Development Programme
Stellenbosch University Business School
Pretoria 11.2008 - 11.2008
Some College (No Degree) - Data Center Cerfiticate
EXIN-EPI
Johannesburg 03.2012 - 03.2012
Associate of Science - Quality
University of Johannesburg
Johannesburg 01.2014 - 07.2014
DC University Associate Development Path -
Energy University
Online Course 01.2015 - 02.2015
ITIL Fundamentals - IT Service Management
Torque IT
Johannesburg 06.2016 - 06.2016
CDFOM - Data Center Cerfiticate
EXIN- EPI
Johannesburg 11.2018 - 11.2018
Energy, Facility managers – Getting started -
Energy University
Online Course 11.2019 - 11.2019
Skills
Education Certification
- ND: Electrical Engineering, Witwatersrand Technikon, 03
- Management Development Programme, Stellenbosch University Business School, 08
- Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP), EXIN-EPI, 12
- Baccalaureus Technologiae (Quality), University of Johannesburg, 14
- DC University Associate Development Path, Energy University, 15
- ITIL Fundamentals, Torque IT, 16
- CDFOM, EXIN- EPI, 18
- Energy, Facility managers – Getting started, Energy University, 19
Timeline
Manager: Data Centre Operations and Facilities
MTN Group
01.2023 - Current
Energy, Facility managers – Getting started -
Energy University
11.2019 - 11.2019
CDFOM - Data Center Cerfiticate
EXIN- EPI
11.2018 - 11.2018
ITIL Fundamentals - IT Service Management
Torque IT
06.2016 - 06.2016
Data Centre Operational Specialist
SASOL PTY
01.2016 - 01.2022
DC University Associate Development Path -
Energy University
01.2015 - 02.2015
Associate of Science - Quality
University of Johannesburg
01.2014 - 07.2014
Data Centre Manager
South African Reserve Bank (SARB)
01.2014 - 01.2016
Some College (No Degree) - Data Center Cerfiticate
EXIN-EPI
03.2012 - 03.2012
Data Centre Specialist
First National Bank (FNB)
01.2011 - 01.2013
Management Development Programme - Management Development Programme
Stellenbosch University Business School
11.2008 - 11.2008
National Diploma: Electrical Engineering - Electrical Engineering
Witwatersrand Technikon
06.2003 - 07.2003
Data Centre Technician
Telkom SA
01.2002 - 01.2011
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