JLL strengthens Data Center leadership with two strategic moves

CHICAGO, May 1, 2026 - JLL announced today that its Data Center and Critical Environments practice has hired Brandon Keesee as Managing Director of Hyperscale and Colocation Data Centers and promoted Michael Martin to be Managing Director of Data Center Operations. These strategic moves reinforce JLL's commitment to delivering exceptional service in one of commercial real estate's most dynamic and rapidly growing sectors.

JLL's Data Center and Critical Environments practice helps organizations optimize their real estate and facilities management (FM) strategies to support their objectives. In their new roles, Keesee will be responsible for driving growth strategies, fostering strong client relationships and leading teams to deliver FM solutions across JLL's Data Center platform, while Martin will provide executive leadership for data center operations across colocation, enterprise and hyperscale portfolios, with accountability for operational culture and performance focused on safety, security and reliability.

"Brandon and Michael represent the caliber of leadership required to navigate the extraordinary growth and complexities facing the data center industry," said Matt Landek, Global Division President, Data Centers and Critical Environments at JLL. "They are both Navy veterans who exemplify the discipline, strategic thinking and operational excellence sharpened through years of service in mission-critical environments. Brandon's proven track record in developing facility management solutions and Michael's deep expertise in hyperscale environments position JLL to deliver unmatched service quality and leadership as the sector continues its remarkable expansion."

Keesee, who holds a Certified Facility Manager (CFM) designation and is an Uptime Institute Accredited Data Center Tier Specialist, brings with him over 20 years of success in FM, data center operations and construction leadership. He most recently served as the Data Center Operations Leader at Apple, where he provided global leadership for multi-site operations. Prior to that, he held senior leadership positions at BGIS and Aligned Energy, where he managed portfolios comprising hundreds of millions of square feet and led large teams of highly skilled operations professionals. His career also includes distinguished service in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS SEAWOLF (SSN 21), a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine.

Martin has 40 years of leadership experience in mission-critical, 24/7 operating environments. He joined JLL in 2025 and led the deployment and operational standup of a client's gigawatt campus, which required rapidly developing a talent pipeline in remote markets and establishing third-party service partnerships to support data center operations. Prior to JLL, he served as Senior Director at Microsoft, where he was responsible for operations across nearly two dozen owned and leased data center sites and leading sizeable teams in a rapidly scaling metro. Martin served in the United States Navy's Submarine Force, advancing from enlisted Nuclear Machinist Mate to Navy Captain and commanded the USS SAN JUAN (SSN 751), a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine.

These appointments come at a critical time for the data center industry. According to JLL's 2026 Global Data Center Outlook, the sector is projected to expand at a 14% CAGR globally through 2030, adding nearly 100 GW of new capacity and effectively doubling in size over a five-year period. This rapid expansion creates significant operational challenges, including the need for innovative energy solutions to ease grid constraints, advanced cooling technologies to support AI workloads and sophisticated FM strategies for more efficient facility usage.

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