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Our team

Our leadership team forms the cornerstone of Vela’s continued success and ambitious growth. Meet the individuals driving our vision forward, alongside our dedicated board members, as they work to shape the future of subsea cable infrastructure with innovation, expertise, and strategic insight.

Mike Hollands

“Our mission at Vela is to own and operate a platform of cable landing stations that drive both operational excellence and commercial success for the subsea cable systems we serve.”

Mike Hollands, CEO of Vela Infrastructure

Management

Vela’s management team has deep expertise in enabling subsea cable development and building and operating interconnection-focused facilities.

  • Mike Hollands

    Mike Hollands

    Chief Executive Officer

    Prior to his appointment as CEO of Vela, Mike was part of the Investments and Acquisitions team at Digital Realty (DLR), with responsibility for New Market Development and a focus on DLR’s expansions in the Mediterranean, Africa, and India. With over 25 years’ experience in the communications sector, Mike has also held positions at Interxion, Colt Technology Services, Cable & Wireless and Mercury Communications. Mike received his BSc in Business Studies from Bayes Business School in London with a specialization in Marketing.

  • Andrej Knir

    Andrej Knir

    Chief Financial Officer

    Prior to joining Vela, Andrej held senior finance leadership roles at Interxion, where he was Head of FP&A and Treasury, and at EscherCloud, where he served as CFO. With over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, Andrej has also worked with AtlasEdge, Royal Reesink B.V., and in various consulting capacities, focusing on investment assessment, financial planning, and treasury operations. Andrej holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the Prague University of Economics and Business and is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

  • Bertus Rouwenhorst

    Bertus Rouwenhorst

    EVP Design

    Prior to joining Vela, Bertus served as of Senior Design Manager at NTT Global Data Centers EMEA, where he led multi-disciplinary design processes and implemented cost-saving initiatives. He also held the role of Engineering Manager at Interxion/Digital Realty, where he successfully managed the development of over 30 data center and cable landing station projects across 14 countries. With over 20 years of experience in designing and delivering high-value data center projects throughout Europe and Africa, Bertus has specialized expertise in new market entry, technical due diligence, and driving operational excellence. Holding a strong foundation in electrical engineering, he earned a Master’s degree in Maintenance Engineering Technology from Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and is a Certified Data Centre Design Professional (CDCDP).

Board of Directors

Vela’s board of directors provides strategic oversight and guidance, leveraging decades of experience in digital infrastructure to support the company’s vision and long-term growth.

  • Patrick Hendy

    Patrick Hendy

    Partner

  • Jim Fleming

    Jim Fleming

    Partner

  • Greg Wright

    Greg Wright

    CIO

  • Andrew Alves

    Andrew Alves

    VP Investments

  • Kevin Dean

    Kevin Dean

    Interim CEO

  • Bill Cook

    Bill Cook

    Advisor