Advanced IT cooling systems specialist Trox AITCS has made an additional appointment to its senior leadership team to build on rapid international expansion.

German-born Joachim Backes joins Trox AITCS as Managing Director. He is supported by Guy Hutchins, who continues in his role of Chief Operating officer.

Mr Backes, an Economics graduate with an MBA, brings to the company extensive commercial experience gained in international sales and marketing roles. He has worked for 16 years for the lighting and controls specialists Zumtobel Group, headquartered in Austria. For the last four years he was the Head of International Key Account Management for the Thorn brand based in the UK.

In his new role, Mr Backes will be based in the UK with an international remit for commercial development of the company’s range of mission critical cooling systems worldwide. He will have responsibility for the strategic direction of Trox AITCS, determining product development approaches and targeting resources, in collaboration with an experienced team already in place.

Trox AITCS has seen a steep increase in demand for its suite of IT cooling systems in recent years, driven by rapid increases in processing capability of servers and the corresponding increases in demand for adequate cooling solutions.

Mr Backes said: “Major clients for advanced IT cooling systems are predominantly multi-national businesses because effective cooling is crucial to maintain their critical IT infrastructures. When these clients look for a supply partner, they need a company that is not only capable of understanding and solving problems, but is also able to provide solutions in an internationally consistent way. They also demand a supply partner that has demonstrated its commitment to investment in on-going research and development. My role will be to extend the international reach of Trox AITCS, and to guide the development of our product range to safeguard the interests of our clients into the future.”