LDC Top 50 2025
Richard Fox
Founder
Global Commissioning
Richard Fox’s career began at 15 when he joined the Army, an experience he credits with giving him the “desire to be better.” It laid the foundations for a successful career in engineering, taking him to major international projects, including The Shard.
He went on to establish Global Commissioning, a Whitstable-based commissioning specialist that gets data centres and other critical infrastructure up and running. The business now operates in eight countries across Europe and South Africa, supporting one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy. “There is massive growth in the market – people can’t build data centres quickly enough to meet demand,” says Fox.
This is a massive growth market – people can’t build data centres quickly enough to meet demand.”
Q&A
What’s special about Global Commissioning?
Our people are 100 per cent employees, which sets us apart in a sector that largely relies on contractors. This full staff model has allowed us to invest in our team, grow from within and deliver consistently high standards tailored to each project. We have expanded quickly, but continue to promote internally and prioritise upskilling to ensure long-term capability. We are proud of the standards we uphold and are not afraid to turn down work that asks us to compromise on quality. That commitment to doing things properly defines Global Commissioning and underpins the trust our clients place in us.
Where will future growth come from?
Global is now fully operational across Europe and has recently opened in South Africa, which is has already proved to be a strong market for us. But we’re not planning to slow down. The next move is into the Middle East, which we see as a strategic step towards opening up opportunities in Asia. Global is also really excited about the potential in the United States. It’s a huge market with a lot of investment going into data infrastructure and Global’s approach can offer something genuinely different there. If you had told me that when I co-founded the company, I would have laughed!
How has your military career helped you in business?
I left school at 15, which felt like a bold move at the time, but joining the Army gave me the structure and grounding I needed. It was a career like no other. One day I’d be skiing, the next climbing mountains or walking through a jungle. Those experiences shaped who I am today. I also trained as an ultra-long-range marksman, something I still enjoy as a hobby. But beyond the adventure, the Army gave me real skills. I learned leadership, management and engineering, all of which set me up for life after service. When I left in 2007, I knew exactly what I wanted to build.
Richard stepped down from his position at Global Commissioning in September 2025.
