Michael Tobin (entrepreneur)

Michael Tobin
CBE
Born
Michael Tobin

(1964-01-16) 16 January 1964 (age 62)
London
OccupationsEntrepreneur, Businessman, Author
SpouseShalina Tobin - born 1979
ChildrenEloise Idalina Tobin - born 1999, Nelson Paul Tobin - born 2001, Rose Arminda Tobin - born 2004

Michael Tobin CBE (born 16 January 1964) is an English technology entrepreneur, author and philanthropist. He was CEO of FTSE 250 data centre operator. In 2014 he was awarded an OBE for his ‘Services to the Digital Economy' in The Queen's Birthday Honours List.[1] In June 2025 he was awarded a CBE in The King's Birthday Honours List for 'Services to Charity'.[2]

Career

Business career

Following roles at ICG, GlobalServe, Rockwell Corp, Goupil, Tricord, ICL and Fujitsu[3] Tobin joined Redbus as Sales and Marketing Director. Becoming CEO in 2003, he led the merger between competitors Redbus and Telecity. In 2006 Tobin became CEO of the newly formed TelecityGroup. He implemented Telecity’s ‘gold standard’ membership of the Green Grid global consortium, and led Telecity to achieve the Carbon Trust Standard in 2010; the first data centre operator to do so.[4]

In 2014 he stepped down from TelecityGroup following reported tensions with the board of directors,[5][6] and founded Tobin Ventures Ltd.

Non-executive Directorships and Board roles

Tobin holds many non-executive roles internationally, which include: CloudHesive, AudioBoom, Stellanor, Mediterra, Bigblu Broadband (formerly Satellite Solutions Worldwide Plc (Europasat)),[7] North C Data Centres, Ocolo, Radius Global Infrastructure, EdgeConneX, and ScaleUp Group.[8]

Tobin is also an Advisory Board Member to LeaseWeb.[9]

He previously held non-executive roles for Pentadyne Power Corporation,[10] Pacnet, TeamRock, Wonderland Restaurants, Patchwork Health, ThinkLondon, Ultraleap,[11] People Per Hour, Instrumental,[12] Amito, SVF Investment Corp 3, Sungard,[13] Datapipe, Pulsant,[14] Basefarm, Chayora,[15] IXCellerate,[16] Teraco Data Environments, Kinolt (formerly EURO-DIESEL), Park Place Technologies, Hurley Palmer Flatt, PlusServer and ITconic.

Charitable activities

Tobin started the CEO Sleepout UK charitable initiative in 2014 with Tony Hawkhead, CEO of Action for Children,[17] where CEOs sleep out on the street to raise the profile of the issue of homelessness for children.[18]

Tobin has raised over £250,000 for The Prince's Trust[19][20] including £100,000 from running 40 marathons in 40 days during 2016 for the Trust's 40th Anniversary.

In 2020, Tobin raised over £200,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity by trekking to the South Pole.[21]

Tobin is Founder of The Tobin Foundation and has raised over £100,000 to date for Education, Empowerment and Welfare of Children.

Tobin has also been a champion of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Founder's Circle Member of the British Asian Trust, Chairman of the Loomba Foundation, patron of Action Against Hunger, fundraising member of Make-a-Wish Foundation, and Ambassador for The Lewis Moody Foundation.

Books

Tobin is the author of four books:

  • A Perfect Storm: How to thrive in an uncertain and ever-changing world, 2023. ISBN 9781915850157[22]
  • Lifting the Floor: Revealed, the true stories hiding beneath the tiles of the data centre industry, 2020. ISBN 9781913709006[23]
  • Live Love Work Prosper: A Fresh Approach to Integrating Life and Work, 2018. ISBN 9781781258767[24]
  • Forget Strategy. Get Results: Radical Management Attitudes That Will Deliver Outstanding Success, 2014. ISBN 9781118808788[25]

Awards

  • In 2025, Tobin was recognised with an CBE for his 'Services to Charity' which was presented to him by William, Prince of Wales.
  • Lifetime Achievement Award from The Tech Capital Awards 2025.[26]
  • Broadgroup Datacentre Influencer of the Decade 2017.
  • Named Smith & Williamson Top 25 Power Individuals.[27] 2017.
  • 2016 The Prince's Trust Outstanding Individual Award.[28]
  • Best Business Awards & Global Business Excellence Awards for Outstanding Non-Executive Director 2016.
  • In 2014, Tobin was recognised with an OBE for his ‘Services to the Digital Economy’ which was presented to him at an investiture ceremony by the Prince of Wales.[29]
  • Lifetime Achievement Awards for Services to Datacentre Industry 2011.
  • Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (London regional winner) 2009, 2010 and (UK National winner) 2011.[30]
  • Business Person of the Year Award London Chamber of Commerce & Industry 2009 and 2010.[31]
  • LCCI Business Growth Company of the Year 2008 & 2009.
  • Techmark Personal Achievement of the Year Award 2008.
  • UK Innovation Awards for IPO of the Year 2008.
  • DCE Outstanding Leader in Datacentres 2007 & 2008.
  • PWC Technology CEO of the Year 2007.
  • London Business Awards Business Turnaround of the Year 2005.
  • Named Number 31 of Britain's Top 50 Entrepreneurs 2005.[32]

References

  1. ^ "New Year Honours: business recipients in full". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  2. ^ "The King's Birthday Honours List 2025". Gov.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Telecity's Michael Tobin: My bricks are behind London's clicks, says". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  4. ^ Miller, Colleen (29 July 2010). "TelecityGroup Achieves Carbon Trust Standard". Data Center Knowledge. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Telecity shows its 'maverick' Michael Tobin the door". The Times. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  6. ^ Ahmed, Murad (2014-08-26). "Telecity chief executive Michael Tobin makes abrupt departure". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Directorate Changes - RNS - London Stock Exchange". London Stock Exchange. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  8. ^ ScaleUp. "Team". Scaleup Group. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  9. ^ "LeaseWeb appoints Advisory Council for further international growth". LeaseWeb. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  10. ^ "Managing Director Tobin of UK's TelecityRedbus Joins Pentadyne Board". Market Wired. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  11. ^ "Digital worlds that feel human | Ultraleap". www.ultraleap.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  12. ^ Ltd., World Of CEOs. "Mike Tobin, CEO, Telecity Group". World of CEOs. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  13. ^ Services, Sungard Availability. "2020 | Company | Board". www.sungardas.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Pulsant announces acquisition of Onyx and appoints Mike Tobin as chairman". Pulsant. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Chayora, a Hong Kong-based Data Centre Infrastructure company, has announced that serial technology entrepreneur Michael Tobin OBE will join the board with immediate effect as a Non Executive Director". Chayora. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  16. ^ "IXcellerate names Michael Tobin, OBE, as the new Board Member | IXcellerate". Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  17. ^ "City bosses in charity sleepout". www.cityam.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Bosses sleep rough to support homeless children". First News (newspaper). Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  19. ^ "Michael Tobin – 'Why I'm running 40 marathons in 40 days'". The Prince's Trust. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  20. ^ Dunne, John (11 July 2016). "40 marathons in 40 days to get young on right track". Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  21. ^ "The headsouth team reach the South Pole!". The Brain Tumour Charity. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  22. ^ "A Perfect Storm: How to thrive in an uncertain and ever-changing world". Amazon. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Lifting the Floor: Revealed: The true stories hiding beneath the tiles of the data centre industry". Amazon. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Live Love Work Prosper: A Fresh Approach to Integrating Life and Work". Amazon. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  25. ^ "Forget Strategy. Get Results: Radical Management Attitudes That Will Deliver Outstanding Success". Amazon. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Revealing The Tech Capital Global Awards 2025 winners". The Tech Capital. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
  27. ^ "Michael Tobin". Smith & Williamson. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  28. ^ "The Prince's Trust on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  29. ^ "New Year Honours list 2014: Part One". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  30. ^ "London & South Award Recipients" (PDF). EY.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  31. ^ "Docklands business club and East London Chamber of Commerce Awards". London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  32. ^ "Redbus Interhouse | Redbus Interhouse's CEO Listed as one of Britain's Top 50 Entrepreneurs". RealWire. 2006-01-11. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Tobin_(entrepreneur)