Soben strengthens global data centre and estimating expertise with appointment of John Halpern
Soben is delighted to announce the appointment of John Halpern as our Global Subject Matter Expert for Data Centre Estimating, in an advisory capacity.
John brings an exceptional career spanning more than three decades in estimating and project controls, with leadership roles at some of the world’s most innovative technology companies. He most recently served as Chief Estimator for Google Data Centres, following seven years at Microsoft, as Director of Global Estimating and 9 years as Strategic Estimating Director for Intel.
Following our acquisition by Accenture earlier this year, Soben has gone from strength to strength, bringing our clients the benefits of greater scale, deeper resources, and global reach. This appointment further reinforces our long-standing expertise in the data centre sector, a market that has always been at the heart of our business. John’s deep expertise in data centre estimating will support our clients worldwide in achieving cost certainty, managing design evolution, and delivering value engineering at scale.
Alongside project delivery guidance, in this advisory role, John will mentor and train Soben’s estimating teams, sharing best practice and helping to establish robust global templates and processes. His commitment to building the next generation of estimators is a defining feature of this role, as he seeks to create a lasting legacy for the industry.
Scott Smyth, Soben Founder & CEO, commented:
“I am absolutely thrilled to welcome John to the team. His unparalleled expertise in data centres and estimating will be transformative for our business and for our clients. John has been a long-standing friend of mine and Soben, and I am excited to see the impact his knowledge, leadership, and mentorship will have on our people and our clients.”
John Halpern added:
“Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with, and lead, incredible teams at companies like Intel, Microsoft and Google, and now I’m looking forward to sharing that experience with Soben. This role is about supporting clients with the highest quality estimating expertise, while also inspiring and mentoring the next generation of estimators. I want to help ensure the profession is in strong hands for the future.”
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About Soben
Soben offers something different: world-class construction consultancy, paired with hands-on commercial experience. Since 2011, our global data centre specialists have provided construction consultancy solutions to the world’s leading data centre providers and tenants, with services ranging from cost, project and programme management to strategic advice around sustainability, procurement and risk. Soben was acquired by Accenture in March 2025.
For more information visit: www.sobencc.com
Contact:
Claire Jones, Group Marketing Director, Soben