Databricks Appoints Simon Davies to Lead APJ Growth Strategy
As demand for data and AI platforms accelerates across Asia Pacific, leadership transitions are becoming increasingly strategic—especially in high-growth regions where execution and market expertise can define long-term success.
Databricks has appointed Simon Davies as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ), marking a key leadership shift as the company looks to scale operations across one of its fastest-growing regions.
A Leadership Transition in a High-Growth Region
Davies steps into the role following the departure of Ed Lenta, who spent six years building and expanding Databricks’ presence across APJ.
During his tenure, Lenta helped grow the region into a significant revenue contributor, with annual recurring revenue exceeding half a billion dollars and a team of over 1,000 employees supporting customers across markets including Japan, Korea, India, ASEAN, and Australia and New Zealand.
His departure marks the end of a foundational phase for Databricks in APJ—one that now transitions into a new stage focused on scaling and deepening enterprise adoption.
A Veteran Operator with Regional Expertise
Based in Singapore, Davies will oversee strategy, operations, and growth across key APJ markets, including Southeast Asia, India, Greater China, Japan, and Australia and New Zealand.
He brings more than three decades of experience across enterprise technology, cloud, and data-driven organizations. Prior to joining Databricks, Davies served as Asia Pacific president at SAP.
His career also includes leadership roles at major global technology firms such as Microsoft, Salesforce, Oracle, and Splunk, along with experience in financial services at Citibank and consulting at PwC.
This mix of operational leadership and advisory experience positions Davies to navigate complex regional dynamics while driving growth at scale.
Scaling Data and AI Adoption Across APJ
The APJ region has emerged as a critical growth engine for Databricks, driven by increasing enterprise investment in data platforms, analytics, and artificial intelligence.
According to the company, the region recorded over 85% growth in its most recent quarter, underscoring strong demand from organizations looking to modernize data infrastructure and unlock value from AI.
Davies’ mandate will be to build on this momentum—working closely with customers and partners to accelerate adoption and expand the company’s footprint across diverse markets.
Infrastructure Expansion Signals Long-Term Commitment
To support this growth, Databricks is also investing in its regional presence. The company plans to open a new 32,000-square-foot APJ headquarters in Singapore, effectively quadrupling its footprint in the region.
This move reflects a broader commitment to scaling operations, talent, and customer engagement capabilities in APJ.
Leadership Perspective
According to Ron Gabrisko, Davies brings a combination of deep regional knowledge and a proven ability to build high-performing teams—qualities that will be essential as Databricks enters its next phase of growth.
For Davies, the opportunity lies in helping organizations across APJ harness the full potential of data and AI, transforming how businesses operate and compete in increasingly digital economies.
A New Phase for Databricks in APJ
With strong foundations already in place, Databricks is now shifting from regional build-out to accelerated scale and enterprise impact.
The appointment of Simon Davies signals a clear intent: to strengthen leadership, deepen market engagement, and position the company at the center of the region’s rapidly evolving data and AI landscape.