Google LLC today outlined how it intends to boost its cloud presence in Europe, the Middle East and Africa via more collaborations, partnerships and promotions.

Google Cloud kicked off its Next OnAir EMEA virtual event this week, which is a five-week online summit for developers and clients to discuss the current cloud computing landscape. In a blog post today, Chris Ciauri, Google Cloud’s EMEA president, said the company has been working closely with partners to keep EMEA businesses up and running despite the disruption caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“At Google Cloud, we have seen first-hand the importance of keeping our cloud up and running, enabling teams to collaborate remotely and scaling to meet the changing demands of our customers,” Ciauri said. “We’ve been working to help businesses and their employees, as well as governments and schools, collaborate and learn during these challenging times.”

Ciauri revealed Google Cloud has expanded its presence in EMEA in 2020 with the addition of new cloud regions in France, Italy, Poland and Spain. He added that the new Spanish region, based in Madrid, is leveraging infrastructure from the telecommunications firm Telefonica S.A. to help advance 5G networks via Google Cloud’s Mobile Edge Computing platform.

Ciauri also spoke about Google’s latest subsea cable Grace Hopper, the fourth private cable it has built that’s designed to improve connectivity between the U.S., the U.K. and Spain.

Google has also partnered with the British consumer and health goods organization Reckitt Benckiser to help “drive stronger customer engagement across consumer health, hygiene, and nutrition [as the] company embarks on wide-scale digital transformation,” Ciauri said.

Meanwhile, Google Cloud has made several additions to its senior leadership team in EMEA, with Laurence Lafont joining as a new vice president of industries in France, Pip White coming in as a new managing director for the U.K. and Ireland, Samuel Bonamigo acting as vice president for Southern Europe, and Daniel Holz taking over as vice president of Google Cloud’s DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and Northern Europe regions.

“At Google Cloud, we are committed to being a trusted partner to businesses of all sizes and industries across EMEA, and Google Next OnAir EMEA is just one of the ways we are investing locally,” Ciauri said.

Image: Google