People of Pure: Meet Ron Ekins, Oracle Database Hero

Summary

Recently named an Oracle ACE Director for 2025-2026, Ron Ekins, Director of Field Solutions Architecture for EMEA and LATAM at Pure Storage, has been working with Oracle databases for greater than 30 years all through his extremely profitable profession in IT and knowledge administration.

If you ask Ron Ekins how he received into the world of information, he’ll inform you it wasn’t precisely deliberate—it was extra like an “I’ll give it a go” form of second. That second become a extremely profitable multidecade profession in IT and knowledge administration. Today, Ron serves as Director of Field Solutions Architecture for EMEA and LATAM at Pure Storage—and only recently, once more named an Oracle ACE Director for 2025-2026, the very best honor in Oracle’s international neighborhood program.

Meet certainly one of Pure Storage high Database Heroes, Ron Ekins.

A Data-first Mindset from the Start

Ron’s profession started on this planet of programming and working programs, writing code in PowerHouse and COBOL and selecting up Unix abilities alongside the best way. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than somebody tapped him on the shoulder and requested, “Can you handle these databases?” That “certain, I’ll strive” second sparked his long-standing relationship with relational databases, together with Ingres and finally Oracle.

His early profession unfolded within the high-stakes atmosphere of aerospace and protection, the place knowledge safety and governance weren’t simply finest practices—they have been necessary. “At the time, I believed everybody labored that means,” he says. “It seems we have been fairly far forward of the curve.”

From there, Ron architected among the largest Oracle deployments in Europe, together with a large public-sector undertaking that helped solidify his experience in enterprise structure and program administration. He additionally turned one of many first to deploy Oracle on NFS storage—at a time when that method was thought-about unconventional.

“I’ve all the time believed in studying by doing,” he says. “And typically, doing means making an attempt one thing that hasn’t been accomplished earlier than.”

Saying Yes to the Unknown

After greater than 20 years in conventional enterprise roles, Ron did one thing daring: He took a leap into the startup world, becoming a member of a small U.S.-based firm referred to as Delphix. “It was scary,” he admits. “But I requested myself—may I see myself doing the identical factor for an additional 30 years? The reply was no. So I mentioned sure.”

That leap finally led Ron to Pure Storage, the place he’s now been for 9 years. “What drew me in was the expertise,” he says. “The simplicity, the innovation. You can’t actually know an organization’s tradition till you’re inside it—however the extra I received to know the folks at Pure, the extra I wished to be part of it.”

Starting as a options architect, Ron steadily expanded his function, turning into a go-to useful resource for database and knowledge governance technique throughout the area. Today, he leads a workforce of specialists targeted on serving to Pure Storage clients modernize their Oracle environments, enhance service availability, and strengthen knowledge safety.

Leading by Sharing

Ron’s dedication to sharing data runs deep. He’s an energetic blogger (his Oracle-themed website, ronekins.com, ranks among the many high 50 Oracle blogs globally), a global convention speaker, and a mentor for rising technologists. And now, as an Oracle ACE Director—certainly one of simply 77 globally—he has a direct voice in shaping Oracle’s future applied sciences.

“I all the time inform folks—don’t chase recognition,” he mentioned. “Share since you adore it, as a result of it’s in your DNA. Recognition will comply with in the event you’re doing the proper issues for the proper causes.”

For Ron, contributing to the neighborhood isn’t only a nice-to-have—it’s knowledgeable and private philosophy. “Whether it’s talking at a convention, internet hosting a webinar, or cowriting a weblog publish with a junior colleague, I discover that each act of contribution helps each others and myself develop.”

Innovating from the Field

While Ron doesn’t work in a standard R&D function, that hasn’t stopped him from turning into an inventor. He holds 4 U.S. patents (with extra within the pipeline) targeted on knowledge governance, energy-efficient knowledge placement, and safety. “I method issues from the attitude of the info,” he says. “That’s what makes Pure particular—we’re empowered to innovate from wherever we sit within the group.”

One patent Ron is particularly happy with includes optimizing knowledge placement primarily based on environmental impression, aiming to cut back power utilization by directing knowledge to probably the most environment friendly location. “It’s not nearly efficiency anymore,” he says. “It’s about sustainability, and knowledge performs a job in that.”

Life past the Data Center

Outside of labor, Ron wears a number of sudden hats: faculty governor, vinyl report collector, Arsenal FC supporter, gardener, husband, and proud dad to 4 grownup youngsters. He’s served as a college governor for over 20 years, serving to form strategic route for schooling in his neighborhood—expertise he says has formed his management model at Pure Storage.

“I consider in being a ‘crucial good friend,’” he says. “That means holding folks accountable, but in addition supporting and celebrating them. That’s true in colleges, and it’s true in groups.”

A passionate collector of vinyl records, he incessantly scouts charity retailers and report festivals for uncommon finds. “It’s about greater than the music,” he says. “It’s in regards to the tales, the historical past, the expertise of listening to a complete album, finish to finish.”

Looking Back—and Forward

When requested what recommendation he’d give his youthful self, Ron doesn’t hesitate: “Enjoy the journey. Don’t get so targeted on reaching the entrance of the bus that you just overlook to speak to the particular person subsequent to you or recognize the view out the window.”

As for the street forward? Ron’s targeted on serving to Pure Storage clients thrive in a world the place AI, knowledge progress, and hybrid architectures are remodeling every little thing. He’s additionally gearing up for a busy talking schedule, touring to Oracle Cloud World in October, and spending extra time along with his rising report assortment.

“Whether it’s Oracle databases, AI, or limited-edition Pulp vinyl,” he laughs, “I’m all the time looking out for what’s subsequent.”

The Road Ahead

Take your profession journey to the following degree at Pure Storage.