• About Us
  • Partnership Opportunities
  • Privacy Policy

Data Center Frontier

Charting the future of data centers and cloud computing.

  • Cloud
    • Hyperscale
  • Colo
    • Site Selection
    • Interconnection
  • Energy
    • Sustainability
  • Cooling
  • Technology
    • Internet of Things
    • AI & Machine Learning
    • Edge Computing
    • Virtual Reality
    • Autonomous Cars
    • 5G Wireless
    • Satellites
  • Design
    • Servers
    • Storage
    • Network
  • Voices
  • Podcast
  • White Papers
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Events
    • Newsletter
    • Companies
    • Data Center 101
  • Jobs
You are here: Home / Cloud / Equinix Hires Jim Smith for Hyperscale Data Center Initiative

Equinix Hires Jim Smith for Hyperscale Data Center Initiative

By Rich Miller - May 3, 2018

Equinix Hires Jim Smith for Hyperscale Data Center Initiative

An Equinix data center in Ashburn, Virginia. (Photo: Equinix)

LinkedinTwitterFacebookSubscribe
Mail

Equinix has tapped Jim Smith as its new Managing Director – Hyperscale, adding an experienced executive for its expansion into hyperscale data center construction.

Smith’s last position was at Microsoft, where he served as the cloud computing titan’s General Manager for Site Selection & Network Acquisition, heading the company’s data center land, lease and network negotiations and acquisitions. Smith previously spent 11 years as a key player at Digital Realty Trust, the world’s largest operator of data centers and technical real estate, rising to Chief Technical Officer. His experience in the data center industry also includes stints working for 360networks, COLO.com and Verio.

Equinix is the global market leader in “retail” colocation, in which tenants buy smaller amounts of space by the cabinet or cage. In November, Equinix said it will pursue larger deals with hyperscale Internet companies, a move that will place it in direct competition with some of the data center REITs (real estate investment trusts) that specialize in large footprint IT infrastructure. Hyperscale deals usually use the wholesale data center model, in which a tenant leases a finished suite of “turn-key” raised-floor space. Recently, wholesale players have leased larger data halls and entire buildings to single customers.

Several Projects in the Works

Equinix confirmed Smith’s hiring on its earnings call Wednesday evening.

“Jim Smith is now on board as a full-time employee,” said Charles Meyers, President of Services and Strategy at Equinix. “We’re really energized about that. He’s bringing exceptional experience and skillsets to the table.”

Smith owns deep experience in developing data centers for major tenants, which will be valuable to Equinix as it pursues both strategies in expanding its cloud infrastructure.

Jim Smith has joined Equinix as Managing Director - Hyperscale. (Photo: Infrastructure Masons)

Jim Smith has joined Equinix as Managing Director – Hyperscale. (Photo: Infrastructure Masons)

During Smith’s time at Digital Realty, he led teams that delivered more than 300 megawatts of data center projects, totaling more than $4 billion of capital investment. His time at Microsoft coincided with an extraordinary period of growth in which the company invested billions of dollars in support the

Equinix created a Hyperscale Infrastructure Team (HIT) to focus on these larger projects, and has recently begun work on its Paris 8 data center, the first facility designed for hyperscale customers.

“We expect to add a handful of strategic builds across key markets over the next year and we have a healthy pipeline of attractive hyperscale opportunities,” said Peter Van Camp, Interim CEO and President of Equinix, on the earnings call. “We are also progressing well with financing structures that will allow us to pursue this important market with limited balance sheet exposure.”

‘Healthy Funnel’ for Hyperscale

Meyers said Equinix has already won several hyperscale deals, and said the company has “an exceptionally healthy funnel” of prospects.

Free Resource from Data Center Frontier White Paper Library

multi-cloud
Hybrid and Multi-Cloud IT Executive Buyer’s Guide
Opus:Interactive outlines best practices and provides checklists for assessing your hybrid and multi-cloud needs.
We always respect your privacy and we never sell or rent our list to third parties. By downloading this White Paper you are agreeing to our terms of service. You can opt out at any time.

Get this PDF emailed to you.

“We are actively engaged in deal discussions for both projects that are hyperscale oriented into some existing facilities, but now really starting to ramp up, where we’re talking about deals that are going to go into dedicated HIT facilities,” said Meyers. ”

In announcing its expansion into hyperscale deals, Equinix said it would begin competing on deals for between 3 and 5 megawatts of data center space, perhaps delivered in phases. Equinix says the hyperscale initiative will be targeted, focusing on strategic customers in key markets.

 

LinkedinTwitterFacebookSubscribe
Mail

Tagged With: Equinix, Hyperscale

Newsletters

Stay informed: Get our weekly updates!

Are you a new reader? Follow Data Center Frontier on Twitter or Facebook.

About Rich Miller

I write about the places where the Internet lives, telling the story of data centers and the people who build them. I founded Data Center Knowledge, the data center industry's leading news site. Now I'm exploring the future of cloud computing at Data Center Frontier.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Voices of the Industry

Mitigate Risk, Improve Performance and Decrease Operating Expenses through Data Center Self-Performance

Mitigate Risk, Improve Performance and Decrease Operating Expenses through Data Center Self-Performance If a vendor conducts the actual work in your data center, then you or your operator aren’t maximizing your current operating resources and are experiencing incremental cost and risk. Chad Giddings of BCS Data Center Operations, explains the importance of your data center provider having a high-degree of self-performance.

White Papers

Lithium-Ion Batteries

The Advantages of Using Lithium-Ion Batteries as A Backup Power Source in Single-Phase UPS Applications for Data Centers

If your company has a need to establish localized IT resources, you may be thinking of investing in and deploying multiple IT footprints in remote locations, as part of a distributed computing or edge network. In the past five years, lithium-ion batteries have come into use as a stored energy source in traditional data centers. Download the new white paper in which Vertiv looks at how these types of batteries can also be used to support single-phase UPS systems in remote mission-critical environments and edge data centers.

Get this PDF emailed to you.

We always respect your privacy and we never sell or rent our list to third parties. By downloading this White Paper you are agreeing to our terms of service. You can opt out at any time.

DCF Spotlight

Data center modules on display at the recent Edge Congress conference in Austin, Texas. (Photo: Rich Miller)

Edge Computing is Poised to Remake the Data Center Landscape

Data center leaders are investing in edge computing and edge solutions and actively looking at new ways to deploy edge capacity to support evolving business and user requirements.

An aerial view of major facilities in Data Center Alley in Ashburn, Virginia. (Image: Loudoun County)

Northern Virginia Data Center Market: The Focal Point for Cloud Growth

The Northern Virginia data center market is seeing a surge in supply and an even bigger surge in demand. Data Center Frontier explores trends, stats and future expectations for the No. 1 data center market in the country.

See More Spotlight Features

Newsletters

Get the Latest News from Data Center Frontier

Job Listings

RSS Job Openings | Pkaza Critical Facilities Recruiting

  • Electrical Commissioning Engineer - Los Angeles, CA
  • Data Center Construction Project Manager - Ashburn, VA
  • Critical Power Energy Manager - Data Center Development - Dallas, TX
  • Data Center Facilities Operations VP - Seattle, WA
  • Senior Electrical Engineer - Data Center - Dallas, TX

See More Jobs

Data Center 101

Data Center 101: Mastering the Basics of the Data Center Industry

Data Center 101: Mastering the Basics of the Data Center Industry

Data Center Frontier, in partnership with Open Spectrum, brings our readers a series that provides an introductory guidebook to the ins and outs of the data center and colocation industry. Think power systems, cooling, solutions, data center contracts and more. The Data Center 101 Special Report series is directed to those new to the industry, or those of our readers who need to brush up on the basics.

  • Data Center Power
  • Data Center Cooling
  • Strategies for Data Center Location
  • Data Center Pricing Negotiating
  • Cloud Computing

See More Data center 101 Topics

About Us

Charting the future of data centers and cloud computing. We write about what’s next for the Internet, and the innovations that will take us there. We tell the story of the digital economy through the data center facilities that power cloud computing and the people who build them. Read more ...
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

About Our Founder

Data Center Frontier is edited by Rich Miller, the data center industry’s most experienced journalist. For more than 20 years, Rich has profiled the key role played by data centers in the Internet revolution. Meet the DCF team.

TOPICS

  • 5G Wireless
  • Cloud
  • Colo
  • Connected Cars
  • Cooling
  • Cornerstone
  • Coronavirus
  • Design
  • Edge Computing
  • Energy
  • Executive Roundtable
  • Featured
  • Finance
  • Hyperscale
  • Interconnection
  • Internet of Things
  • Machine Learning
  • Network
  • Podcast
  • Servers
  • Site Selection
  • Social Business
  • Special Reports
  • Storage
  • Sustainability
  • Videos
  • Virtual Reality
  • Voices of the Industry
  • Webinar
  • White Paper

Copyright Endeavor Business Media© 2022