Leading Edge Data Centres new CEO reveals its growth plan
According to Joe Craparotta this new growth plan is in “execution mode”.
Australian owned Leading Edge Data Centres is currently executing its “well detailed growth plan”, according to its new CEO Joe Craparotta.
Speaking to CRN Australia, Craparotta spilled the beans on the data centre company’s plans in the market.
“That plan includes continuing to grow our existing regional Colo and cloud utilisation by leveraging our managed service capability,” he said.
“The other priority is unlocking the large amount of power we have access to, and building out our AI platform with capacity coming online to support the increasing demand coming into the country.”
Leading Edge is also currently building out an AI data centre.
“Being able to contribute in a meaningful way in building out the AI Data Centre infrastructure the country requires is as exciting a moment as any in my career,” Craparotta said.
“It is not lost on me the responsibility the sector has in providing infrastructure that will enable Australia's digital and AI capability, I have always been and will continue to be excited by the challenge.”
New CEO
Leading Edge recently hired Craparotta to continue their growth plans. Chris Thorpe, founder and executive vice chairman said the AI revolution has created an “incredible opportunity” for Leading Edge Data Centres.
“We're building across our regional network, and the demand for AI infrastructure is only accelerating,” he said.
“Over the next 12 months, I want to see us continue expanding our platform, strengthening our customer and partner relationships, and positioning LEDC as the leader in regional AI infrastructure.
“Craparotta’s experience will be invaluable as we develop high-density, Nvidia-ready data centre environments that meet the next generation of customer demand.”
Craparotta told CRN he will listen and observe over the first weeks of his tenure.
"Getting to know our employees, our customers and key partners across the Leading Edge group of companies is one of the immediate priorities,” he said.
He said joining Leading Edge Data Centres presented an “important and unique opportunity” to build on the existing business platform and steer the company to its next horizon of growth.
“The regional growth priority Thorpe and his team have brought to life is a strategy I have believed in from the company's early beginnings,” he said.
"There is no doubt that AI diffusion is real. Moving workloads across the regions is an important part of building a resilient and sustainable DC architecture for the nation and region.”
He added, “Having worked on the OEM side for 17 years, joining the Data Centre operator market was a logical next step and an area I feel I can contribute in a positive and impactful way.”
Thorpe calls Craparotta’s appointment an “exciting milestone”.
"Not just for the business but for regional Australia,” he added.
“We've spent the last few years building a strong foundation and bringing Craparotta on as CEO is the natural next step in our journey.
View of the channel
Craparotta has a high opinion of the Aussie IT channel, he said it “continues to be the facilitator of tech clarity for all end users”.
“The channel continues to support scale when speed at scale is an important priority for all businesses,” he explained.
“The opportunity exists for the IT channel to provide the end user market with maturity in professional services, consulting and advisory support around key topics such as security, business continuity and resilience and of course AI readiness.”
Speaking to his partners, Craparotta’s message is to “not overlook the regional outpost requirements of your customer base”.
“We hear time and time again from our customers that having world class data centres on their regional doorstep has provided large amounts of value to their business and business resilience,” he ended.