Executives Shuffle at Data Center Firm

SAN FRANCISCO—Digital Realty Trust, Inc., a leading provider of data center and colocation solutions, says it is making an organizational change designed to better leverage and develop the company’s management resources. Jim Smith, the company’s chief technology officer, and David Schirmacher, SVP of Operations, will switch roles effective March 1, 2015. Smith will retain the title of CTO and will lead the portfolio operations group, which includes global property operations, technical operations, customer service, security and data center services functions. Schirmacher, who currently serves as the company’s SVP of portfolio operations, will transition to the role of SVP of design & construction and will be responsible for overseeing data center development, including design and construction. In addition, he will continue to oversee the development and ongoing implementation of EnVision, Digital Realty’s data center infrastructure management (DCIM) solution. “This organizational change is in keeping with our commitment to unlock the outstanding talent within Digital Realty as we focus on how to best utilize our resources to drive future growth,” said William Stein, Digital Realty’s CEO and CFO.  “Both Jim and David have established themselves as accomplished leaders within the company as well as the industry, and I believe that switching their roles will better leverage each of their key skills and experience, strengthen our overall operations and help Digital Realty secure our position as the premier global data center provider.  They have each made impressive progress within their respective divisions, and this move is a testament to their abilities and flexibility to lead two vital aspects of our business.” Smith joined Digital Realty in 2004, and Schirmacher joined the company in 2012.