Intelligent Data Centres Issue 36 | Page 47

END USER INSIGHT
Neil Cresswell , CEO of VIRTUS Data Centres

DATA CENTRES : ‘ THE ARTERIES AND ORGANS OF THE INTERNET AND ALL THAT RUNS AND cRELIES UPON IT ’

Can you discuss the scope of your responsibility and how this has evolved during your time with the company ?
Data centres are the lifeblood of modern civilisation , says Neil Cresswell , CEO of VIRTUS Data Centres , and it ’ s hard to disagree as we find ourselves depending upon them more and more for enabling technology advancements in today ’ s digital world . It ’ s therefore the responsibility of data centre providers to keep their facilities safe , secure and available , and most importantly , reliable . We caught up with Cresswell who offers some further insight into the world of data centres in the modern age and how VIRTUS is adapting and evolving to offer its customers around the world the best opportunities for innovation .
I joined VIRTUS Data Centres as CEO in April 2013 , when the company was just two years old . I was charged with building a successful , high-growth , profitable business with a reputation for quality , innovation and customer service . We grew from one small data centre to being the leading operator in one of the world ’ s top three data centre markets in eight years , so we are a very different company now to what we were then .
The last eight years have been really exciting ; the world of Digital Transformation evolves quickly and VIRTUS has achieved everything from site acquisitions , to building new facilities , to keeping our customers and our customers ’ customers online so that people can work , shop and socialise virtually during the past 18 months . I am responsible for the overall leadership , growth and development of the business and our number one focus is operational excellence in areas like safety , security and availability .
How has the business grown since it started and how have you ensured its growth ?
Since it started in 2011 , VIRTUS has grown from one data centre of 3MW , to being London ’ s number one data centre www . intelligentdatacentres . com
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