Chris Sharp has over 20 years of experience in the technology industry, with an extensive background in developing technology strategies in global markets. He has a deep knowledge of the data center sector and is well positioned to expand technical innovation at Digital Realty, where he oversees both internal and customer-facing technology strategy and programs. In his role as Chief Technology Officer, he guides the business’ approach to managing the endless possibilities of technologies—including everything from AI and quantum computing to future advancements that are yet to arise—and helps customers and investors understand and leverage the full potential of these technologies.
Before his current role, he was responsible for cloud innovation at Equinix, where he led the development of innovative cloud services solutions and developed new capabilities enabling next-generation, high-performance exchange and interconnection solutions to facilitate broad commercial adoption of cloud computing on a global basis.
Previously, Sharp held leadership positions at top network and colocation providers, including Qwest Communications, MCI / Verizon Business, and Reliance Globalcom.
You have mentioned that Digital Realty watches three vectors for innovation: hardware, software, and networking. Can you give us an overview of what challenges and opportunities lie within each of those business sectors and how the company keeps a finger on the pulse of these areas?
Ground-breaking changes happening across the technology landscape are compounding and rapidly redefining what was once considered leading-edge.
Software has seen the fastest evolution, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Scalability, security, compliance, and automation remain persistent challenges. At Digital Realty, we leverage AI and ML to enhance predictive maintenance, optimize energy usage, and manage workloads more intelligently. Our partnerships with software providers ensure cohesive integration across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, which enables businesses to operate with greater flexibility and resilience.
