Delivering executive leaders to accelerate a national data center expansion ?
Objective
Support a rapidly expanding US data center developer in securing four mission-critical executive leaders to accelerate its entry into the Los Angeles and wider West Coast markets, while strengthening its national hyperscale and edge data center development program.
Scope
Four senior strategic hires:
- SVP, Development - Hyperscale & Edge Data Centers
- VP, Construction - Hyperscale Data Centers
- Land Acquisition Specialist
- Director of Engineering - Mission Critical Systems
Each role required deep knowledge of hyperscale delivery, West Coast market experience, and proven capability across development, engineering, construction, and strategic land acquisition.
Strategy
To secure highly specialised mission-critical leaders - talent that is exceptionally scarce and aggressively sought after - we launched four parallel executive search campaigns across the US data center landscape.
Our approach focused on:
- Countrywide candidate mapping across West Coast, Mountain, and Southern regions
- Discreet outreach to passive industry leaders with proven hyperscale delivery experience
- Comprehensive technical and cultural assessment
- Market intelligence and compensation benchmarking
- A coordinated interview and selection process designed for speed and accuracy
Because none of the successful candidates were active job seekers, our long-standing market relationships and nationwide reach were essential.
Implementation
- Activated our dedicated Data Center Division to run four simultaneous high-level searches.
- Engaged senior leaders across development, engineering, construction, and land acquisition with strong West Coast networks and hyperscale expertise.
- Delivered thorough technical evaluations across land strategy, MEP engineering, hyperscale construction management, and development leadership.
- Facilitated offer alignment, onboarding timelines, and competitive package structuring to secure each candidate ahead of market competitors.
Outcomes
Four Executive Hires Delivered Within Three Months
SVP, Development – Hyperscale & Edge Data Centers
- Nationally recognised hyperscale development leader
- Strong West Coast presence, now shaping long-term national expansion strategy
VP, Construction – Hyperscale- Senior construction leader with major hyperscale campus delivery experience
- Capable of managing complex urban builds, including Los Angeles metro projects
Land Acquisition Specialist- Expert in California zoning, real estate, and land regulations
- Securing strategic parcels to support multi-state development growth
Director of Engineering – Mission Critical Systems- Proven leader in high-performance power, cooling, and network infrastructure design
- Supporting both hyperscale and edge facility engineering programs
These hires now serve as the core of the developer’s West Coast and national expansion leadership team.
Accelerated Growth of the LA and National Data Center Portfolio
With the full leadership structure in place, the client strengthened operational and technical capability across:
- Strategic site selection and land acquisition
- Hyperscale and edge development
- Mission-critical engineering design
- Construction delivery for complex, large-scale facilities
This enabled the developer to confidently pursue and execute national data center projects from its Los Angeles hub.
Samuel Knight Appointed as Strategic Recruitment Partner
Following the successful delivery of all four hires, the client appointed Samuel Knight as its preferred talent partner for national data center staffing across:
- Executive and senior leadership
- Development, engineering, and architectural teams
- Construction management and delivery functions
- Specialised MEP and mission-critical technical positions
Our ability to consistently deliver elite, hard-to-reach talent reinforced our value as a long-term strategic partner.
