• Colt DCS has appointed David Burton as Chief Information Officer to lead technology and digital operations as the company expands its global data centre portfolio
  • The appointment reflects how operating hyperscale infrastructure is becoming as important as building new capacity

The fact

Colt Data Centre Services has appointed David Burton as Chief Information Officer as the company expands its global operations. Burton joins from Global Switch, where he led information technology and cybersecurity, bringing experience from one of the world's largest data centre operators.

Colt DCS operates 15 data centres and has 12 more under development across nine cities in the UK, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Burton's appointment comes as the company prepares to manage a larger international portfolio.

The assessment

Operating a global data centre portfolio now requires far more than adding new capacity. As operators expand across regions, the challenge is coordinating technology, security and day-to-day operations across increasingly complex infrastructure. Digital systems now support customer services, cybersecurity, asset management and operational resilience, making technology leadership increasingly central to running large-scale facilities.

Companies are responding by strengthening technology leadership alongside physical expansion. Managing dozens of facilities depends on digital platforms that support automation, cybersecurity, customer services and operational visibility across multiple sites. Operators that integrate those capabilities effectively are likely to expand more consistently while maintaining reliable service.

For BTW readers, scale is no longer measured only in megawatts. It also depends on how efficiently infrastructure can be operated once it is built. As hyperscale portfolios continue to grow, operational excellence is becoming a competitive capability that is increasingly difficult to replicate.

What to watch

Watch how Colt DCS develops its operational platforms as new facilities come online. Similar technology leadership appointments across the sector will indicate whether operators are placing greater emphasis on operational performance as hyperscale portfolios expand.