QTS Data Centers founder and CEO Chad Williams is leaving the company after 20 years at the helm.
Williams, who will also relinquish the role of company chairman, is returning to the post of CEO at the Quality Group of Companies (QGC), a real estate and business services family office investment firm which was spun out QTS in 2003.
He will be replaced at Blackstone-owned QTS by David Robey, who is currently the firm’s chief operating officer, and Tag Greason, who serves as QTS chief growth officer. The pair will become co-CEOs after Williams steps down on April 18.
Describing his time as CEO as “the honor of a lifetime,” Williams said: “We’ve been blessed to build the largest data center infrastructure company in the world, powered by people that are mission-minded and purpose-driven.
“In 2021, we had a unique opportunity to partner with Blackstone, the largest alternative asset manager in the world, and embark on an unprecedented journey of growth together. I want to thank all of our QTS family and Blackstone partners, our customers, equipment vendors, and power partners for allowing me to be part of this opportunity.”
He added: “As I step away from this chapter in my life, I know I leave our 1,600+ QTSers in capable hands with David and Tag to continue to provide important support to our local communities and deliver world-class services to our amazing partners who entrust us with their most important infrastructure globally.”
Williams founded QTS in Kansas City in 2003, and the business still maintains its original data center at its Overland Park headquarters in the city. Running since 2003, it has 200kW of power.
However, the company has scaled up significantly since then, with its growth accelerating after it was acquired by Blackstone in 2021 for $10 billion.
It now operates facilities across the US and around the world. The company’s current projects include a £10 billion ($13.3bn) hyperscale facility in Northumberland, UK, which gained planning permission earlier this month.
Jon Gray, president and chief operating officer of Blackstone, said: “Chad has been a true pioneer in the data center space, starting QTS from scratch and building it into a $60 billion global industry leader.
“We believe this will be one of the most successful investments in Blackstone’s history and are tremendously thankful for Chad’s entrepreneurship, unwavering dedication, and leadership. He will be greatly missed. At the same time, we couldn’t be more excited about the company’s future with one of the largest data center pipelines in the world and exceptional development capabilities.”
In a joint statement, Robey and Greason added: “We could not be more excited to step into these new roles and lead QTS forward with the support of our exceptional team and our partners at Blackstone.
“For 15 years, we have had the privilege of working with Chad, who has been an amazing leader for our team, achieving remarkable scale and positioning QTS for continued success. We look forward to doubling down on QTS’s promise to build the critical infrastructure powering the digitalization of the world.”
