Notable appointment as Digital Realty announces new ESG lead
As it rolls out its new ESG strategy, carrier-neutral data centre company Digital Realty has appointed Jo-Ann Garbutt as its new Director of Sustainability & Government Engagement.
With responsibility for the data centre operator's ESG strategy, Garbutt will work out of Digital Realty's Dublin office - but her remit will be global.
Speaking on her appointment, Garbutt stated: “I am delighted to join Digital Realty at such an exciting time in the company’s growth. I look forward to supporting its efforts to continue complying with evolving EU and national sustainability legislation. I intend to contribute my experience and knowledge to furthering the company’s achievements in these areas.
“I am looking forward to getting started in my new role, helping to develop Digital Realty’s sustainability agenda going forward.”
In her role, Garbutt will report directly to Chief Data Center Technology and Engineering Officer Lex Coors, who said Garbutt’s appointment will “streamline and refine” Digital Realty’s sustainability efforts.
Digital Realty is rolling out ESG initiatives across the company which focus on the triple bottom line: Environment, Social and Governance. Garbutt will spearhead the company’s efforts in the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact among other sustainability responsibilities.
“We’re delighted to welcome Jo-Ann to the team,” Coors added. “Our goal at Digital Realty lies in effectively handling our environmental influence and maximising the utilisation of energy and natural resources in a sustainable manner. Our primary focus continues to revolve around endeavours to establish eco-friendly and energy-efficient data centres that enhance environmental performance.”
Who is Digital Realty’s new Director of Sustainability & Government Engagement Jo-Ann Garbutt?
Sustainability and Organisational Development professional Garbutt’s reputation for delivering transformational outcomes precedes her, with experience across a variety of projects and on an international scale.
Well-regarded across the industry, Garbutt boasts a rich engineering background and has an MSc in Organisation Development for Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, which she says gives her a “pragmatic and data-driven approach to business challenges, and a commitment to finding the best solutions towards operational excellence and sustainability”.
She has more than two decades of experience in sustainability across Europe, North America and Asia. Before joining Digital Realty, Garbutt was the Director of Sustainability at European contractor and leader in construction solutions Mercury, which delivers technologies to some of the world’s largest and leading corporations.
She also held the position of SVP and Global Director Human Resources at Teleplan, which is an industry leader in lifecycle care solutions for technology products. The company rebranded to Reconext along with Clover Wireless in 2020. The start of her career with a variety of roles at American multinational engineering and construction firm Fluor Corporation, spanning 15 years.
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