- Key Takeaways: Hiring a Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO in 2026
- Defining the Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO Role
- What to Look For in a Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO
- Where Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COOs Come From
- Assessing and Closing the Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure Resources
As Global Head of Research & Leadership Advisory at JRG Partners, I prepared this practical guide on how to hire a COO for a Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure company. In a sector that is one of the fastest-growing infrastructure sectors in the economy, the COO carries the operational weight of the transformation, and the profile that succeeds is an operator who has delivered both hyperscale construction ramp and mission-critical operations, fluent in power, cooling, and the reliability disciplines that define the sector.
Key Takeaways: Hiring a Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO in 2026
- The winning COO profile is an operator who has delivered both hyperscale construction ramp and mission-critical operations, fluent in power, cooling, and the reliabili.
- Define the COO’s scope precisely; the role varies more than any other C-suite title.
- Operational credibility plus transformation capability is the combination the sector now demands.
- The best candidates are employed operators who must be recruited discreetly.
- Clarify the CEO-COO division of labor before the search, not after.
Defining the Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO Role
Before searching, define the scope precisely: which functions, sites, and P&L elements report to the COO, and how authority divides with the CEO. In Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure, the role typically owns the operational core of the transformation, and ambiguity here is the most common cause of failed COO hires.
What to Look For in a Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO
The profile that succeeds is an operator who has delivered both hyperscale construction ramp and mission-critical operations, fluent in power, cooling, and the reliability disciplines that define the sector. Boards and CEOs should probe for hyperscale development and construction delivery; power procurement, energy strategy, and cooling innovation; mission-critical operations and reliability command; capital-project delivery at speed and scale.
Where Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COOs Come From
Strong candidates emerge from data-center operators and hyperscalers (operations and development depth); construction, engineering, and EPC firms (project-delivery leadership); energy and utilities (power and infrastructure expertise), and increasingly from adjacent sectors where the transformation capabilities were developed earlier.
Assessing and Closing the Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO
Assess against operational results verifiable by reference, transformation delivery with measured outcomes, and the specific sector markers above. Anchor to scope and market rather than history, pre-approve the range so decisions never wait on a committee. The CEO-COO relationship is the hire’s foundation, so structured time between the CEO and finalists is essential, not optional.
For the broader sourcing and process discipline, see our guide to executive search in Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: What does a Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO do?
- A: The role owns the operational core of the business, an operator who has delivered both hyperscale construction ramp and mission-critical operations, fluent in power, coolin, though exact scope varies by company and should be defined precisely before hiring.
- Q: What background should a Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO have?
- A: Operational leadership at comparable scale plus transformation-delivery experience; the strongest candidates pair deep sector operations with capabilities the transition demands.
- Q: How does the COO role differ from the CEO in Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure?
- A: The COO owns operational execution while the CEO owns strategy, capital, and external stakeholders; the division should be explicit before the search begins.
- Q: How long does a Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure COO search take?
- A: Typically three to five months for a retained search, depending on scope specificity and the candidate pool’s depth.
Related Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure Resources
See also Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure executive search guide, Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure top 10 in-demand roles, Data Centers & Digital Infrastructure executive compensation report.
![](https://www.jrgpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/tanya-gallardo.jpeg")
Tanya Gallardo
Managing Director, Executive Search & AI Talent Strategy
Tanya Gallardo is the Managing Director of Executive Search & AI Talent Strategy at JRG Partners, leading C-suite and Board engagements across key growth sectors including Technology, Financial Services, and Manufacturing.
With over 18 years of experience specializing in disruptive technology leadership, Tanya is recognized as a leading authority on talent architecture for future-focused executive roles, such as the Chief AI Officer (CAIO) and Chief Digital Officer (CDO). Her expertise lies in accurately assessing the cultural fit and technical depth required to ensure a high return on investment (ROI) for critical leadership appointments.
Prior to her role at JRG Partners, Tanya held senior roles directing global talent acquisition strategies at a major publicly-traded technology firm, advising on organizational design and succession planning for emerging executive functions. She is a recognized speaker and contributor to industry events, sharing data-driven insights on executive compensation, leadership development, and the measurable business impact of C-suite talent.
