Sify ropes in former AWS exec to head its data centre unit

Sify Technologies, an Indian IT firm, has announced the appointment of Sharad Agarwal as the new Chief Executive Officer of Sify Infinit Spaces, its fully-owned subsidiary specialising in data centre services for both Indian and global enterprise clients, including hyperscalers.

Agarwal brings extensive experience in technology business across multiple sectors such as e-commerce, logistics, retail, cloud computing, and data centres.

Before his tenure at Sify, he held positions at Vantage and Amazon Web Services, where he acquired significant expertise in data centre business development and capacity delivery.

As a seasoned industry professional, he brings a unique combination of business acumen and project management capabilities that will aid in broadening the reach and acceptance of Sify’s data centre offerings.

Prior to joining Sify, Agarwal was instrumental in establishing Vantage's data centre business and had a lengthy career at Amazon Web Services, where he led capacity delivery efforts for the Asia-Pacific region.

Raju Vegesna, Chairman of Sify, said that Sharad offers a valuable mix of entrepreneurial and managerial expertise in the data centre sector throughout the APAC region. "His diverse experience equips him to effectively drive our strategic initiatives and enhance operational excellence. His insights and established track record will greatly contribute to our goals and strengthen our leadership in the industry," he said.

Agarwal stated that his objective is to optimise Sify’s capabilities across the entire ICT value chain by emphasising strategic growth and operational efficiency while providing innovative solutions and exceptional value to clients and stakeholders.

Last month, Sify Technologies also appointed C R Srinivasan as the Chief Executive Officer of Sify Digital Services Limited, another wholly owned subsidiary, where he was part of the founding team that developed Sify’s network services and managed services capabilities.

Sify has reportedly invested ₹1,300 crore over two years to expand its data centre capacity. Earlier this year, it also announced that it plans to build 675 megawatts (MW) of data centre capacity in the country over the next five years.