Colliers has hired the former leader of JLL's national data center practice group to lead Colliers' growing business in the same sector.
Toronto-based Colliers said it tapped Raul Saavedra as executive vice president and head of data center advisory for the Americas. In his new role, Saavedra leads the data center practice across the region and advises occupier and investor clients on site selection, leasing, acquisition and disposition.
At the height of the pandemic demand for data center space jumped as consumers shifted much of their shopping online and companies sent large portions of their employees to work from home. As a result of high demand, a large supply of data center space for large users is on the way.
In May, Synergy Research Group said in a report that its forecasts "show continued rapid growth in the number of large data centers to be used by hyperscale operators in order to support their ever-expanding business operations."
Synergy identified a global pipeline of 314 future hyperscale data centers. "The United States currently accounts for almost 40% of operational hyperscale data centers and half of all worldwide capacity," Synergy said.
Colliers' new Americas data center practice leader Saavedra previously worked at JLL, where he most recently served as the Northern California practice lead for its data center group and co-chaired the brokerage's national data center practice. Before that, from October 2011 to July 2016, he served as a senior asset manager at data center real estate investment trust Digital Realty.
Based in San Francisco, Saavedra said he looks forward to spearheading Colliers' growth in the data center sector.
Scott Nelson, Colliers' Atlanta-based global CEO of occupier services, said in a statement that Saavedra's hiring reflects Colliers "commitment to grow and evolve our advisory offerings."