Technology Industry Veteran Stephen Smith Joins Flexential Board of Directors
Independent director appointment brings three decades of industry experience and leadership to Flexential
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 17, 2018) – Flexential, a leading provider of hybrid IT data center solutions, today announced that Stephen Smith has joined the company’s board of directors. Smith brings over 30 years of technology experience, having served most recently as chief executive officer of Equinix, Inc. for more than 10 years. The addition will help Flexential execute on its growth plans across existing and new markets.
“We are thrilled to have Steve join our board of directors, and I know that his experience leading growing businesses like ours will prove invaluable,” said Chris Downie, chief executive officer at Flexential. “Steve understands first-hand how a relentless focus on customers brings growth and scale, and we look forward to working closely with him.”
Flexential is a new brand with a 20-year history. Created by the combination of Peak 10 and ViaWest, the company serves over 4,200 customers nationwide, spanning 21 markets and 40 data centers.
“I am delighted to join the Flexential board of directors,” said Smith. “Our industry is experiencing rapid growth as customers face continued and increasingly complex IT transformation needs. Flexential is uniquely positioned as an ideal partner to serve those customer needs through its broad portfolio of solutions and people-first approach.”
Smith previously served as a director of Equinix, Volterra Semiconductor Corporation, NetApp, Inc., F5 Networks, Inc., 3Par Inc. and Actian Corporation. Prior to Equinix, he held senior leadership positions with HP Inc., Lucent Technologies Inc. and Electronic Data Systems Corporation. Smith also served as an officer in the U.S. Army and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Flexential is a portfolio company of GI Partners. “We have known Steve for years and welcome him as an independent director at Flexential. His leadership and deep experience in the IT infrastructure space will be extremely beneficial as we continue to execute on our strategic vision for the company,” said David Mace, managing director of GI Partners.
To learn more about Flexential, please visit the company online at www.flexential.com.
About Flexential
Flexential helps organizations optimize their journey of IT transformation while simultaneously balancing cost, scalability, compliance and security. The company is committed to building trusted relationships and delivering tailored solutions that suit the individual needs of its customers. Utilizing its people, values and reliable performance, Flexential is deeply invested in the success of its 4,200+ customers, who trust it to deliver core data center solutions of colocation and connectivity, as well as cloud and managed solutions. Flexential’s robust suite of assets span 21 domestic and international markets and comprises 40 highly redundant and connectivity-rich data centers. For more information on Flexential, please visit www.flexential.com.
Follow Flexential on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
About GI Partners
GI Partners is a private investment firm based in San Francisco. The firm has raised $16 billion in capital from leading institutional investors across the globe. GI Partners' private equity team focuses on investments in the IT Infrastructure, Healthcare, Software, and Services sectors. For more information on GI Partners and its entire portfolio, please visit: www.gipartners.com.