Schneider Electric has appointed energy industry veteran Nirupa Chander to head up its data center power business across several markets.
Chander has taken on the role of senior vice president, secure power and data centers, international operations, at the power technology specialist.
She will lead a group of 700 staff "supporting customers and partners in their digital transformation journeys and achieving their sustainability goals in an all-electric world," the company said.
Her team will work with clients across the Middle East, Asia, and South America.
Writing on LinkedIn, Chander said it was an “honor and a privilege” to take on the role. She added: “Early career experiences with controls and automation brought me into IT infrastructure, showing me how energy and data are increasingly intertwined.
“Working on microgrids highlighted the complexity of balancing the grid with energy storage technology and renewables — insights now applicable to creating sustainable data centers.”
She continued: “It is exciting to see the strong coupling between data and energy, and I am excited about applying my knowledge and skills to this evolving field, especially with the anticipated growth in AI and its potential impact on the industry.”
Chander worked for the likes of ABB and Hitachi Energy in Singapore and Australia before joining Schneider Electric in 2022 as vice president of power systems for the Middle East and Africa.
“Understanding the complex and nuanced interplay between energy and data will be key to navigating the future of our industry,” said Pankaj Sharma, executive vice president for secure power, data centers, and global services at Schneider Electric. “Nirupa’s experience and insight in this area will be invaluable in the ongoing digitalization of the energy sector and our increasingly digital world.”
