![[Translate to Englisch:] Anna Klaft wird neue Vorstandsvorsitzende der GERMAN DATACENTER ASSOCIATION e.V.](/fileadmin/_processed_/3/8/csm_2021-4-15_GDA-PM_Vorstandswahlen_be0dca0434.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Anna Klaft wird neue Vorstandsvorsitzende der GERMAN DATACENTER ASSOCIATION e.V.")
As Business Development Manager Data Center at CBRE, Anna Klaft is responsible for business development in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, specializing in holistic solutions for data centers. Prior to that Klaft has been working in various leading positions at WISAG. She joined the executive board of the GDA in 2020.
Raising awareness for data centers
„My objective is to raise awareness for our industry in politics, business and society,“ explains Klaft. „Data centers are the key components of the digitization and infrastructure of our country and shall not be overlooked. Hence, the framework condition for data center operators are of vital significance for the competitiveness of our economy. This is why we want to represent data center operators and their specific concerns and interests with a strong voice in politics, society and the media.”
Data centers are increasingly attractive for institutional investors
„With the technological development of the Internet and escalating universal use of broadband and intelligent technologies, data centers have become an increasingly powerful force. As the digital transformation has even accelerated during the covid pandemic, need for storage capacity and computing power has increased further. Compared with conventional commercial real estate, data centers represent an increasing attractive, high-performance investment alternative for institutional investors,” stresses Klaft, referring to the recently published study „Data Center Outlook 2021” of the GERMAN DATACENTER ASSOCIATION with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. The study revealed that 41 percent of respondents would like to invest in data centers within the next two years. The new executive board thus also wants to focus offering a platform for extensive networking in the data center sectors, new services and attracting new members of the industry.
Klaft and Pohlschröder (NDC-GARBE Data Centers Europe GmbH) are going to work with five fellow board members. Prof. Dr. Peter Radgen (Institut of Energy Economics and Rational Energy Use, University of Stuttgart) and Jens Müller (Keppel Data Centres Germany Holdings GmbH) were re-elected as board members. Oliver Schiebel (Global Switch FM GmbH), Klaus Schindling (Hattersheim am Main) and Bernhard Benz (Colt Technology GmbH) were appointed as members of the executive board.
Founder Harry Schnabel made an honorary member
The outgoing chairman Harry Schnabel was made an honorary member by the new GDA executive board. The new chairwoman Anna Klaft honored the engagement and the outstanding achievements and merits of the GDA-founder: „Since decades, Harry Schnabel is one of the leading pioneers of our industry and has crafted the DNA of our association. We are deeply grateful to him!“ Schnabel adds: „I am very confident that under Anna Klaft´s leadership, the GDA will continue to make a positive difference in the organization’s mission and impact. I am looking forward to continuing to support our association and the new executive board with my knowledge and experience!“
GERMAN DATACENTER ASSOCIATION
The GERMAN DATA CENTER ASSOCIATION is an association of operators and owners of data centers of all sizes and is supported by leading research institutes and media partners.
The association intends to offer data center operators in Germany a platform to work together to promote the growth of the sector and raise awareness of the industry in business, society and politics. The GDA will also represent members with regard to laws, regulations and standards, other provisions and political issues in the relevant committees. The long-term aim is to sustainably improve the conditions for data center operators in Germany.
The GERMAN DATACENTER ASSOCIATION is a registered association and is domiciled in Frankfurt am Main.
Press Contact
Marion Hoppen
hoppen.kommunikation
Christburger Straße 17 | 10405 Berlin
Tel: +49 151 1780 7801
presse(at)germandatacenters.com
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Press Release: Anna Klaft elected as new chairwoman of the GERMAN DATACENTER ASSOCIATION e.V. (PDF)
