QTS Expands European Team with Former Microsoft Executive

QTS Data Centers (QTS) has appointed Val Walsh as its new president of Europe, bringing over two decades of experience in the data center industry. Walsh, who previously served as VP of Microsoft’s Cloud Operations and Innovation team, will lead QTS’s European expansion efforts. Her tenure at Microsoft saw her oversee the physical infrastructure supporting cloud and AI services, as well as data center land acquisition and development. Under her leadership, Microsoft’s leased capacity grew 15-fold, meeting the rising demand for digital infrastructure.

Walsh joins QTS at a pivotal time as the company invests heavily in expanding its European footprint. QTS is developing several new data centers, including one of the largest data center campuses in Northumberland, UK, and planned facilities in Italy, Finland, and Spain. These additions will complement existing sites in the Netherlands. Walsh expressed enthusiasm about joining QTS, citing its community-led approach and rapid growth in Europe.

Before her role at Microsoft, Walsh spent 15 years at Digital Realty, where she played a key part in building the company’s European business and supported four major acquisitions. Her career began at Servecentric, which was later acquired by Digital Realty. QTS’s European expansion has already made waves this year, particularly with its partnership with Zayo Europe. This collaboration will link the Northumberland facility directly into Zayo Europe’s UK fibre network, enhancing connectivity between major UK business hubs and Europe.