Digital Realty Appoints Rob Coupland as Managing Director, EMEA

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty DLR, a leading global provider of data center, colocation and interconnection solutions, announced today the appointment of Rob Coupland as Managing Director, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), responsible for Digital Realty's operations in the region.  Mr. Coupland joined Digital Realty in conjunction with the company's acquisition of eight European data centers earlier this year, and he will assume his new role on October 1, 2016.  He will be based in London and will report directly to Chris Kenney, Senior Vice President, International. 

"Rob is uniquely qualified to lead our growing EMEA platform, given his extensive industry and leadership experience in the region, and we are delighted to expand his role within the organization," said A. William Stein, Digital Realty's Chief Executive Officer. 

Mr. Coupland most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of the former TelecityGroup data center business, which Digital Realty acquired on July 5, 2016.  Prior to TelecityGroup, he was Head of Product Marketing at NTL Business and spent 12 years at Cable and Wireless in senior product management roles.  He currently serves on the Data Centre Alliance Board of Governors and the TechUK Data Centre Council.  

"I am very excited to be a part of the talented Digital Realty team," said Mr. Coupland.  "With highly strategic holdings in all of Europe's major interconnection centers, Digital Realty is well positioned to address the strong demand for data center solutions and to meet our customers' needs throughout the region." 

Over the course of his more than 20 years in the telecommunications and technology sectors, Mr. Coupland has spearheaded several critical growth initiatives.  When he joined TelecityGroup in 2007, he played a key role in the company's initial public offering before becoming the group's Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2008.  As COO, Mr. Coupland established a data center expansion program that doubled capacity between 2008 and 2012.  He also led the efforts to acquire and integrate a number of businesses, including transactions in Ireland, Manchester, and Helsinki.  Mr. Coupland became the Managing Director for TelecityGroup's UK division in 2013 and led the turnaround of the business from one experiencing significant churn to one characterized by accelerating sales and revenue performance. 

About Digital Realty
Digital Realty supports the data center, colocation and interconnection strategies of more than 2,000 firms across its secure, network-rich portfolio of data centers located throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.  Digital Realty's clients include domestic and international companies of all sizes, ranging from financial services, cloud and information technology services, to manufacturing, energy, gaming, life sciences and consumer products.  https://www.digitalrealty.com/

For Additional Information:
Andrew P. Power
Chief Financial Officer
Digital Realty
415-738-6500

Investor Relations
John J. Stewart / Maria S. Lukens
Digital Realty
415-738-6500
investorrelations@digitalrealty.com

Media Inquiries
John Christiansen / Lindsay Andrews
Sard Verbinnen & Co.
415-618-8750

Safe Harbor Statement
This media alert contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to our management changes, strategies, plans and organization and expectations for Europe.  These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the following: the impact of current global economic, credit and market conditions; current local economic conditions in the geographies in which we operate; decreases in information technology spending, including as a result of economic slowdowns or recession; adverse economic or real estate developments in our industry or the industry sectors that we sell to (including risks relating to decreasing real estate valuations and impairment charges); our dependence upon significant tenants; bankruptcy or insolvency of a major tenant or a significant number of smaller tenants; defaults on or non-renewal of leases by tenants; our failure to obtain necessary debt and equity financing; risks associated with using debt to fund our business activities, including re-financing and interest rate risks, our failure to repay debt when due, adverse changes in our credit ratings or our breach of covenants or other terms contained in our loan facilities and agreements; financial market fluctuations; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; the impact of the United Kingdom's referendum on withdrawal from the European Union on global financial markets and our business; our inability to manage our growth effectively; difficulty acquiring or operating properties in foreign jurisdictions; our failure to successfully integrate and operate acquired or developed properties or businesses; the suitability of our properties and data center infrastructure, delays or disruptions in connectivity, failure of our physical and information security infrastructure or services or availability of power; risks related to joint venture investments, including as a result of our lack of control of such investments; delays or unexpected costs in development of properties; decreased rental rates, increased operating costs or increased vacancy rates; increased competition or available supply of data center space; our inability to successfully develop and lease new properties and development space; difficulties in identifying properties to acquire and completing acquisitions; our inability to acquire off-market properties; our inability to comply with the rules and regulations applicable to reporting companies; our failure to maintain our status as a REIT; possible adverse changes to tax laws; restrictions on our ability to engage in certain business activities; environmental uncertainties and risks related to natural disasters; losses in excess of our insurance coverage; changes in foreign laws and regulations, including those related to taxation and real estate ownership and operation; and changes in local, state and federal regulatory requirements, including changes in real estate and zoning laws and increases in real property tax rates.  For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, as amended, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016.  The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/digital-realty-appoints-rob-coupland-as-managing-director-emea-300335478.html

SOURCE Digital Realty