Schneider Electric has appointed Pablo Ruiz Escribano as Senior Vice President for its Secure Power and Data Centre Business in Europe, signalling a renewed focus on the energy and infrastructure demands created by artificial intelligence (AI). With nearly two decades at the company, Ruiz Escribano steps into the role at a critical moment as the industry grapples with the sustainability and efficiency challenges of AI-driven data growth.
His appointment comes alongside another leadership shift, with Marc Garner moving into a global position as President of Schneider Electric’s Cloud & Service Providers Segment. Together, these changes reflect a strategic push to help data centre operators and cloud providers address the mounting pressures of AI infrastructure expansion, energy consumption, and decarbonisation.
Driving efficiency in AI data centres
Ruiz Escribano’s remit will span key European markets, working with national and regional leadership teams to support data centre operators in adapting to the growing energy and cooling demands of AI workloads. He brings extensive experience from both regional and global leadership roles, having previously served as Vice President for Secure Power and Field Services in Iberia, as well as Global Services Segment VP. His tenure has focused on integrating services with broader business strategies and ensuring alignment across multi-country operations.
“AI is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace, creating both opportunities and challenges for digital infrastructure,” Ruiz Escribano said. “The acceleration of AI places new demands on energy, sustainability, and operational resilience. I look forward to working closely with our customers and partners to navigate this shift and drive forward more efficient, resilient, and sustainable solutions.”
The timing of the appointment reflects a wider industry reckoning with AI’s impact on data centre design and operation. As demand for high-density compute capacity intensifies, operators must balance performance requirements with energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets. AI-ready infrastructure requires robust cooling systems, optimised power distribution, and intelligent automation to prevent exponential energy growth from undermining sustainability goals.
Ruiz Escribano will play a central role in advancing Schneider’s approach to AI-driven data centre operations, working with its partner ecosystem, including EcoXpert, Alliance Partners, and AI-focused technology collaborators. His mandate includes delivering end-to-end solutions that help customers ‘bend the energy curve’ of AI while meeting evolving regulatory and market expectations.
Scaling global AI infrastructure
Meanwhile, Garner’s transition to a global role underscores Schneider’s ambition to support hyperscale data centres and cloud providers as they confront similar challenges on a broader scale. The industry is experiencing a rapid build-out of AI infrastructure, with cloud platforms racing to accommodate growing computational demands.
“Data centre operators are under immense pressure to scale up AI workloads while improving sustainability and efficiency,” Garner added. “It has been a privilege to lead Schneider Electric’s Secure Power business in Europe, and I am excited to take on this new global role at a time when our industry is undergoing such significant transformation.”
The reshaped leadership team will report to Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President of Secure Power & Data Centres and Global Services Businesses. Sharma highlighted the importance of continuity and expertise in navigating AI’s impact on digital infrastructure.
“Schneider Electric remains committed to leading the evolution of digital infrastructure through innovation and sustainability,” he said. “Pablo brings deep industry knowledge and a track record of leadership that will be instrumental as we help our customers tackle the challenges and opportunities presented by AI. At the same time, Marc’s move into a global role reinforces our focus on scaling sustainable cloud and data centre solutions worldwide.”
Both appointments take effect immediately, reinforcing Schneider Electric’s efforts to align its leadership with the realities of AI-driven infrastructure demand. As the data centre sector faces a period of unprecedented expansion and scrutiny, the ability to deliver energy-efficient, scalable solutions will be central to meeting both commercial and environmental expectations.
