Lifecycle data center services provider Salute Mission Critical has appointed Erich Sanchack as its new chief executive officer.

Sanchack replaces Salute co-founder Jason Okroy, who will become the chief customer and strategy officer.

Sanchack previously spent five years at data center giant Digital Realty as its chief operating officer. It was announced in January that he would leave the company just a month after the abrupt departure of its CEO Bill Stein. Digital Realty has yet to announce a new COO.

Prior to his time at Digital Realty, Sanchack worked at CenturyLink and military contractor Lockheed Martin.

He is also a former United States Marine Corps officer, which fits Salute's overall effort to bring military veterans into the data center industry.

"He is an outstanding example of the value the military community brings to our industry," co-founder and chairman Lee Kirby said.

"Our commercial success allows us to particularly serve the military community, and underserved communities, in even more impactful ways."

Sanchack added: “I am extremely excited to join the Salute Mission Critical team. Salute’s continued success is largely due to its global customer-centric solutions and the full spectrum of high-quality services. The impressive decade of year-over-year growth is a testament to the strength of the Salute team and their ability to deliver."

The new hire comes after Salute acquired US data center consultant Iconicx Critical Solutions last December, just a month after expanding into the UK with the acquisition of data center services firm AMS Helix.