Chris Crosby

Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Compass Datacenters

After years of working at the intersection of tech and real estate development, Chris Crosby set out in 2011 to take a new approach to data center development. His vision was to focus on greenfield projects and deliver customizable, scalable, sustainable and low-cost data centers in an expedited time frame. A testament to Chris’ bold vision and a solid culture centered around four core convictions from which the company has never wavered, Compass has grown at a remarkable rate. From completing its first 1.2 MW data center in 2012 to serving the campus-level hyperscale market with developments underway across the globe less than a decade later, Compass’ success is the result of Chris’ vision, a strong foundation and a talented team of innovative thinkers. Beyond his role at Compass, Chris is dedicated to shaping the future of the industry’s workforce through education. He serves as a member of the SMU Lyle School of Engineering Datacenter Systems Engineering Advisory Board, where he was instrumental in developing the Master of Science in Datacenter Systems Engineering curriculum. The first degree of its kind in the United States, the interdisciplinary curriculum blends engineering, computer science, business management and finance to prepare students for leadership roles. Additionally, Chris launched the MEI Data Center Pathways Program at Texas State Technical College (TSTC) to bring more workers into the "new-collar" jobs created by the data center industry. In 2025, Compass was recognized by the Financial Times as one of the Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies. Since 2020, it has consistently appeared on Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest-growing companies list. In 2024, the Dallas Business Journal named Compass among the Best Places to Work, a ranking determined by employee feedback. Additionally, in 2023, Chris was honored as EY’s Southwest Area Entrepreneur of The Year®. Under Chris’ leadership, Compass continues to drive industry-leading sustainability practices, making a lasting impact on the data center industry.