Joe Craparotta takes over as CEO of Leading Edge Data Centres

Joe Craparotta has been appointed as CEO of Leading Edge Data Centres.

He joins after close to two decades with Schneider Electric in a career that began as a northern region manager at APC by Schneider Electric.

He went on to hold such roles at Schneider Electric as GM of sales for the industrial automation business unit, VP of the energy business unit and VP of the IT business, along with strategic customers and segments.

In late 2024, Craparotta was named VP of cloud and service providers for the Pacific.

In a LinkedIn post announcing the appointment, Leading Edge said Craparotta will help shape its strategic growth plans, advance its AI datacentre expansion, and support capital raising.

“As Australia's first AI edge data centre network, we're building the infrastructure that bridges the digital divide between metro and regional Australia, and with [Craparotta] at the helm, our best years are still ahead,” the company said in its post.

The company also announced that founder Chris Thorpe is moving into the executive vice chairman’s seat. but continuing to work closely with Craparotta and the leadership team.

"I look forward to working together, building on the great achievements to date and leading the LEDC group of companies to the next horizon of growth," Craparotta said in his own LinkedIn post.