AWS Data Center Sustainability Expert Joins Google Cloud

Amazon Web Services (AWS) veteran Chris Vonderhaar (pictured, top of page) has joined Google Cloud as VP of demand and supply management, according to his LinkedIn profile.

While at AWS, Vonderhaar oversaw the design, planning, construction and operations of the AWS global data center fleet. Vonderhaar also oversaw AWS business development and procurement of utilities (energy, water), the AWS renewable energy portfolio, and AWS sustainability teams and business, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Vonderhaar's career move comes at a key time. Indeed, major cloud service providers and dozens of data center providers are striving to embrace renewable energy while marching toward net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions goals. At the same time, Google Cloud is striving to gain revenue ground against AWS and Microsoft Azure, in particular.

Revenue Growth, Profits and Renewable Energy Goals

After early market struggles, the search giant hired Oracle veteran Thomas Kurian in 2019 to make the cloud business more appealing to enterprise customers. Fast forward to Q1 of 2023 and Google Cloud finally achieved profitability. Among the financial metrics to note: $191 million in operating profit. Moreover, revenue was $7.45 billion in Q1 of 2023, up 28% from Q1 of 2022.

Still, AWS (34%) continues to outpace Microsoft (23%) and Google Cloud (10%), according to Q1 2023 cloud market share figures from Synergy Research.

On the sustainability front, Google is striving to achieve net zero emissions across all operations and value chain by 2030. At the same time, Google Cloud's goal is to run on carbon-free energy, 24/7, across all data centers by 2030. The effort includes cloud-centric partnerships.

Google Cloud Next 2023 Conference: Sustainability Content Expected

So what's next? Keep an eye on Google Cloud Next 2023 -- a conference scheduled for August 29-31 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The conference agenda includes at least 20 sessions that will touch on sustainability strategies for customers and partners.

We'll be watching to see what role Vonderhaar plays in that journey toward sustainability.