Insurance broker Lockton has launched a global practice advising on risk across data centre and digital infrastructure development, from planning through construction to operations.
The Data Centres & Digital Infrastructure Practice will support owners, operators, developers, investors, hyperscalers and technology providers, according to the firm, which describes itself as the world’s largest privately held, independent insurance brokerage.
It builds on Lockton’s existing work on hyperscale campuses, multi-building developments, phased construction programmes, operational portfolios and power-related infrastructure.
Tim Ryan, Lockton’s US president, said: “Data centres are at the core of how the modern world operates, and the risk landscape behind that infrastructure has become increasingly interconnected, capital-intensive, and time-sensitive.
“Organisations need advisors who understand the full lifecycle from planning and site selection through ongoing operations and scale. Our practice is built to advise clients so they can navigate that complexity with confidence.”
The practice brings together risk strategy, analytics, engineering insight and market expertise under a single advisory model, covering clients from project planning – where Lockton says foundational risk decisions are made – through construction, operational launch, portfolio expansion and ongoing risk management.
Products will be tailored to individual clients but span construction and property risk, errors and omissions, service level agreements, environmental risk, cyber and surety.
Chris Brown, chief executive of Lockton International, said: “The global data centre and digital infrastructure market is evolving at extraordinary speed. Lockton’s independent model allows us to bring together global expertise from regions around the world, tailor solutions around each client’s business, and deliver advice that extends well beyond traditional insurance placement.”
The practice will be led by James Nelson in the US and Sam Baker in the UK, both reporting into Lockton’s wider leadership on strategy. Nelson joins from a role as global head of client engagement at Eldin Risk, having previously held positions at Marsh, Cerberus Capital and Alvarez & Marsal advising on complex risk strategies. Baker has spent 13 years at Lockton and has led development of its proprietary data centre product offerings in recent years.
Ryan added: “Our role is helping clients build and operate critical infrastructure, from project to portfolio, with greater resilience, certainty, and confidence. When risk is managed proactively, organisations can spend less time navigating complexity and more time focused on growth and innovation.”
Read next: UKCW and Build in Digital team up for a grand opening
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
