Beacon AI Centers Appoints Josh Schertzer as CEO, Commits to an Initial 4.5 GW Data Center Development in Alberta, Canada
ALBERTA, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Beacon AI Centers announced today that Josh Schertzer, former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Enterprise Technology at Blackstone, has joined the company as Chief Executive Officer. Schertzer will lead the company's efforts to rapidly scale and deliver cutting-edge, high-capacity AI data center developments at the scope and scale required to build an AI-powered future.
'I'm thrilled to join Beacon as CEO and lead the evolution of our state-of-the-art AI data centers across North America,' said Josh Schertzer. 'We've built a world-class team that will tackle the toughest challenges holding back AI infrastructure development and deliver much-needed compute capacity to hyperscalers at speed and scale.'
Schertzer brings two decades of experience in the technology sector, operating, leading, and investing across a variety of technology verticals. 'Josh's distinguished career speaks for itself,' said Aidan Kehoe, founder and Managing Partner of Nadia Partners, Beacon's originating fund. 'As the world enters a new era of AI-driven infrastructure, it requires a leadership style that is both strategic and operationally precise. Josh brings exactly that- making him exceptionally well-equipped to drive Beacon forward in this pivotal moment.'
Strategic Focus on Alberta
With plans to energize sites in Alberta as early as 2027, Beacon AI Centers is committing to the region and its development as a leading AI hub.
'Alberta is quickly becoming one of the most attractive jurisdictions in North America for data centre development, and Beacon's launch is a strong vote of confidence in our province,' said Nate Glubish, Alberta's Minister of Technology and Innovation. 'With our abundant energy resources, growing tech talent, and commitment to cutting red tape, we're creating the right conditions for innovators like Beacon to thrive. I look forward to seeing how their projects will help build the future of AI infrastructure from right here in Alberta.'
The strategic decision to establish Beacon's first data centers in Alberta comes at a pivotal moment when hyperscalers are facing critical infrastructure and power constraints across North America. With abundant natural gas, a competitive corporate tax environment, and a skilled workforce, Alberta offers the critical elements needed to support high-density AI workloads and long-term digital infrastructure investment.
Beacon's portfolio includes high-capacity data centers near Chestermere, High River, Acheson, Sturgeon County, Langdon, and Beaumont, Alberta, with expansion to other jurisdictions planned in 2026, and a total development pipeline of 4.9 GW across North America. According to a Colliers report, each project will create 1500 construction jobs and 300 highly-skilled operational roles. Beacon's investment is forecast at up to $7.2B USD/$10 B CAD. Each data center will incorporate advanced cooling systems, energy-efficient design, and robust connectivity to serve both public and private sector partners.
About Beacon
Originated by Nadia Partners, Beacon is a pioneering AI data center development company. With an energy-first approach, Beacon is redefining data center development to meet the growing demands of the AI era. You can learn more about Beacon at https://beaconaicenters.com.
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