Packet co-Founder and former Equinix edge executive brings deep expertise in AI-Era infrastructure, automation, and platform scale
Wasabi Technologies, the hot cloud storage company, today announced the appointment of Zachary Smith to its Board of Directors. A respected innovator in digital infrastructure and cloud computing, Smith brings more than a decade of experience building and scaling high-performance infrastructure platforms that power modern enterprises.
“AI is quickly changing the landscape for Wasabi, with several of our largest customers now from the AI world. We aspire to be the default storage partner for the AI industry, and that means not only new products for AI workloads, but also an AI industry perspective at the Board level,” said David Friend, co-founder and CEO of Wasabi Technologies. “Zac has been deeply involved in the AI community for years and will be instrumental in helping Wasabi adapt to a rapidly changing marketplace.”
Smith began his career at Voxel, an early Linux-based cloud provider, and went on to co-found Packet in 2014, pioneering automated bare metal infrastructure. Following Equinix’s acquisition of Packet, he led Equinix’s edge computing and software connectivity business, helping advance one of the world’s largest digital infrastructure platforms at the intersection of cloud, network, and distributed compute. Most recently, Smith co-founded Datum, a startup building the world’s first open network cloud. The company is backed by leading venture firms including Amplify, Encoded, and CRV.
Smith joins Wasabi at a pivotal moment in the company’s growth. As organizations worldwide confront explosive data growth and rising AI infrastructure demands, Wasabi continues to expand its global footprint and invest in high-performance, AI-ready cloud storage solutions designed to deliver predictable pricing and enterprise-class performance without the complexity of legacy hyperscale models.
“It’s rare to see a company successfully enter a hyperscaler-dominated market and not just compete, but win,” said Smith. “Wasabi has built a differentiated platform and a powerful brand by challenging the status quo in cloud economics and performance. I’m excited to support the team as they extend that advantage into the AI-driven future of infrastructure.”