Apple’s data center chief passes away

Olivier Sanche, Apple’s Director of Global Data Center Operations, passed away last week after suffering a heart attack, according to a new report. Citing Tweets and blog postings from some of Sanche’s friends, Data Center Knowledge reports that Sanche joined Apple in August 2009, and oversaw the preparations for the company’s new $1 billion data center in North Carolina. Prior to Apple, Sanche headed data center teams at AT&T, Telecity Group and eBay; for the latter, he oversaw the design and construction of eBay’s “Topaz” data center in Utah, which recently received LEED Gold certification for its sustainable construction. “Olivier loved being at Apple as he could do things he could get done nowhere else,” friend Dave Ohara wrote. “He had vision, passion, and drive to do the right thing, especially for the environment.”