Leadership

Wes Cummins is the Chairman and CEO of Applied Digital, a company he co-founded. He brings a steadfast vision for growing dynamic, high-value companies. With more than 20 years of experience as a technology investor, Wes has a robust background in capital markets, having held positions at investment banks and institutional asset management firms. He also founded and serves as CEO of 272 Capital LP, an investment advisory firm focusing on technology hardware, software, and services companies. His career includes a notable tenure at Nokomis Capital, where he led technology investing. Wes serves on the board of Sequans Communications S.A. His expertise and leadership in technology investment have been instrumental in guiding Applied Digital's strategy and operations. 

Jason Zhang is the Co-founder of Applied Digital. He is a known and respected investor in high-performance technology and software. In 2019, he founded Valuefinder, a company that advises and invests in technology-related companies. Prior to founding Valuefinder, Jason was an investment analyst at MSD Capital and Sequoia Capital, specializing in high-value technology companies. At both firms, he concentrated on investments in blockchain, digital infrastructure, enterprise software, consumer products, and hardware. Jason graduated from Harvard University in 2015 with a degree in Economics. His ideas and expertise significantly shape the company's growth and innovation.

David Rench is the Chief Financial Officer of Applied Digital. He is recognized for streamlining financial procedures for profitability. David is an experienced financial executive with a strong background in accounting, financial analysis, and strategic planning. He began his career as an analyst with Citi Group and American Airlines, later transitioning to mergers and acquisitions as a Senior Associate at Essilor of America. In 2010, he co-founded ihiji, Inc., a software startup where he served as Vice President of Finance and Operations until its acquisition by Control4 in 2017. After the acquisition, David became the CFO of Hirzel Capital LLC, a role he held until 2020. Known for his focus on long-term business growth, revenue, and profitability, David drives the financial strategy at Applied Digital.

Michael Maniscalco is the Chief Technology Officer of Applied Digital. With expertise in leveraging advanced technology, he integrates cutting-edge technologies, bringing innovative concepts to reality. At Applied Digital, Michael leads the development of supercomputers and data centers to support world-class AI applications and teams. Previously, he founded Better Living Technologies, focusing on innovative solutions for diabetes and chronic disease management. He co-founded ihiji, an award-winning connected home service provider acquired by Control4 in 2017, and InvoStar, a luxury home automation company acquired in 2010. With more than 20 years of experience driving innovation across various industries, including web3, IoT, finance, telecommunications, and healthcare, Michael's technical advancements drive Applied Digital's innovation. 

Erin Kraxberger is the Chief Marketing Officer of Applied Digital. Known for her expertise in aligning marketing strategies with business goals, she elevates the company's market presence, attracts major industry players and drives investor interest. With nearly two decades of experience in finance and marketing, specializing in technology investments, Erin drives strategic initiatives and spearheads marketing efforts. She has held roles such as Chief Operating Officer of 272 Capital LP and Head of Marketing & Investor Relations at SCW Capital Management. Her background includes roles in financial planning and investment banking, contributing to her comprehensive understanding of financial markets. Erin's multifaceted expertise uniquely positions her to drive Applied Digital's marketing initiatives, leveraging innovation and strategic partnerships for growth and success. 

Todd Gale is the Chief Development Officer of Applied Digital. He has an eye for unique design and intricate details that lead to scale. Todd brings more than 45 years of expertise in collaborating with hyperscalers and driving transformative initiatives in data center design, engineering, construction, and mission-critical infrastructure. Previously, he was the Vice President of Engineering at Flexential, where he led the design and implementation of new data centers and capacity upgrades. His notable achievements include designing North America's first UTI Tier IV Design Certified colocation data center and pioneering high-efficiency cooling systems. As Senior Vice President at Terremark Worldwide, Todd oversaw global technical direction, including design, technology selections, construction, and engineering. His detailed focus contributes to scaling Applied Digital's infrastructure. 

Kate Reed is the Chief Growth Officer at Applied Digital Corporation, where she drives the organization’s strategic vision through a multifaceted approach encompassing operational efficiency, people development, and expansive growth initiatives. With over 15 years of leadership experience at top technology firms like Red Hat and Trusteer (both acquired by IBM), she brings extensive expertise to her role. Kate excels in cultivating and managing strategic partnerships and alliances to expand market reach and create synergies. Adept at analyzing market trends, customer needs, and the competitive landscape, Kate identifies and seizes new growth opportunities. Her cross-functional collaboration with marketing, sales, and operations ensures alignment with growth strategies and company objectives. Her leadership and strategic insight are instrumental in shaping Applied Digital's trajectory and enhancing both internal and external performance.

Tom Burke is the Chief Revenue Officer of Applied Digital. Able to harness strategic enterprise opportunities, he excels at delivering outstanding revenue performance in competitive markets. Tom brings a distinguished career at IBM, where he most recently served as Vice President of Technology & AI Partnerships, leading IBM’s global AI partnership strategy. He also headed Global Sales for IBM’s Data and AI division, managing an impressive $6 billion in annual revenue. He also played a pivotal role in IBM’s go-to-market strategies with prominent growth-stage data companies Cloudera, MongoDb, DataStax and Palantir. Since joining IBM in 2010, Tom held various leadership roles, including Chief of Staff for IBM Data and AI, Americas OEM Sales Leader, and Regional Sales Leader for the US West in Data and AI. His focus on accelerating enterprise growth drives Applied Digital's revenue strategy.

Chris Jackson is the Senior Vice President of Operations of Applied Digital. A seasoned operations executive with a proven ability to transform complex projects into tangible results, he brings a strategic mindset and operational excellence to the team. With more than two decades of experience leading large-scale data center initiatives for both commercial and government entities, Chris has a distinguished track record of delivering exceptional performance and driving operational efficiency. His expertise in managing multi-billion-dollar projects, coupled with his ability to optimize resource allocation, positions him as a key asset in scaling Applied Digital's operations and achieving its strategic goals.

Nick Phillips is the Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Real Estate Acquisition of Applied Digital. A seasoned operations executive with a proven track record in scaling high-tech infrastructure, Nick brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit and operational expertise to the team. Before joining Applied Digital, he founded and led multiple technology companies, including a traditional data center and one of North America's largest blockchain hosting companies. His deep industry knowledge, coupled with extensive experience in government relations and legislative affairs, has been instrumental in the successful launch and operation of Applied Digital's first three data centers. Nick is now focused on building upon this momentum to drive public affairs initiatives and growth across Applied Digital.

LaTascha Durden is the Director of Human Resources of Applied Digital. She drives change through culture and organizational improvement. LaTascha began her professional journey with a decade of honorable service in the United States Army, instilling in her a strong sense of discipline and dedication. With more than 25 years of experience in human resource management and leadership across government and private sectors, she has driven impactful HR initiatives that enhance workplace culture and organizational growth. Her expertise includes workforce planning, policy design, compliance, training, performance management, diversity program development, employee relations, and benefits administration. LaTascha's ability to lead and optimize human capital strategies is vital to Applied Digital's long-term success.

Richard "Rich" Williams is the Director of EHS: Strategy & Solutions of Applied Digital. Regarded for his expertise in employee occupational health and safety loss prevention, strategy and compliance, he is a leader in developing and implementing EHS programs and policies. Rich brings more than 20 years of experience in E/OH&S across multiple disciplines and industries. In his previous role as National Manager Occupational Health & Safety at Ericcson, he led EH&S operations and worked with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance and a hazard-free workplace. His experience ensures the best EHS standards for Applied Digital and its employees.