Chea Hart, a principal at DigitalBridge Investment Management, was awarded Rising Star of the Year in North America, with judges impressed by the critical role he has played in executing the company’s data center investment strategy.

Judges were impressed with Chea’s multi-faceted involvement in fundraising, investment execution and oversight, with one judge saying his involvement in the community was evident.

Chea’s deep expertise in power and energy has been pivotal in managing high-value transactions and building strategic partnerships, particularly in North America and Europe.

With his contributions, DigitalBridge has secured a global more than 7.5GW sales pipeline, representing 8%-10% of global data center capacity over the next 5 years. This pipeline includes 93 data centers in development, equating to approximately $35 billion in development CapEx.

Judges said Chea exemplifies a rising star in the industry, consistently delivering significant value-add both as an investment professional and a mentor, while driving meaningful change across the firm.

In October 2023, Chea led the execution of DigitalBridge’s Core Strategy acquisition of an ownership stake in Vantage EMEA SDC, a significant $2.7 billion transaction involving 6 stabilized data centers across Europe. 

The submission said: “His leadership ensured seamless execution while tailoring the risk-return profile to specifically suit DigitalBridge’s Core Strategy and its diverse group of institutional investors. Chea’s expertise in portfolio construction broadened DigitalBridge’s offerings, providing investment opportunities that catered to different risk appetites, ultimately strengthening the firm’s growth and appeal to a wider investor base.”

The submission continued: “Chea was instrumental in leading the acquisition of an ownership interest in Vantage Data Centers North America, serving as a key cornerstone investment of DigitalBridge’s flagship strategy. His strategic leadership and decision-making were critical in structuring and executing this complex transaction, which is positioned to directly benefit from Cloud and AI megatrends. Chea’s industry expertise ensured that this acquisition aligned with DigitalBridge’s long-term growth objectives, positioning the company for sustained success in the data center space.”

Chea is also committed to giving back to the community.  He participates in New York City’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program through the Workplace Mentoring Program. Chea’s dedication to this initiative reflects his commitment to shaping the next generation of leaders, both inside and outside the office.