Western Digital Names Storage Infrastructure Executive Ahmed Shihab as Chief Product Officer
Western Digital (WDC) has appointed Ahmed Shihab as its new Chief Product Officer, bringing nearly 30 years of experience in storage and infrastructure design. Shihab joins WDC from his previous role as Corporate Vice President of Azure Storage at Microsoft, where he led engineering and operations teams for Object and Block storage.
In his new position, Shihab will lead product strategy and engineering, focusing on HDD products and solutions development. His extensive background includes serving as Vice President of Infrastructure Hardware at AWS, Vice President and Chief Architect at NetApp's File Systems Group, and over eight years at Xyratex.
CEO Irving Tan emphasized that Shihab's appointment comes at a important time for the HDD industry, citing increasing data generation, AI adoption, and growing demand for scalable storage solutions. The company aims to enhance its innovative storage solutions for hyperscalers, cloud service providers, and OEMs under Shihab's leadership.
Western Digital (WDC) ha nominato Ahmed Shihab come nuovo Chief Product Officer, portando con sé quasi 30 anni di esperienza nel design di storage e infrastrutture. Shihab si unisce a WDC dopo aver ricoperto il ruolo di Vice Presidente Corporate di Azure Storage presso Microsoft, dove ha guidato i team di ingegneria e operazioni per lo storage Object e Block.
In questa nuova posizione, Shihab guiderà la strategia di prodotto e l'ingegneria, concentrandosi sullo sviluppo di prodotti e soluzioni HDD. Il suo ampio background include esperienze come Vice Presidente dell'Hardware di Infrastruttura presso AWS, Vice Presidente e Chief Architect nel gruppo File Systems di NetApp, e oltre otto anni in Xyratex.
Il CEO Irving Tan ha sottolineato che la nomina di Shihab arriva in un momento importante per l'industria HDD, citando l'aumento della generazione di dati, l'adozione dell'IA e la crescente domanda di soluzioni di storage scalabili. L'azienda mira a migliorare le sue soluzioni innovative di storage per hyperscalers, fornitori di servizi cloud e OEM sotto la guida di Shihab.
Western Digital (WDC) ha nombrado a Ahmed Shihab como su nuevo Chief Product Officer, aportando casi 30 años de experiencia en diseño de almacenamiento e infraestructura. Shihab se une a WDC desde su anterior cargo como Vicepresidente Corporativo de Azure Storage en Microsoft, donde lideró equipos de ingeniería y operaciones para el almacenamiento de Objetos y Bloques.
En su nueva posición, Shihab liderará la estrategia de producto e ingeniería, enfocándose en el desarrollo de productos y soluciones HDD. Su amplia experiencia incluye haber sido Vicepresidente de Hardware de Infraestructura en AWS, Vicepresidente y Chief Architect en el grupo de Sistemas de Archivos de NetApp, y más de ocho años en Xyratex.
El CEO Irving Tan enfatizó que la designación de Shihab llega en un momento importante para la industria HDD, citando el aumento de la generación de datos, la adopción de IA y la creciente demanda de soluciones de almacenamiento escalables. La empresa busca mejorar sus soluciones innovadoras de almacenamiento para hyperscalers, proveedores de servicios en la nube y OEMs bajo el liderazgo de Shihab.
Western Digital (WDC)는 Ahmed Shihab를 새로운 Chief Product Officer로 임명하며, 스토리지 및 인프라 설계 분야에서 거의 30년의 경력을 가져왔습니다. Shihab는 Microsoft의 Azure Storage에서 Corporate Vice President로 재직하며 Object 및 Block 스토리지의 엔지니어링 및 운영 팀을 이끌었습니다.
새로운 직책에서 Shihab는 HDD 제품 및 솔루션 개발에 집중하여 제품 전략 및 엔지니어링을 이끌게 됩니다. 그의 방대한 배경에는 AWS의 Infrastructure Hardware 부사장, NetApp의 File Systems Group에서 부사장 및 Chief Architect로 일한 경험, 그리고 Xyratex에서의 8년 이상 경력이 포함됩니다.
CEO Irving Tan은 Shihab의 임명이 HDD 산업에 중요한 시점에 이루어졌다고 강조하며, 데이터 생성의 증가, AI 도입, 확장 가능한 스토리지 솔루션에 대한 수요 증가를 언급했습니다. 회사는 Shihab의 리더십 하에 하이퍼스케일러, 클라우드 서비스 제공업체 및 OEM을 위한 혁신적인 스토리지 솔루션을 강화할 계획입니다.
Western Digital (WDC) a nommé Ahmed Shihab comme nouveau Chief Product Officer, apportant près de 30 ans d'expérience dans la conception de stockage et d'infrastructure. Shihab rejoint WDC après avoir occupé le poste de Vice-Président Corporatif d'Azure Storage chez Microsoft, où il a dirigé des équipes d'ingénierie et d'opérations pour le stockage d'objets et de blocs.
Dans son nouveau poste, Shihab dirigera la stratégie produit et l'ingénierie, en se concentrant sur le développement de produits et de solutions HDD. Son vaste parcours comprend des fonctions en tant que Vice-Président de l'Infrastructure Hardware chez AWS, Vice-Président et Chief Architect au sein du groupe File Systems de NetApp, et plus de huit ans chez Xyratex.
Le PDG Irving Tan a souligné que la nomination de Shihab intervient à un moment important pour l'industrie HDD, citant l'augmentation de la génération de données, l'adoption de l'IA et la demande croissante de solutions de stockage évolutives. L'entreprise vise à améliorer ses solutions de stockage innovantes pour les hyperscalers, les fournisseurs de services cloud et les OEM sous la direction de Shihab.
Western Digital (WDC) hat Ahmed Shihab als neuen Chief Product Officer ernannt und bringt fast 30 Jahre Erfahrung im Bereich Speicher und Infrastrukturdesign mit. Shihab kommt von seiner vorherigen Position als Corporate Vice President von Azure Storage bei Microsoft, wo er die Ingenieur- und Betriebsteams für Objekt- und Blockspeicher leitete.
In seiner neuen Position wird Shihab die Produktstrategie und Ingenieurwesen leiten und sich auf die Entwicklung von HDD-Produkten und -Lösungen konzentrieren. Sein umfangreicher Hintergrund umfasst Tätigkeiten als Vice President für Infrastruktur-Hardware bei AWS, Vice President und Chief Architect in der File Systems Group von NetApp sowie über acht Jahre bei Xyratex.
CEO Irving Tan betonte, dass Shihabs Ernennung zu einem wichtigen Zeitpunkt für die HDD-Branche erfolgt, da die Datenproduktion zunimmt, die KI-Adoption voranschreitet und die Nachfrage nach skalierbaren Speicherlösungen wächst. Das Unternehmen strebt an, seine innovativen Speicherlösungen für Hyperscaler, Cloud-Service-Anbieter und OEMs unter Shihabs Leitung zu verbessern.
- Strategic hire with extensive cloud storage and infrastructure experience from major tech companies (Microsoft Azure, AWS, NetApp)
- Appointment aligns with growing market opportunities in AI and data storage
- Strengthens leadership in HDD technology development and innovation
- None.
“Ahmed joins Western Digital at a pivotal time for the HDD industry with data generation, AI adoption, and the demand for scalable storage continuing to grow. His expertise will be instrumental in driving innovation and meeting the industry's evolving needs,” said Irving Tan, CEO of Western Digital. “Given his tenure with storage and infrastructure design and development, Ahmed is the right leader to move Western Digital forward as we help our customers unleash the power and value of data.”
With nearly 30 years of experience across product design and business leadership, Shihab has consistently delivered on the needs of the business and customers through developing a culture of quality and agile execution. Prior to his tenure at Microsoft Azure Storage, Ahmed was Vice President, Infrastructure Hardware at AWS, where he led innovation and the building and operations of AWS's compute and storage fleet. He also served as Vice President and Chief Architect of File Systems Group at NetApp and spent more than eight years at Xyratex, a cloud infrastructure company. Shihab holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Engineering from the University of Southampton in
“Hyperscalers, cloud service providers, and OEMs are looking to Western Digital to provide them with the most cutting-edge HDD technology to grow their businesses,” said Tan. “With Ahmed’s leadership, our customers can expect even more from Western Digital’s legacy of creating innovative and reliable storage solutions at scale today and well into the future.”
About Western Digital
Western Digital empowers the systems and people who rely on data. Consistently delivering massive capacity, high quality and low TCO, Western Digital is trusted by hyperscale cloud providers, enterprise data centers, content professionals and consumers around the world. Core to its values, the company recognizes the urgency to combat climate change and is on a mission to design storage technologies that not only meet today’s data demands but also contribute to a more climate-conscious future. Follow Western Digital on LinkedIn and learn more at http://www.westerndigital.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements regarding expectations for: the HDD industry, including demand and storage trends. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Key risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include: volatility in global economic conditions and demand for the company’s products; inflation; increase in interest rates and economic recession; future responses to and effects of global health crises; the impact of business and market conditions; the outcome and impact of the separation of the company’s HDD and Flash businesses, including with respect to customer and supplier relationships, regulatory and contractual restrictions, stock price volatility and the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the company’s development and introduction of products based on new technologies and expansion into new data storage markets; risks associated with cost saving initiatives, restructurings, acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, joint ventures and the company’s strategic relationships; difficulties or delays in manufacturing or other supply chain disruptions; hiring and retention of key employees; the company’s level of debt and other financial obligations; changes to the company’s relationships with key customers; compromise, damage or interruption from cybersecurity incidents or other data system security risks; actions by competitors; the company’s ability to achieve its GHG emissions reduction and other ESG goals; the impact of international conflicts; risks associated with compliance with changing legal and regulatory requirements and the outcome of legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 20, 2024 to which your attention is directed. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events, except as required by law.
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Source: Western Digital Corporation
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