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Risk in Context Podcast: Leveraging site selection as a strategic data center success driver

Listen to Marsh specialists discuss the questions data center owners, operators, developers, and tenants should consider as they select a site for an asset.

06/23/2026 · 2 minute read

As the digital infrastructure industry continues to grow at a fast clip, securing the most appropriate site for a data center is a critical step for success, impacting both construction and operations.

But selecting the right location requires comprehensive analysis — from determining the availability of power and skilled labor, to understanding and quantifying the potential impact of natural catastrophes. Selecting the right site is also instrumental for a data center owner/operator to be able to attract the right tenants.

In this episode of Risk in Context, Michael Mathews, Marsh’s Global Digital Infrastructure Practice Leader, speaks with Dereck Wischmeier, Senior Advisor within the Global Digital Infrastructure Practice, Laksh Maggoo, Partner at Oliver Wyman, and Manglam Tewari, also a Partner at Oliver Wyman. They discuss the questions data center owners/operators, developers, and tenants should consider as they select a site and offer practical, actionable steps to guide critical site-selection decisions.

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Key takeaways

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Behind-the-meter power generation impacting site selection

The rise in on‑site power generation means that data center owners/developers must prioritize parcels that can support behind‑the‑meter generation and underwrite bankable, tenant‑usable megawatts on a clear timeline.

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Labor scarcity and skill mix are front-end site diligence criteria

A shortage of specialized mission-critical trades, such as electrical, mechanical, commissioning, and controls, requires developers to bake workforce analysis into site diligence to allow for on-time project completion and sustained 24/7 operations.

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Engineering hardening improves resilience and insurability

Proactive design and construction choices, such as elevation and roof and wall hardening, reduce operational and catastrophic exposure, potentially lowering insurance premiums and making a site more financeable and attractive to tenants.

About our speakers

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Michael Mathews

Global Digital Infrastructure Practice Leader

  • United States

Michael Mathews is Marsh’s Global Digital Infrastructure Leader. Based in Boston, he brings over 25 years of specialized industry experience to the role, having worked with companies and investors across key sectors, including data centers, advanced computing, digital mining, renewable energy, wireless networks, and communication infrastructure. He joined Marsh’s global insurance brokerage and risk advisory business in 2020, as a managing director focusing exclusively on serving digital infrastructure clients.

Dereck Wischmeyer

Dereck Wischmeyer

Senior Advisor, Global Digital Infrastructure, Marsh

  • United States

Dereck Wischmeyer is a Senior Advisor on Marsh’s Global Digital Infrastructure team. Based in Marsh’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, office, he specializes in digital infrastructure, including fiber networks, tower operations, and data centers. He provides strategic commercial review and practical guidance on both contractual and operational risks to protect assets and optimize operations for Marsh clients. 

Laksh Maggoo

Laksh Maggoo

Partner, Oliver Wyman

  • United States

Laksh Maggoo is a Partner at Oliver Wyman, specializing in the deployment of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for clients across various industries. Based in New York, he has extensive experience as a technology executive, driving growth and performance improvement for AI infra, telecom, and software companies, collaborating closely with investors and corporate clients to harness the transformative power of AI. 

Manglam Tewari

Manglam Tewari

Partner, Oliver Wyman

  • United States

Manglam Tewari is a Partner within Oliver Wyman’s Communications, Media, and Technology Practice, focused on digital infrastructure, data centers, AI infrastructure, telecom, cloud infrastructure, and technology services. Based in San Francisco, he advises investors, operators, and technology companies on growth strategy, commercial diligence, go-to-market strategy, and large-scale transformation across the infrastructure ecosystem supporting AI, cloud, connectivity, and enterprise technology.

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