Latin America is cementing its status as one of the world’s most important regions for AI infrastructure, and Brazil is leading the charge. Elea Data Centers, recognized as the region’s most sustainable AI-ready platform, has taken a significant step in its global growth strategy by appointing tech veteran Elena Winters as Vice President of International Business.
With this move, Elea signals to the market that sustainable AI at scale is not just possible, it’s already underway.
Why Elena Winters Matters for the Future of AI Infrastructure
Winters brings more than 15 years of hyperscale and cloud expansion experience to Elea. Her background includes leadership roles at:
- Meta, where she helped scale global infrastructure
- Microsoft
- Oracle Cloud
Across these roles, she has built, optimized, and expanded hyperscale footprints that support the demands of next-generation cloud and AI workloads.
At Elea, Winters will lead the company’s U.S. and international strategy, strengthening relationships with American hyperscalers and accelerating Elea’s expansion across key global markets. This is a pivotal moment for Elea: one that positions the company as a bridge between U.S. hyperscale demand and Latin America’s renewable-powered AI capacity.
Brazil’s Rise as a Global Hub for Sustainable AI
As AI workloads become more compute-intensive, the world faces unprecedented pressure on grids, water resources, and land availability. Latin America, and Brazil in particular, offers a powerful counterpoint:
- 80–85% renewable energy mix, supporting carbon-neutral AI development
- Access to scalable power and land
- Favorable climate for efficient operations
- Growing regional digital economy
Elea’s flagship project, Rio AI City, underscores this momentum. The planned 1.5 GW AI factory in Rio de Janeiro is designed to support global hyperscalers and enterprises that need clean, reliable, AI-grade capacity.
As Winters said, “Projects like Rio AI City represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape intelligent urban development and accelerate AI diffusion.”
Her leadership strengthens Elea’s ability to deliver on that vision at a global scale.
A Platform Built for Renewable, Responsible AI Growth
While capacity matters, Elea differentiates itself through responsible growth. The company is the first in Latin America to deploy AI at scale powered by 100% renewable energy.
Elea’s sustainable design principles include:
- Renewable-driven data center operations
- High-density, AI-ready facilities
- Long-term land and power commitments
- Low-carbon infrastructure development
This positions Elea as a model for next-generation AI campuses—clean, efficient, scalable, and globally connected.
Leadership That Reflects Values: Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact
Winters is not only a seasoned infrastructure leader but also a recognized industry advocate. As founder of the Women’s Tech Forum, she champions inclusion and diversity across the cloud and digital infrastructure sectors.
Elea’s Chairman and Founder, Alessandro Lombardi, emphasized that Winters’ values—innovation, inclusion, loyalty, and bold ambition—reflect Elea’s own mission as it accelerates international hyperscale expansion. Her appointment reinforces Elea’s dedication to building a technology ecosystem that is both high-performance and human-centered.
Why Elea Is Becoming the Bridgeway for Global Enterprises Entering LATAM
Backed by institutional support from Goldman Sachs, Elea is rapidly positioning itself as the go-to partner for global hyperscalers entering the Latin American market.
The company offers:
- Access to renewable energy at global-leading scale
- AI-optimized campuses engineered for rapid deployment
- Strategic locations across Brazil and emerging LATAM markets
- A leadership team with deep global cloud experience
For enterprises looking to expand in the Americas, Elea offers a compelling combination of AI-readiness, sustainability, and international execution capability.
The Future of Sustainable AI Is Being Built in Latin America
Elea’s appointment of Elena Winters is more than a leadership update; it’s a signal of a new phase in global digital infrastructure. As demand for AI compute accelerates, the world is looking for clean, reliable, scalable solutions.
Latin America is ready. Elea is ready. And with Winters leading international growth, the company is positioned to define the next era of sustainable, global AI infrastructure.
