Data is the new gold, according to GovCon industry executives and leaders. And as organizations see more and more data, the need to process, understand and leverage it becomes increasingly important.
In this Executive Spotlight interview, Hitachi Vantara Federal President and CEO Mark Serway spoke to us about the importance of data in government missions, the company’s growth strategy looking ahead and the impact of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
Serway, a 2024 Wash100 Award winner, took the helm of Hitachi Vantara Federal in September 2022. Prior to his elevation to CEO, Serway served as chief financial officer of the company for nearly seven years.
Mark, you’ve been President and CEO of Hitachi Vantara Federal for about two years. Can you tell me a little bit about your organizational vision for the company?
At the core of everything we do is a commitment to data-driven innovation that directly contributes to the success of government missions. Our goal at Hitachi Vantara Federal is simple: to help our federal customers effectively extract value from their data in the face of increasingly complex business requirements and IT environments. From enterprise-level data infrastructure and hybrid cloud solutions to intelligent data management platforms, we’re the data backbone for the mission-critical.
Flexibility is key in solving today’s rapidly evolving mission-critical challenges, which is why Hitachi solutions continue to be agile and scalable. We’re firm believers in the power of data, and we want to ensure that our customers have the right data solution at the right time to address immediate needs while planning for future impact.
In a nutshell, our goal is to partner with federal agencies to help drive innovation and empower data-driven decision-making to ensure operational resilience. It’s a holistic approach aimed at helping our government customers succeed in their mission.
What are Hitachi Vantara Federal’s core values? How do you think these values translate into continued success and growth in the GovCon market?
Hitachi’s core values are harmony, sincerity and pioneering spirit. These values encapsulate the innovative founding spirit of Hitachi and have been embraced by our predecessors for over a century. This spirit of innovation guides the way we think and operate, as we collectively strive to deliver data-driven solutions that address the heart of our customers’ mission challenges. We understand the critical importance of data in today’s digital landscape and aim to provide solutions that simplify, scale and securely manage data across hybrid and multi cloud environments.
Our sole purpose and singular commitment is to bring the best of Hitachi to support federal missions and this focus remains central to our ethos. Through intimate collaboration with customers, we design, deliver and support digital solutions tailored specifically to address their mission needs. Our dedicated U.S.-based federal support center operates 24/7/365, ensuring robust support to help mitigate interruptions in mission-critical operations. This unwavering dedication to mission success builds trust and loyalty among our government customers, driving our continued growth in the federal market.
Tell me about your growth strategy. Where are you seeing opportunities for expansion in Hitachi Vantara Federal’s portfolio? What new capabilities or markets are you eyeing?
Hitachi, our parent company, recently announced the completion of a strategic realignment designed to accelerate the company’s growth plan, focused on harnessing the power of hybrid cloud and generative AI. The new structure integrates the legacy data infrastructure expertise of Hitachi Vantara Federal with Hitachi’s IT Platform Products Division, which has been responsible for Hitachi’s IT product R&D and global business development efforts.
The realigned Hitachi Vantara Federal expands its extensive infrastructure and data storage experience across hybrid cloud and adopts a shared focus on collaboration to drive meaningful business outcomes for the company’s customers. As a result, Hitachi Vantara Federal will innovate and adapt to the needs of the market in real time, while also building upon its long-standing expertise in managing data across mission critical environments. The timing is fortuitous, with the emergence of generative AI and its explosive growth for processing data.
For example, the company recently announced the availability of Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform One. This hybrid cloud platform is poised to transform how federal agencies manage and leverage their data in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape. This platform simplifies infrastructure for mission critical applications, with a focus on data availability and strong data resiliency and reliability measures, including mitigation of risks such as downtime, productivity losses and security threats.
What factors or GovCon industry trends are influencing the growth strategy we just talked about as you look toward Hitachi Vantara Federals’ future?
Cost optimization and environmental stewardship are two crucial industry trends that Hitachi Vantara Federal is aligning with. As AI rapidly gains global adoption, infrastructure to support it must keep pace. With data generation expected to double in the next five years compared to the previous decade, the increased data volume will drive greater power demands and resource consumption. This escalating demand will continue fueling the need for eco-friendly, sustainable practices.
To address this demand while upholding its commitment to responsible growth, Hitachi is pioneering the development of hybrid cloud storage that combines on-premises and cloud computing capabilities. As a steward of resources, Hitachi leverages cutting-edge CO2 reduction technologies, decarbonization efforts across operations and supply chains, and intelligent data lifecycle management to optimize sustainable outcomes.
To meet cost and sustainability goals, solutions must prioritize efficiency and environmental responsibility, aligning with initiatives such as the White House’s Executive Order on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs Through Federal Sustainability. In prioritizing eco-friendly infrastructures that drive sustainability and cost efficiency, Hitachi is continuing to empower organizations to meet their environmental goals through data-driven solutions that improve efficiencies, lower costs and reduce climate impact.
