Kangaroo Self-Storage Ltd. (KSS), which operates nine facilities in North West England and Scotland, has hired Bryan Lee as chief financial officer as it accelerates its growth plans. Lee will lead the company’s finance and IT functions, responsible for mergers and acquisitions as well as fundraising, according to a press release. He’ll also serve in the same role for the company’s other brand, Smart Storage Ltd., which it acquired in 2018.
Lee is an accountant with nearly 25 years of experience. He’s held leadership positions in publicly quoted, private-equity-backed and family-owned businesses. He’s worked primarily in the food and drink industries including as finance manager for Heineken Cos. and head of operations and finance for Genius Foods Ltd. Most recently, he was the finance director for JB Foods Ltd. in Scotland.
“We’re thrilled to have Bryan on board at this important time. With growing investor interest in our sector because of strong demand for our products and services, the time is right to expand,” said Chris Stevens, CEO for KSS. “Bryan’s experience and expertise will support us to capitalize upon opportunities for growth as we continue to build our portfolio and develop new services and products to better attract and support our customers.”
The U.K. self-storage market is strong and growing despite the pandemic, Stevens said. “Occupancy figures have risen, which indicates the defensive nature of self-storage, and we continue to be well-placed to support our customers as they steer their way through the continued uncertainty.”
“It is an exciting time to be joining such a dynamic sector, and I look forward to supporting the board at Kangaroo to develop and execute the corporate agenda,” Lee said. “The pandemic has caused us all to think differently about how we work, and it has created structural change in the real estate sector. With more institutional-grade investors looking to fund the development of self-storage, there are many opportunities to bring new concepts to market and to grow the value of the business.”
KSS operates three locations in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee under its brand, and six in Altrincham, Bromborough, Liverpool, Preston, Warrington and Widnes, England, as Smart Storage.
Sources:
Bdaily, New CFO Joins Self-Storage Company as Plans for Growth Accelerate
LinkedIn, Bryan Lee