Board Biographies
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Paul GlenisterPaul founded Easistore in 1989, following an earlier career in the storage and materials handling industry. He built what is believed to be the first purpose designed and built self storage facility in the U.K. in Edenbridge in 1995. The company has since opened additional stores in Tunbridge Wells and Crawley. Easistore was one of the founding members of the SSA and Paul has been on the Board since 2004, and Chairman from October 2008.
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John ColeJohn has a portfolio of commercial properties which he manages with a business partner. John entered the self storage market after he was approached by his brother David, who had identified the sector as an attractive one. John had previously worked with his brother building Gas Direct the UK’s first independent natural gas sales company in the mid 90’s, a business which they subsequently sold to a Shell and Esso joint Venture. The brothers are directors of The Space Place Self Storage which has units in Leicester and Telford. The Space Place has been a full member of the SSA since 2005. John joined the Board in 2008.
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David DaviesDavid Davies (Dave) has over 30 years experience as a retail management professional in the UK and he joined the Safetore Group in 2000. Prior to this Dave was Director of Trading for Petsmart and he has previously worked for a number of high profile retailers including Wickes. Dave has been a member of the Board of Directors since September 2009.
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Susie FabreSusie founded A&A Self Storage in 1995. She opened her first store in Kentish Town and has since then expanded into Camden, Kings Cross and Watford. Susie has been a member of the Association since 1995 and joined the Board of Directors in September 2009.
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Hugh KnowlesHugh qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co in the 1980’s. On leaving the profession he was financial controller at Blenheim Exhibitions Group plc and Euromoney plc before joining the management buyout team of Moves Group in 1995. Since then he has helped to start, grow, buy and sell half a dozen businesses, concentrating on self storage for the last six years. He founded Fort Box Self Storage with Ian Connolly in 2007 and opened the first store in Oxford at the beginning of 2008. Fort Box plans to open a number of new stores in London and the south east over the coming years. Hugh has been a member of the SSA and of its board since 2006.
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Adrian LeeAdrian, currently Operations Director at Big Yellow Self Storage, was previously a senior Executive at Edge Properties plc, which he joined in 1996. Prior to that he was a corporate financier at Lazard Brothers for five years, having previously qualified as a surveyor at Knight Frank. Adrian has been a member of the Board of Directors since May 2008.
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Doug PerrinsDoug started in the self storage industry with his family business in Brisbane, Australia in 1989. After 10 years he came over to the UK and joined Big Yellow, he spent 5 years opening 35 stores across the UK. After 2 years of self storage consultation work in Australia, Asia, Middle East, Europe and the UK, he then co-founded Ready Steady Store, where he is currently a Director. Doug has previously served on the SSA of Australasia Board as a Regional Co-ordinator and has recently become a member of this Board of Directors. |