John Hibberd is Operational Manager at O'Brien Self Storage, with more than 15 years' experience across both traditional self storage and container storage.
John began his career with First Storage Centres, where he helped develop the Gateshead site into a mature, record-breaking operation before continuing under Big Yellow Self Storage following its acquisition. After more than a decade managing established facilities, he joined O'Brien Self Storage to help drive its next stage of growth.
Since 2022, John has worked with the owners and wider team to expand the business from three to five sites, growing the customer base from around 270 to more than 700 container customers while also developing a new internal self storage facility from an empty building to over 90% occupancy. Alongside this growth, he has led improvements in operations, marketing, pricing, security, customer experience, and business systems.
Having worked for both independent operators and national brands and across developing and mature sites, John brings a practical operational perspective to the industry. He is passionate about continuous improvement, challenging established thinking, and ensuring independent operators have a strong voice in shaping the future of self storage through the SSA UK.
