The management team

Every one of Safestore’s friendly and approachable staff is trained to the same high standard, offering you expert advice and guidance on everything to do with self storage. The quality of our service and our commitment to customer satisfaction starts at the top, with our Safestore Management Team:

Richard Grainger joined the Board in February 2007 as a Non-Executive Director and was appointed Chairman in March 2008. After graduating from Oxford University, Mr Grainger qualified as a chartered accountant at Price Waterhouse. He started at Hill Samuel Bank Limited in 1987 and subsequently joined Close Brothers Corporate Finance Limited (‘‘CBCF’’) in 1996. In 2001, Mr Grainger was appointed Chief Executive of CBCF having previously run the Leisure and Retail team and founded Close Brothers Corporate Finance’s Corporate Restructuring Group. He departed from CBCF as Chairman in June 2009 having also been a member of the Management Board of Close Brothers Group plc for six years. He is also Chairman of Ipes Guernsey (Holdings) Limited, a fund administration business. Mr Grainger is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Peter Gowers joined the Group on 1 February 2011 and became chief executive on 1 March 2011. Peter began his career at Arthur D Little before joining the strategy group of Bass PLC in 1999. He joined Bass’s hotel division as head of strategy in 2001 and became head of global brand services for InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (“IHG”) in 2003 before being appointed as IHG’s chief marketing officer in 2005 and as chief executive, Asia-Pacific in 2007. Peter has a First Class BA (Hons) Law Degree from Keble College, University of Oxford.

Richard Hodsden joined the Group in August 2002 as Chief Financial Officer. He previously held the position of finance director at Globalvault plc, Security Printing & Systems Limited and Lifestyle Upholstery Limited. He was also financial controller of Flextronics International Limited and financial controller of Parliamentary and Secure Services, The Stationery Office. Richard started his career at KPMG, where he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1991. Richard is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Adrian Martin joined the group in September 2008 as a non-executive director and Chairman of the Audit Committee. Adrian is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He is currently a non-executive director of M&C Saatchi plc, Morgan Sindall plc, RSM Tenon Group plc, and H R Owen plc. Since 2001, Adrian has been Hon. Treasurer of the Disasters Emergency Committee, the UK national charity that unites humanitarian agencies to provide emergency relief to major overseas disasters. He worked at BDO Stoy Hayward for 30 years and was managing partner from 1991 to 2000. Adrian was chief executive of the law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP and he was a non-executive director of Carphone Warehouse Group plc for 8 years until July 2008.

Alan Lewis joined the Board in June 2009 as a Non-Executive Director. He is non-executive chairman of both Leeds Bradford International Airport Limited and Porterbrook, a train leasing business. He is also chairman of National Friendly, a mutual society involved with medical insurance and savings plans. Mr Lewis is a graduate of Liverpool University and holds an MBA from Manchester Business School.

Keith Edelman joined the group in September 2009 as a non-executive director and was appointed Chairman of the Remuneration Committee in March 2010. He is currently Chairman of Connaught Bookmakers and NIRAH Holdings Limited, the Senior Independent Director of Supergroup Plc and a Non-Executive Director of Beale Plc and the Olympic Park Legacy Company From 2000 to 2008, he was Managing Director of Arsenal Holdings Plc and was responsible for the £435 million development and operation of Emirates Stadium and the £350million residential development at Highbury Square. Prior to this, he was the Chief Executive of Storehouse Plc, Managing Director of Carlton Communications Plc and Corporate Planning Director of Ladbroke Plc. Mr Edelman was previously a Non-Executive Director of Eurotunnel Plc and Non-Executive Chairman of Glenmorangie Public Limited Company.

Frederic Vecchioli is a founding Director of our French business and has overseen its growth to 23 stores in Paris operating under the 'Une Pièce En Plus' brand. He joined the Group as President and Head of French Operations following the Mentmore acquisition in 2004. Mr Vecchioli has a Master of Finance from the University of Paris Dauphine.