SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (“SmartStop”) (NYSE: SMA), an internally managed real estate investment trust and a premier owner and operator of self-storage facilities in the United States and Canada, today announced the appointment of Wayne Johnson to its Board of Directors. Mr. Johnson currently serves as SmartStop’s Chief Investment Officer.
“Wayne’s deep industry expertise and decades of leadership in the self-storage and commercial real estate sectors make him an exceptional addition to our Board of Directors,” said H. Michael Schwartz, Chairman and CEO of SmartStop. “His strategic vision has played a pivotal role in our growth, and we are fortunate to continue benefiting from his insight at the board level. We look forward to his guidance as we advance our long-term strategy and pursue new opportunities for the company.”
Mr. Johnson has served as Chief Investment Officer since 2015. He also served as President from 2019 until his appointment to the Board. He has been a key leader in the company’s growth since its formation in 2013, previously serving as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions with a focus on self-storage investments. His career includes senior leadership roles across multiple affiliated real estate platforms, including Chief Investment Officer roles for all of SmartStop’s Managed REITs, as well as real estate programs previously sponsored by SmartStop’s former sponsor.
Prior to his career with SmartStop and its affiliates, Mr. Johnson worked extensively in commercial real estate development and leasing, managing projects spanning office, warehouse, retail, and self-storage facilities. He has developed, managed, and operated more than one million square feet of self-storage properties.
A recognized industry leader, Mr. Johnson currently serves on the board of directors of the Self Storage Association’s Large Operator Council and was a past President and board member of the Texas Self Storage Association. He began his real estate career in 1979 after earning a B.B.A. in finance and real estate from Southern Methodist University.
