James Gibson
Chief Executive
Big Yellow Group plc
Jimmy Gibson, is a co founder and Chief Executive Officer of Big Yellow Group PLC. Initially he was Big Yellow’s Finance Director before becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2003.
Big Yellow has grown sigificantly from its listing on London’s AIM market in 2000 to its current position as a constituent member of the FTSE 250 with a market cap of over £430m. Over the last decade the Group has grown to become the leading brand in quality self storage in the UK and it now has a portfolio of 55 stores with a further 16 sites currently under development of the total portfolio, 92% are freehold or long leasehold.
Today Big Yellow is well placed to benefit from the improving market conditions. Recently £32.9m of new money was raised through a strongly supported share placing which will assist in funding the Group’s expansion programme The Group also boasts a strong balance sheet with healthy and growing cashflow and income cover - following a refinancing last september the Group’s credit facility is not due to expire until September 2013.
Jimmy’s background is as a chartered accountant, having trained with Arthur Anderson & Co, before leaving in 1989. He later went on to become Finance Director of Heron Property Corporation Limited and then Edge Properties plc. Edge Properties listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1996 and was then taken over by Grantchester Properties plc in 1998. Following the takeover, Jimmy went on the found Big Yellow with Nicholas Vetch and Philip Burks in September 1998.
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