The Federation of European Self Storage Associations (FEDESSA) has elected Philippe Peyrot as its president for a two-year term following the organization’s annual conference on Sept. 23 in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Peyrot, an entrepreneur and CEO of Annexx, which he founded in 2002, succeeds as leader of the European federation, which represents national self-storage trade associations across a market comprising more than 11,000 facilities.
Based in France, Annexx operates 28 company-owned self-storage facilities and ranks among the top 100 self-storage operators worldwide. Through its specialized subsidiary, Annexx Business Service, the company also works with a network of 650 partner locations, providing corporate coverage throughout mainland France, Corsica and the French overseas territories.
Peyrot holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut and is an active member of the French national self-storage association, CISS. His election brings more than two decades of operational experience to his new role leading FEDESSA.
Self-Storage's Role in Urban Economies
Peyrot said the continued expansion of self-storage reflects the changing needs of European cities, where housing costs, limited space and evolving business models are creating greater demand for flexible storage solutions.
"Self-storage is no longer just a temporary fix—it has become essential urban infrastructure," stated Philippe Peyrot, CEO of Annexx and President of FEDESSA. "Urban housing pressures and the high cost of city living make this service indispensable for residential households. For businesses, it offers on-demand storage flexibility without the burden of long-term, rigid commercial leases. At the same time, our sector is emerging as a critical link in urban last-mile logistics. Demonstrating this practical, tangible value to public policymakers is a continuous priority."
Peyrot's comments point to the broader role self-storage operators increasingly play in urban markets, serving both residential customers seeking additional space and businesses looking for alternatives to traditional commercial leases.
Three Priorities for the New Term
As president of FEDESSA, Peyrot has identified three strategic priorities for his two-year tenure: strengthening industry research, increasing institutional advocacy and supporting national member associations.
The first priority is to enhance the depth and reach of European self-storage market intelligence. FEDESSA aims to provide operators, lenders and investors with more comprehensive economic benchmarks to support business and investment decisions.
The second focuses on regulatory and institutional advocacy. Under Peyrot's leadership, FEDESSA intends to strengthen the industry's collective voice with European regulatory bodies while continuing to support the work of national trade associations.
The third priority is to provide greater resources to national member associations, with an emphasis on sharing operational expertise and best practices across European markets.
“My goal is to build on the groundwork laid over the past year and deliver concrete, actionable results," concluded Philippe Peyrot. "With over 11,000 facilities in Europe, our industry has reached institutional scale and maturity. Over the next two years, my focus is clear: enhance the federation's agility, solidify our benchmark research, and actively support the growth of every national association."
With Peyrot's election, FEDESSA enters its next two-year term with a focus on strengthening the organization's research capabilities, industry advocacy and cooperation among national associations as Europe's self-storage sector continues to expand.