Zippy Shell has announced a new board member to help the growing firm sustain its rapid trajectory–a path that recently landed the company onto the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest growing companies.
Ransom James, partner and founding member of Atlanta, GA-based Eagle Merchant Partners, has officially joined the board of directors of the self-storage and moving company. Prior to launching Eagle Merchant Partners, James was a director at Arcapita–which at the time owned PODS, a major Zippy Shell competitor.
James also served on the PODS board of directors for eight years leading up to the company’s $1 billion sale to the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan in February 2015.
“His industry experience comes at a crucial time in our growth,” said Rick Del Sontro, CEO of Washington, DC-based Zippy Shell.
Deep experience
James serves on the board of three other companies: Chicken Salad Chick, LSO and Vasari.
Before joining Arcapita, James held various roles at Merrill Lynch in New York, NY and Wachovia in Charlotte, NC. James obtained his MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.
“I’m enthusiastic about joining Zippy Shell during this phase of expansion and growth,” James said. “And look forward to having a role in leading the company to its next level of success.”
Growing fast
Launched in the United States in 2010, Zippy Shell has grown rapidly. Over the last three years the company has grown revenue 988 percent, bringing in $7.4 million in 2014. The company was recently ranked as the 470th fastest growing company in the country by Inc. Magazine.
The company offers its services in more than a 100 U.S. markets. Most of its locations are operated by franchisees. Zippy Shell delivers a custom built storage trailer to customers, who then load their belongings inside. The items are then stored securely in a Zippy Shell facility for safekeeping or transported across country to the customer’s new location.
In June, Zippy Shell obtained a $25 million capital investment from Virgo Investment Group. Virgo founding partner Mack McNair currently serves as Zippy Shell’s chairman.
