Gerardo Segura: Leading East Africa’s First Self-Storage Company, Storage Central Kenya

Gerardo Segura is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in both self-storage development and corporate finance. His career spans over 17 years in the self-storage industry and more than two decades in handling corporate finance transactions for a diverse clientele across Europe and Latin America.

Gerardo’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Business Administration from Duke University, where he studied from 1985 to 1989. Following his undergraduate studies, he pursued an MBA at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, graduating cum laude in 1991. Prior to his university education, he excelled academically at St. Andrew’s Scots School in Argentina, graduating with honors.

Early in his career, Gerardo gained valuable experience through summer internships at various U.S. corporations, including Mary Kay Cosmetics, Bank of the West, and The San Francisco Chronicle. This early exposure to the business world provided a solid foundation for his subsequent professional endeavors. After his undergraduate degree, he returned to Mary Kay Cosmetics as an International Assistant Manager, where he played a key role in launching the company’s Mexican subsidiary.

Upon completing his MBA, Gerardo embarked on a career in investment banking (1992-2001), working for several top-tier international and local investment banks such as Lehman Brothers, Dresdner Kleinwort Benson, HSBC, and Merchant Bankers Asociados (Salomon Brothers). During this period, he worked in over 75 deals worth in excess of $5 billion, and gained industry expertise in energy, telecoms and technology, real estate and privatizations of national companies. His most significant clients include France Telecom, Virgin Group, Endesa, International Power, and the Government of Argentina.

In 2002, Gerardo founded Aptus Associates, a specialist corporate finance advisory firm based in Buenos Aires. Over the years, Aptus Associates was involved in more than 30 projects and transactions, including the sale of the largest toy store chain in Argentina; a new academic building for a leading university and two significant real estate developments in Argentina and Uruguay.

In 2008, Gerardo ventured into the self-storage industry by founding Mas Espacio S.A., the first self-storage company in Argentina. The company quickly became a leading player in the Southern Cone’s self-storage sector. Remarkably, Más Espacio S.A.’s two facilities in Buenos Aires achieved 90% occupancy within just 10 months of opening and are currently operating at full capacity despite a challenging economic environment. The company is now present in Uruguay and Paraguay.

Continuing his entrepreneurial journey, Gerardo moved to Nairobi, Kenya, in August 2014, where he founded Storage Central, East Africa’s first self-storage company. Since opening its first facility in October 2020, Storage Central has served over 1,800 clients and is expanding to two new locations in Nairobi during 2024. The company’s ambitious strategic plan involves opening 10-15 stores in various African cities within five years, with the goal of creating a $200 million company.

In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Gerardo has been an active member of various boards. He is a Board Member of El Rinconal S.A., a family-owned business managing a $15 million portfolio of ten commercial properties in Buenos Aires. He also served as a Board Member of Carboclor S.A., a publicly listed chemical company in Argentina, from 2005 to 2009.

Gerardo’s professional development includes formal training in valuation analysis, presentational skills, and negotiations, which he received while residing in London between 1995 and 2003. This training has equipped him with the skills necessary for successful transaction execution and business management.

He is well-regarded in both the Argentine and Kenyan business communities, maintaining strong relationships with key corporate decision-makers, legal, tax, and accounting firms. Regularly engaging with foreign investors and international companies, Gerardo offers valuable insights into the investment environments of these regions and the practicalities of structuring and executing investments.

With a proven track record and an extensive network of contacts spanning Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, the United States, Kenya, and Europe, Gerardo Segura remains a prominent figure in the fields of self-storage development and corporate finance. His career is a testament to his dedication, expertise, and ability to navigate and thrive in diverse business landscapes.

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