SmartStop names CIO Wayne Johnson to its board
SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. expanded its Board of Directors from five to six members and appointed Chief Investment Officer Wayne Johnson as an employee director, effective February 19, 2026.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. expanded its Board of Directors from five to six members and appointed Chief Investment Officer Wayne Johnson as an employee director, effective February 19, 2026. He will serve until the next annual meeting or until a successor is elected and qualified.
At the same time, Johnson resigned as President, a role he had held since 2019. The Board appointed Chairman and CEO H. Michael Schwartz to additionally serve as President, effective February 19, 2026, with no additional compensation for the expanded executive role.
SmartStop describes Johnson as a key leader since the company’s formation in 2013 and highlights his long self-storage and commercial real estate track record. As of February 20, 2026, SmartStop’s owned or managed portfolio includes over 460 operating properties and more than 35 million rentable square feet in the United States and Canada.
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8-K Event Classification
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Expansion of Board and Appointment of Director
On February 19, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the expansion of the size of the Board from five members to six members (the “Board Expansion”).
In connection with the Board Expansion, on February 19, 2026, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the “NCG Committee”) of the Board recommended and the Board approved the appointment of Wayne Johnson, the Company’s Chief Investment Officer, as an employee director of the Company, effective immediately. Mr. Johnson will serve as a director until the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders or until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
Mr. Johnson also serves as the Chief Investment Officer of the Company’s Managed REITs, as well as President and Chief Investment Officer of the sponsor, advisor and property management entities for the Managed REITs. Mr. Johnson’s industry experience involves all aspects of commercial development and leasing, including office, office warehouse, retail and self storage facilities. 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.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Johnson and any other person pursuant to which he was selected as a director. Mr. Johnson has no family relationships with any director or executive officer of the Company, and there are no transactions involving Mr. Johnson that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. Johnson will not receive any compensation for his role as a director and will not serve on any committees of the Board.
Change in President
Concurrent with his appointment as a director of the Company, Mr. Johnson resigned as the President of the Company, a position he also has been serving since June 2019. Immediately upon Mr. Johnson’s resignation as President, the Board appointed H. Michael Schwartz, Chairman of the Board and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, to the additional office of President effective as of February 19, 2026. Mr. Schwartz received no additional compensation in connection with the expansion of his executive role.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
99.1 Press Release dated February 20, 2026
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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SMARTSTOP SELF STORAGE REIT, INC. |
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February 20, 2026 |
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/s/ James R. Barry |
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James R. Barry |
Exhibit 99.1
SmartStop Self Storage REIT Announces Appointment of New Management Board Member
LADERA RANCH, Calif. — (Feb. 20, 2026 ) 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.
About SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (SmartStop):
SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (“SmartStop”) (NYSE: SMA) is a self-managed REIT with a fully integrated operations team of more than 1,000 self-storage professionals focused on growing the SmartStop® Self Storage brand. SmartStop, through its indirect subsidiary, SmartStop REIT Advisors, LLC, also sponsors other self-storage programs and, through its Managed Platform, offers third-party management services in the U.S. and Canada. As of February 20, 2026, SmartStop has an owned or managed portfolio of over 460 operating properties in 35 states, the
District of Columbia, and Canada, comprising over 270,000 units and more than 35 million rentable square feet. SmartStop and its affiliates own or manage 49 operating self-storage properties across four provinces in Canada, which total approximately 42,200 units and 4.3 million rentable square feet. Additional information regarding SmartStop is available at www.smartstopselfstorage.com.
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Investor Relations Contact:
David Corak
Senior VP of Corporate Finance and Strategy
SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc.
IR@smartstop.com
Media Relations Contact:
Spotlight Marketing Communications
949-427-5172
info@spotlightmc.com