National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSAT), a real estate investment trust specializing in self-storage, has appointed Will Cowan as executive vice president and chief strategy officer. In this role, he’ll focus on strategic growth initiatives while managing the acquisitions and investor-relations teams. Cowan is expected to join the company in the second quarter, according to a press release.

Most recently, Cowan served as managing director in the real estate, gaming, lodging and leisure group for Jefferies, an investment-banking and capital-markets firm. He joined the company in 2012, working in the industrial, multi-family and self-storage sectors. He held a similar role at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Over the last 15 years, Cowan was closely involved in more than $160 billion of advisory and capital-markets transactions among public and private real estate companies.

Prior to his time in investment banking, Cowan served in the 25th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, where he rose to the rank of captain. He earned an MBA from The Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia and a bachelor’s degree from Davidson College.

“Will’s significant experience in real estate investment banking, including advisory and capital markets transactions, will benefit [NSAT] as we seek to enhance our growth initiatives and capital markets strategy going forward,” said Dave Cramer, CEO and president of NSAT.

Headquartered in Greenwood, Colorado, NSAT is a self-administered and -managed REIT focused on the acquisition, operation and ownership of self-storage properties within the top 100 U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The company operates 1,117 storage facilities in 42 states and Puerto Rico. Its portfolio comprises approximately 72.8 million net rentable square feet. It's owned by its affiliate operators, who are contributing their interests in their self-storage assets over the next few years as their current mortgage debt matures.

Source: Business Wire, National Storage Affiliates Trust Announces the Appointment of Will Cowan as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer