Executive Leadership & Ownership
Kathryn V. Marinello
President & CEO (Since February 2021)
- Former CEO of Hertz Corporation
- Board member: General Motors, AB Volvo
- Previous: Stream Global Services CEO
- Fortune 500 executive experience
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Owner (Since 2015)
- Acquired for $1 billion from Arcapita
- $266 billion total portfolio
- Canada's largest pension fund
- 207,000+ working members
CFO
Jordon Jones
COO
Darrin Campbell
CMO
Susan Jacobs
Founded
1998
Documented Consumer Complaints
Hidden Fees & Overcharging
- $2,994 charged for cancelled services after PODS delivery failures
- 33 months of storage charges ($2,335) for delivery that never occurred
- Undisclosed "permit" charges on private property
- Elevator fees ($75) not mentioned in quotes
- Long hallway fees ($75) added without prior notice
Service Failures
- Container deliveries delayed weeks/months
- Customer service wait times exceeding 1 hour
- Containers "lost" in system for extended periods
- Billing continues during company-caused delays
- Emergency alternatives required at double the cost
Insurance & Claims Issues
- Mandatory insurance sold, claims systematically denied
- "Acts of God" cited for preventable damage
- Blame shifted to customer packing methods
- $41.4M U-Haul settlement kept from franchisees
Company Timeline & Key Events
1998
PODS founded - pioneers portable storage concept
2015
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan acquires PODS for $1 billion from Arcapita
2021 (February)
Kathryn V. Marinello appointed President & CEO, bringing Hertz experience
2024
46 franchisees demand share of $41.4M U-Haul trademark settlement - PODS refuses
2025
Despite A+ BBB rating, consumer complaints about hidden fees continue to mount
Financial Performance & Market Position
Market Presence
- 240+ company-owned locations
- 227,000 containers in operation
- 46 U.S. states + Canada, UK, Australia
- 6+ million moves completed
Revenue Indicators
- Estimated hundreds of millions in annual revenue
- Franchise model with company-owned centers
- Part of $266B pension fund portfolio
- Industry pioneer since 1998
PODS vs. Competitors
| Metric | PODS | 1-800-PACK-RAT | Zippy Shell |
|---|---|---|---|
| BBB Rating | A+ Accredited | A+ Accredited | Not Accredited |
| Ownership | Ontario Teachers' | Carlyle Group | Carlyle Group |
| Major Settlement | $41.4M (U-Haul) | $1.6M (Class Action) | Ongoing Litigation |
| Hidden Fee Reports | High | Very High | Very High |
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