Indian American executive Parul Butala has been promoted to president of AMERCO Real Estate Co. (AREC), the real estate division of U-Haul Holding Co. The appointment was announced following the company’s decision on July 17, marking a significant career milestone for Butala after more than three decades with the organization.
Butala joined the U-Haul team in 1994 and built her career through various roles within the company’s real estate and development operations. She began as a staff architect with the AREC construction group, where she gained extensive experience in property development and planning. She briefly worked with U-Haul’s Risk Management team in the early 2000s before returning to the real estate division.
Since 2019, Butala has served as AREC’s Director of Land Use and Planning, overseeing important aspects of property development and strategic planning. Her long-standing experience with the company has positioned her to lead AREC’s future growth and operations.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, Butala said she was honored to take on the role and thanked U-Haul CEO Joe Shoen for his confidence in her leadership. She noted that her decades of experience working with colleagues across the company helped shape her professional approach and leadership philosophy.
Founded in 1974, AMERCO Real Estate Co. manages U-Haul’s extensive real estate portfolio and development activities. Today, the company oversees 2,431 owned and operated locations across all 50 US states and 10 Canadian provinces.
U-Haul has grown into one of North America’s largest self-storage operators, with 1.13 million rentable storage units and approximately 99 million square feet of self-storage space. The company, which has been operating for 81 years, remains a major provider of do-it-yourself moving and storage solutions.
In her new role, Butala said her priorities include improving communication across teams, supporting field operations, and enhancing the company’s approach to acquiring, developing, and delivering properties. She emphasized the importance of teamwork, trust, accountability, and continuous improvement in building a stronger organizational culture.
Butala holds a Master of Science in Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University. Based in Chandler, Arizona, she has also been recognized for balancing a successful professional career with family achievements.
She succeeds Matt Braccia as president of AMERCO Real Estate Co., taking responsibility for guiding the company’s real estate strategy and future development initiatives.
