Unite Group PLC
14 November 2003
Date: 14 November 2003
On behalf of: The UNITE Group plc
For immediate release
The UNITE Group plc
BOARD CHANGES
The Board of The UNITE Group plc, the UK's leading provider of student and NHS
key worker accommodation services, today announces a number of appointments and
changes to its Board.
Simon Bernstein, Chief Financial Officer, steps down from the Board on Monday 17
November. Simon will be retained by the Board as a Special Adviser until the end
of February 2004. Since joining the Group in 2001, Simon has completed a
significant increase in the Group's financial resources including last year's
£57.5 million share placing, the first securitisation in this sector, as well as
the implementation of a new IT infrastructure for the Group. Mark Allan has
been appointed to succeed Simon as Group Finance Director and is to join the
Board with effect from 17 November 2003.
Mark Allan joined UNITE as Corporate Finance Director in 1999 from KPMG, and has
played a key role in the development and execution of the Group's financing
strategy. A Chartered Accountant, he joined the Operations Board in 2001 as
Commercial Director.
In addition, Andrew Lee, Director of Human Resource, is also to join the Board
with effect from 17 November 2003. Andrew Lee joined UNITE three years ago,
having previously held Senior Human Resource Management and Organisational
Development roles in the Retailing, Hospitality and Consulting sectors.
Geoffrey Maddrell, Chairman of UNITE, said:
'UNITE has grown significantly over the past three years and now operates a
portfolio of over 21,000 student and key worker bedrooms throughout the UK. As
we continue to focus on furthering this strategy, the Group will no doubt face
fresh challenges and I am confident that, with the Board appointments announced
today, we will be better equipped than ever to meet these demands.
'UNITE has a strong culture of internal development and I would like to
congratulate both Mark Allan and Andrew Lee on their appointments and to thank
Simon Bernstein for his contribution and wish him every success with his future
endeavours.'
Enquiries to:
NICHOLAS PORTER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The UNITE Group plc 0117 9078112
EMMA KANE
Redleaf Communications 020 7955 1410
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Mark Allan, a Chartered Accountant, joined the Operations Board in 2001 as
Commercial Director, broadening his corporate finance experience to include
additional responsibilities for the Group's portfolio and valuation strategy and
the leadership of cross-functional development projects. More recently, Mark has
developed UNITE's divisional finance platform to ensure that each division has
robust financial controls and dedicated finance and accounting teams. Mark has
worked closely with Simon Bernstein and will now take responsibility for all
financial and e-business activities.
Andrew Lee, Director of Human Resource, has previously worked in Europe and the
US with companies including Marks and Spencer, Marriott, McKinsey, BAA,
Whitbread and PWC. He holds a number of post-graduate qualifications including a
Doctorate in Organisational Change. His contribution will focus on the
development of all employees at UNITE to meet the Group's commercial targets,
ensuring that UNITE provides rewarding, challenging and meaningful careers.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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