Current CFO of Unite Group Joe Lister Suceeds Richard Smith in the role of CEO; Michael Burt Takes Over as CFO

Unite Group PLC announced on Thursday that its Chief Executive Officer, Richard Smith, will step down at the end of the year. Smith has been at the helm of the student accommodation provider since 2016 and has been with the company for a total of 13 years. During his tenure, Unite has significantly expanded, currently owning 157 properties across 23 university towns and cities, accommodating over 70,000 students.

According to Unite, Smith is leaving his role to pursue personal interests, including supporting the education and development of young people, with a focus on understanding mental health issues. He will continue to serve as an advisor until September of the following year.

Taking over as CEO from January 1 will be Joe Lister, the Chief Financial Officer of Unite. His appointment comes after an extensive selection process. Lister has a long history with the company, having been with Unite for 22 years, including the last 15 years in the role of CFO.

Following Lister’s promotion, Michael Burt, the current Group Investment Director, will assume the position of CFO at the beginning of the next year. Burt joined Unite Group in January 2019. Katherine Grafton, who currently holds the position of Group Finance Director, will be promoted to Deputy CFO.

Unite’s Chair, Richard Huntingford, expressed confidence in the future under Joe Lister’s leadership. He emphasized the importance of Unite’s role in providing affordable student accommodation at a time when the demand-supply gap has never been greater.

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