Unite boss Richard Smith joins Stenprop

Industrial propco Stenprop has appointed Unite Group chief executive Richard Smith as an independent non-executive director. Louisa Bell, the former UK country manager of car rental provider Avis Budget Group International, is also joining the Stenprop as a non-executive director. Smith has been chief executive of Unite since 2016, after joining as deputy chief financial officer in 2010. Before that, he spent 18 years in the transport industry, including 13 years at National Express Group. Bell has held a number of senior roles for Avis Budget Group, Cigna Healthcare, Eurostar and British Airways. Smith worked at Avis Budget UK for seven years until April this year. Richard Grant, chairman of Stenprop, said: “They bring with them a range of complementary expertise and experience in operational management and business transformation as well as leadership in the real estate and transport industries. “Their appointment will significantly add to the independent element on the board and will be invaluable to helping Stenprop build its operational platform and achieve its ambition of becoming the leading multilet industrial business in the UK.”   To send feedback, e-mail pui-guan.man@egi.co.uk or tweet @PuiGuanM or @estatesgazette