New Chief Operations Officer appointed at Imperial College London

Mr Simon Harding-Roots accepts appointment with effect from 1 July 2012

Imperial College London News Release

Monday 11 June 2012

Imperial College London has today named Simon Harding-Roots as its new Chief Operations Officer, with effect from 1 July 2012.

Mr Harding-Roots will be responsible for providing and enhancing operational services in support of Imperial's academic mission. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Muir Sanderson, he joins the College's Management Board, the senior management committee, which is responsible for the vision and overall strategy for the College. Leading the directors of the relevant functions he will be responsible for maintaining and developing the College's infrastructure, including its buildings and IT services, planning and delivering capital projects, and overseeing Imperial’s commercial services.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Sanderson said: "I am delighted to welcome Simon to the College. His vast international experience in delivering and managing complex large-scale property investments and development projects will be invaluable as he steers the expansion and enhancement of the College's estate and infrastructure. We look forward to benefitting from his fresh ideas and vision for developing our operations so they can best support Imperial’s world-class education and research activities."

Mr Harding-Roots will join the College from Treasury Holdings Group (THG) where he has worked since 2007, serving first as Chief Operating Officer in Shanghai, specialising in the building and operation of commercial real estate projects in China. He returned to the UK in 2011 to work on THG’s regeneration of Battersea Power Station as Head of Real Estate UK.

Speaking about his appointment, Mr Harding-Roots said: "Joining the Imperial team at this crucial stage in its extensive investment programme is extremely exciting. I look forward to supporting the College in delivering outstanding facilities and capital development projects in the coming years and continuing to hone its already considerable international reputation."

With more than half a million square metres of operational property spread across eight campuses, Imperial has one of the largest estates of any higher education institution in the UK. Its capital plans include the creation of a new campus, Imperial West, in Hammersmith, which is being developed to grow the College's research and education activities in west London.

A biography of Mr Harding-Roots is provided in Notes to Editors and a photograph is available on request.

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 For further information please contact:

Simon Watts
Media Relations and Communications Manager Imperial College London
Email: s.watts@imperial.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)20 7594 6701

Out of hours duty press officer: +44(0)7803 886 248

Notes to Editors

About Mr Simon Harding-Roots

Mr Harding-Roots holds a BA in Geography, an MSc in Land Development and Management and is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

On completing his training as a Development Surveyor at Drivers Jonas, in 1994 he joined the chartered surveyors and property consultants, Fuller Peiser, as Associate Partner. Between 1997 and 2005 he worked in Dubai for Majid Al Futtaim Investments LLC, a leading property development and investment company. From 2005-2007 he was Principal and Director of Projects for Arcapita Bank based in Bahrain, taking responsibility for a wide range of property investments globally.

In 2007 he joined Treasury Holdings Group (THG), serving first as Chief Operating Officer in Shanghai, specialising in the building and operation of commercial real estate projects in China. He returned to the UK in 2011 to work on THG's regeneration of Battersea Power Station as Head of Real Estate UK.

He will join the College as Chief Operations Officer from 1 July 2012

About Imperial College London

Consistently rated amongst the world's best universities, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

Since its foundation in 1907, Imperial's contributions to society have included the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of research for the benefit of all continues today, with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to improve global health, tackle climate change, develop sustainable sources of energy and address security challenges.

In 2007, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust formed the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre. This unique partnership aims to improve the quality of life of patients and populations by taking new discoveries and translating them into new therapies as quickly as possible.

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk