Grainger hires Unite’s Simms as new finance director

Grainger has appointed Unite Group’s Vanessa Simms as its finance director to replace the retiring Mark Greenwood.

Simms, who is the deputy chief financial officer at student accommodation specialists Unite, will join Grainger in early spring 2016 and will be based in London.

Prior to Unite, Vanessa was finance director at industrial property specialist SEGRO. She has also held senior finance positions at Vodafone and Porsche.

“Vanessa brings strong and relevant PLC and real estate experience to Grainger, having held a number of senior finance roles in the industry, whilst having a proven track record of successfully implementing strategic and financial programmes,” said Baroness Ford, chair of Grainger.

“These skills will be key as we build on the progress to date in simplifying the business, optimising our cost base and accelerating the execution of our private rented sector strategy.”

Greenwood, Grainger’s current finance director, will retire from the Newcastle-based residential developer at the end of 2015. The company’s chief executive, Andrew Cunningham, is also stepping down at the end of the year and his replacement, Helen Gordon, starts in early November.