New Chief Operations Officer appointed at Imperial College London

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 s and a photograph is available on request.