University of Chester appoints executive director of estates

Lucy FitzHugh will become the executive director in charge of managing its estate, bringing her expertise in consultancy, property management, facilities operations, and business improvement and estates delivery strategy.

FitzHugh is currently head of delivery and assurance at NHS Property Services but is now set for the University of Chester in January, where she will be the executive director of estates.

She has more than 24 years of experience in property with a specialism in health and education.

She has previously worked at Savills for 12 years, where she progressed from a graduate surveyor to associate director, before moving to Cushman & Wakefield in an advisory role.

FitzHugh moved into NHS Property Services in March 2020.

She said: “I am delighted to be joining the University of Chester. This is an exciting opportunity and I am very much looking forward to bringing my property experience in both health and education, and working with the estates team and colleagues across the University in leading the implementation of the University’s estates strategy.”

“Through this, we can ensure a sustainable and optimised estate for the future and at the same time making sure our estate today is safe, compliant, and efficient.”

Professor Eunice Simmons, vice-chancellor of the University of Chester, said: “At Chester, we have made great strides in rightsizing and enhancing our estate and this work needs to continue.

“We also have ambitious sustainability targets and a desire to make the university more accessible to our communities.”

He added: “I am delighted to welcome someone with Lucy’s strategic experience to work with our executive, estates and facilities colleagues and indeed our wider regional stakeholders to achieve these ambitions.”