Patrick Dempsey joins Unite Group board

Student accommodation provider The Unite Group has announced that Patrick Dempsey OBE will join the board as a Non-Executive Director.

Dempsey was previously managing director of Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants until February 2015, as well as sitting on the board.

He has worked for more than 30 years in the hotel and restaurant business, including as Chief Executive of Macdonald Hotels, managing director of Forte Hotels UK and Chief Executive of Restaurant Associates

Unite chairman Phil White is delighted to welcome him to the board.

“His experience and knowledge of running and growing large service orientated brands will strengthen the expertise of the board at a time when students and universities are becoming ever more demanding in their expectations of student accommodation."

Dempsey will take his seat on the board on 1 March.