The University is delighted to announce the appointment of our new Director of Estates and Buildings, Jim McConnell, who will join us from BAE Systems.

In his current role as Head of Facilities for BAE Systems' Glasgow base, Jim is responsible for all capital investments and provision of services ranging from maintenance of property, plant and grounds to catering, cleaning, energy, utilities and waste management, both as landlord and tenant including insurance and space planning across three large shipyards on the Clyde.

Equipped with a first class Honours degree in engineering and a postgraduate diploma in engineering management, Jim's experience in the field spans across aerospace, marine and packaging industry sectors, with particular expertise in capital expenditure and asset maintenance management.

He is no stranger to the world of Higher Education, and has been an Associate Lecturer within the Technology Faculty of the Open University and has provided consultancy work for them on a project investigating Employability in Engineering within Scotland.

Jim is looking forward to working with us at the University developing the estates team and enabling the improvement of service delivery to support the University's primary objectives of excellence in teaching and research.

Jim will take up post on 5 December 2005.

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For more details please contact the University Press Office on 0141 330-3535.

First published: 13 September 2005