Unite Students boss Richard Smith has become the latest FTSE 100 boss to exit, as the student housing provider said a shortage of dedicated university accomodation properties was driving rents up.
Smith will leave on 31 December, “to pursue his personal interest in supporting the education and development of young people, including understanding issues that affect mental health”. Smith oversaw a surge in Unite’s share price in his first three years in charge, but after crashing as the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, it never returned to pre-pandemic levels. He made £866,011 last year, one of the lowest salaries of any FTSE 100 boss.
