People: Coventry University; MK2 Real Estate; Prohire
The President and CEO of Elsewedy Electric, a global provider of integrated energy solutions headquartered in Egypt, and professional engineer will take up the ceremonial role in September.
He replaces Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE who has stepped down from the role after severn years.
Eng El Sewedy said: “I am deeply honoured to take on the role of Chancellor at Coventry University Group. Education has always been a cornerstone of my vision and I am excited to contribute to the university’s mission of creating better futures. Everyone should be proud of how we strive to bridge the gap between academia and industry, ensuring students are well-prepared for the global job market.”
Due to the success of the TKH based at the New Administrative Capital in Cairo – known as TKH East – a second branch campus on the other side of Cairo, in New Zeyad City, to be known as TKH West, has been announced with construction due to begin soon.
Professor John Latham CBE, Vice-Chancellor of Coventry University, said: “We welcome Eng El Sewedy with open arms to Coventry University Group and look forward to working with him to spread our message of creating better futures far and wide.
“He steps in to the shoes of Dr Casely-Hayford who flew the flag for seven years and we know that Eng El Sewedy’s visionary leadership and passion will continue her legacy. In selecting our new Chancellor, we wanted to reflect our global nature and Eng El Sewedy’s commitment to widening access to quality higher education matches our own outlook and mission.”
MK2 Real Estate has bolstered its property management team with three new appointments.
Henry Gyselman and Gordon Davies have joined the Birmingham-based real estate consultancy as facilities managers, while Shreya Yadev joins as a newly qualified surveyor from Colliers.
The MK2 Real Estate recruits
Gyselman has 20 years of experience in facilities management. Prior to joining MK2 he worked for 14Forty, part of the Compass Group, as the embedded facilities manager for Heineken.
He was also a FM for Lambert Smith Hampton in Birmingham for seven years, where he managed a portfolio of industrial, office and residential properties.
Davies joins from developer St Modwen, where he worked as an FM for 11 years. He has more than 20 years’ experience in the property industry.
Marcello Della Croce, director and head of MK2’s property management team, said: “We are continuing to grow the property management business, following a number of significant new instructions. As a result, we needed to expand the team to service the new contracts and bolster resource for future planned growth.
“Henry and Gordon are experienced facilities managers, and their industry knowledge and experience will be invaluable.”
Prohire, a provider of commercial vehicle hire and fleet management solutions, has appointed Susan Shardlow as chief financial officer (CFO).
Shardlow has been interim CFO at Prohire since December 2023.
With 30 years of experience working for both corporate and private equity-backed organisations, she will play a key role in Prohire’s growth strategy.
Susan Shardlow
As a qualified accountant, she has a broad range of experience leading traditional finance functions and transformational projects, particularly in companies providing the rental and leasing of assets in the construction, utilities and recycling systems sectors.
Most recently, Shardlow held the role of interim CFO at Taziker, a multi-discipline specialist contractor, providing protective coatings, structural refurbishments and strengthening throughout the UK.
She is also a non-executive director for Hanley Economic Building Society and was a board member and chair of audit for the Staffordshire Housing Group for over nine years.
Susan Shardlow, CFO at Prohire, said: “Prohire is a growing business with an exciting future, and I’m delighted to join the team on a permanent basis. Prohire puts the customer at the heart of everything it does and is committed to continuous improvement, a culture which is proudly supported by the finance function.
“I applaud Prohire’s commitment to sustainability for its customers as well as within its own business through its ESG strategy. I’m looking forward to helping Prohire, and its EV and alternative fuels division Progreen, continue to scale through a structured approach which adds value to every area of the business.”
Jay Edwards, managing director at Prohire, said: “Susan brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Prohire, particularly financial and operational expertise gained at private equity-backed companies with ambitious growth objectives. I’m delighted that she has become a permanent member of the team as we continue in our mission to lead the charge in sustainable vehicle hire.”
