Preece to head marcoms for UEA

Preece takes on the added responsibilities of recruiting students in the UK and from abroad.

Following a significant restructure of the university’s central services, the marcoms department now houses the University’s International Office and the Access and Admissions Office.

In his previous role, Preece looked after former students and involved them in enrolment drives and fundraising. He will now oversee marketing for the university, work with its different schools and oversee a department of 32. The university consists of 23 schools, ranging from natural sciences to film and TV.

Preece joined the university eight years ago from Asda, where he was general manager of public relations. He was at the supermarket from 1992 to 1996, while it was going through financial restructuring.

Prior to Asda, he was managing director of Charles Wells PR, and prior to that head of corporate communications for Yorkshire Water.

‘I brought good experience from my time in the consumer and corporate sector when I joined, and can continue to use it,’ he said of the new role.

Like many other universities across the country, the organisation has to grapple with issues including variable fees, and increasing competition for students from the rest of the UK and around the globe.