Graham Smith has been appointed chair of Kidsunlimited

Graham Smith (above) has been appointed chair of Kidsunlimited, and its founder-director Stewart Pickering has moved to the post of vice-chairman. Mr Smith's appointment follows a 12m funding package from ISIS Private Equity, which will see the nursery chain double in size to 60 day nurseries within the next five years. Until December 2000 he was managing director of BUPA Care Services, which had a turnover of 400m and 30,000 staff. Prior to this, he was founder and managing director of Goldsborough Healthcare, which BUPA acquired for 75m in 1997. Mr Smith said he relished the opportunity of working with Kidsunlimited and that over the coming year one of his key responsibilities would be 'to leverage my expertise in the care sector to increase shareholder value'. He added, 'I regard this position as a wonderful opportunity to help the company to continue to grow and to consolidate its position as the UK's leading provider of quality childcare.' Kidsunlimited is the UK's third-largest provider of under-fives daycare, with more than 30 stylish, award-winning nurseries throughout the UK. It was founded in 1983 by husband and wife team Jean and Stewart Pickering.