The Oxford graduate is to be the chief executive of the rather less renowned University of Central Lancashire.
The Preston based university sees Hext with his international business background as a major catch especially as Hext is relocating from Hong Kong to take up the new role.
Hext is currently non-executive chairman of Univan Ship Management but key career roles included five years as chief executive and deputy chairman of Pacific Basin Shipping and 22 years with John Swire.
Hext is set to retain his role with Univan despite returning to the UK.
The University of Central Lancashire was founded in 1828 as the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge and had its roots in the temperance and teetotal movement of the period, later becoming Preston Polytechnic, before gaining university status 22 years ago.
Hext, a modern history graduate, held various roles in the Swire group and its joint ventures, including being managing director of China Navigation – where is is still a non-executive director - and being on the boards of Modern Terminals and Hong Kong United Dockyards.
He moved into ship management in 2003 joining V Ships and a couple of years later joined Pacific Basin.
He switched to Univan in 2010 as chief executive and became chairman in 2012.
