The Gym Group plc is pleased to announce that David Kelly has been appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company with effect from 5th July 2016. David will become Chairman of the Remuneration Committee from this date.

David is currently a Non-Executive Director of On the Beach Group plc and Trinity Mirror Group plc. In 2007, David co-founded mydeco.com and, more recently, has built a wide portfolio of non-executive and advisory positions, including non-executive Chairman of Love Home Swap, Pure 360 and MBA & Company. 

David was previously the Operations Director at Amazon in the UK from 1998 to 2000, the Chief Operating Officer at Lastminute.com from 2000 to 2003, the Vice President, Operations/Chief Operating Officer at eBay from 2003 to 2007 and Senior Vice President of International at Rackspace from 2010 to 2012. 

There are no further disclosures to be made pursuant to paragraph 9.6.13R(1)-(6) of the Listing Rules. 

With the appointment of David Kelly, the Company has two independent non-executive directors in addition to the chairwoman on the Board and is fully compliant with the UK Corporate Governance code. 

Operational appointments 

Jim Graham, Chief Operating Officer, has notified the Board that he wishes to leave the Company by the end of the year to return to the private equity arena and step down from the Board at that time. 

The Board has strengthened the Executive team by the recruitment of an Operations Director and a Marketing Director. Nick Henwood, a highly experienced operator who was previously at David Lloyd Leisure, Mothercare and Autoglass, will join as Operations Director in August 2016. Barney Harrison has been recruited from Sky where he held marketing roles at Sky Ireland and Skybet and will take up the Marketing Director position in October 2016. With both joining in the autumn there will be ample time for a full and thorough handover of responsibilities. Both positions will sit on the Company's Executive Committee.

Penny Hughes, Chairwoman of The Gym Group plc, commented: 

I am delighted that David Kelly, with his wealth of e-commerce experience, is joining the Board. Nick and Barney have strong backgrounds in their areas of expertise and I welcome them to their operational roles. I would also like to thank Jim for his enormous contribution to the growth of the Company both prior to and following the IPO.

For further information, please contact

The Gym Group
John Treharne, CEO
Richard Darwin, CFO
via Instinctif

Numis
Oliver Cardigan
Oliver Hardy
Toby Adcock
020 7260 1000

Instinctif
Matthew Smallwood
Justine Warren
0207 457 2020