Board of Directors
John Treharne
Executive Chair of the Board
John founded The Gym Group in 2007 and has over 20 years’ experience in the health and fitness industry.
John launched Dragons Health Club plc in 1991, before its flotation on AIM in 1997 and sale to Crown Sports plc in 2000.
Richard Darwin
Chief Executive Officer
Richard possesses extensive experience working for leisure and FMCG companies in the UK and internationally, including The Rank Group, Hard Rock Café International and Diageo. He qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand.
He has previously held the positions of Chief Financial Officer of Essenden plc (now Ten Entertainment Group plc) from 2009 to 2015 and Chief Financial Officer of Paramount Restaurants from 2003 to 2008.
Richard served as The Gym Group’s Chief Financial Officer from 2015 to 2018.
Luke Tait
Chief Financial Officer
Ann-marie Murphy
Chief Operating Officer
Ann-marie joined the Company in April 2018 as Director of People and Development and was appointed as Chief People Officer in January 2021. Ann-marie was subsequently appointed as Chief Operating Officer in February 2022.
Ann-marie has held over 15 years experience across a variety of senior Human Resources roles, particularly in the travel and retail industries. Prior to joining the Gym Group, Ann-marie was Group Human Resources Director at New Look Retailers.
Emma Woods
Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Emma has wide-ranging marketing experience within the FMCG and leisure sector.
Emma is the non-executive Chair of Tortilla Mexican Grill plc and a Non-Executive Director of Great Portland Estates plc.
Emma was the former CEO of Wagamama and previously held Marketing Director roles at Merlin Entertainments plc, Pizza Express and Unilever.
David Kelly
Non-Executive Director
David is an experienced digital operating executive and Board Director.
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.
Wais Shaifta
Non-Executive Director
Wais has gathered substantial e-commerce expertise from a number of leading online businesses. As the former CEO at Push Doctor, one of the leading digital healthcare companies in Europe, Wais worked in partnership with the NHS to connect thousands of patients each week with clinicians. Before joining Push Doctor, Wais was Director of Global Operations at Treatwell, and prior to that was International Operations Director at Just Eat.
Elaine O’Donnell
Non-Executive Director
Elaine is a highly experienced financial professional and Audit Chair. She is Chair of the Audit Committee and Non-Executive Director of On the Beach Group Plc, and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and Non-Executive Director of SThree plc. She was formerly a Non-Executive Director of Studio Retail Group PLC. Elaine was previously a Partner at Ernst & Young and is a Chartered Accountant.
Richard Stables
Non-Executive Director
Richard is an experienced corporate financier, having spent 32 years at Lazard. Currently Richard is a Partner at Fulcrum Advisory Partners LLP, an independent advisory firm, and a Senior Advisor to Blantyre Capital. Richard is a qualified Chartered Accountant.
Simon Jones
Non-Executive Director
Simon is Managing Director for Premier Inn and Restaurants, UK and Global Commercial Director at Whitbread, and has led the UK business for Premier Inn and Whitbread’s portfolio of restaurant brands since 2016.
Prior to his current role, Simon was Marketing and Strategy Director for Premier Inn, with accountability for driving the commercial and marketing agenda for the brand. Before joining Whitbread in 2012, Simon had over 15 years’ experience as a strategy consultant, working with a variety of clients across the retail and hospitality industry, latterly as a partner at OC&C Strategy Consultants.