Appointment of Chief Executive Officer 03 May 2023

Appointment of Chief Executive Officer

The Gym Group, the nationwide operator of 230 low cost, high quality, 24/7 no contract gyms, is pleased to announce the appointment of Will Orr as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Executive Director of the Company. Will is expected to start later in 2023 and will join the Board of Directors of the Company at that time.

Will Orr joins the Gym Group from Times Media Limited, publisher of the Times and Sunday Times, and is a proven business leader, having led high-performing teams through substantial periods of growth at Times Media, and also in previous Managing Director roles for RAC and British Gas (Centrica Plc). Will brings significant experience developing and delivering on pricing, proposition, digital marketing and retention strategies, as well as operational expertise whilst prioritising the customer experience, particularly for subscription-based business models in the consumer and media sectors.

John Treharne, Chair of The Gym Group Board, commented:

"I am delighted that Will is joining our Board and Executive team to lead The Gym Group, as we continue to focus on delivering our high-quality product at the lowest cost nationwide. Will brings valuable skills and experience from customer-led growth in membership businesses, particularly through digital growth strategies, which are perfectly suited to deliver on our strategic ambitions for the business. On behalf of my Board colleagues, I welcome Will to The Gym Group and look forward to working together.”

Will Orr commented:

“The Gym Group is a business I have admired for some time, both for its impressive growth, and for its founding mission to democratise fitness, something that is even more important now than when its first gym opened 15 years ago. I'm looking forward to building on the success the team have achieved to date, leading the company through this next exciting phase of its development and maximising the longer-term opportunity as the demand for health, fitness and wellbeing continues to increase.”

This notification is made pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.11R.

The Company confirms that there is no further information to be disclosed under the requirements of Listing Rule 9.6.13R.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

The Gym Group:
John Treharne, Chair of the Board
Luke Tait, Chief Financial Officer
via Teneo

Teneo: 
James Macey White
Laura Marshall 
+44 (0) 207 353 4200

Numis:
Luke Bordewich
George Price
+44 (0) 207 260 1000

Peel Hunt:
Dan Webster
+44 (0) 207 418 8900