The Gym Group (TGG) has announced that Simon Jones has taken the role of non-executive director. This is the first appointment to come from TGG since Richard Darwin stepped down from his role as CEO and TGG founder John Treharne took over its leadership as executive chair until a new CEO is in place.

"I'm pleased to welcome Simon Jones to the board,” Treharne told HCM. “He's a great addition to the board and clearly brings extensive commercial and operational experience in building UK-wide businesses whose customer proposition is based on value and quality.

“With this insight and background, we know he will make an invaluable contribution as we look to continue to grow The Gym Group."

Jones holds dual roles of managing director for Premier Inn and Restaurants, UK, and global commercial director at Whitbread. He has led the UK business for Premier Inn and Whitbread's portfolio of restaurant brands since 2016. During this period, Premier Inn has grown to over 80,000 rooms across more than 800 hotels. He was previously marketing and strategy director for Premier Inn and responsible for the commercial and marketing agenda for the brand.

According to TGG, he will join the audit and risk, remuneration, nomination and sustainability committees.

Simon Jones said: "The Gym Group is a business I've long admired. It has a fantastic customer proposition, backed by a market-leading operating model and I am looking forward to working with the board to support the ongoing growth of the company."

The first Gym Group club was founded by Treharne in Hounslow in 2008. Today, the low-cost fitness chain operates 230 clubs, on a 24/7 basis, across the UK.