AN EXPERIENCED fitness guru has joined the senior team of the Bannatyne Group which has its head office in Darlington.

Hugh Hanley, 40, joins the group as head of fitness and brings with him a wealth of experience. He studied sports and leisure management at Dublin University and spent several years as an advanced personal trainer.

He worked at both personal training studios and commercial health clubs before joining Virgin Active, where over the last eight years he progressed to head of personal training and fitness.

Mr Hanley said: “I am delighted to have joined the Bannatyne Group.

"The management team has a very similar ethos to me, and we will be working together to provide members with an overall offering that is far more about health and wellbeing and a holistic approach than just straight forward fitness.

“The fitness sector is constantly evolving, and it is important that health clubs move with the changing landscape.

“My role is to develop our fitness, personal training and group exercise offering and work with the instructors and trainers to ensure they develop and grow to enable them to help our members achieve their fitness goals.

“I am looking forward to the challenge of visiting more than 70 health clubs and meeting the hundreds of personal trainers and instructors across the Group."

Bannatyne health clubs are owned by former Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne who announced in the summer that he was returning as the group's CEO following the resignation of the existing CEO, Justin Musgrove.

At the time, Mr Bannatyne said the switch will give him the opportunity to have a more “hands-on” role in the business he started 22 years ago. He said: “The business is in great shape, turnover is at a record high and profits are strong and sustainable.

“Our members are enjoying facilities, which have been enhanced with significant investments in new equipment, new technology and a wide range of new classes and services delivered by our exceptional team."