The Gym Group has appointed Will Orr as its new CEO and executive director.

Orr joins the low-cost fitness operator from Times Media – publisher of The Times and The Sunday Times – and is expected to start in the role later in 2023.

He comes to the business from outside the fitness industry, having previously held the role of managing director at automotive services company, RAC and British Gas (Centrica Plc).

His skill set and experience include leading teams through sustained periods of growth and expertise in pricing, proposition, digital marketing and retention.

Orr's appointment follows the stepping down of previous CEO, Richard Darwin, in January 2023. Darwin has remained with the business, offering support and will stay with the company until July to ensure a smooth handover. The Gym Group's founder, John Treharne, has been acting as executive chair since January and has overseen Orr's appointment.

Commenting, Orr said: "The Gym Group is a business I've admired for some time, both for its impressive growth and for its founding mission to democratise fitness – something that's even more important now than when its first gym opened 15 years ago.

"I'm looking forward to building on the success the team has 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.”

The Gym Group currently operates 230 clubs.

John Treharne, chair, said: "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."

Orr has experience of prioritising the customer experience, particularly for subscription-based business models in the consumer and media sectors, said Treharne.