Ross Faragher-Thomas from Virgin Active South Africa and Peter Brennan from Virgin Active UK are effectively doing a job swap by being seconded to the other’s post for a year.

The aim is to encourage the exchange of ideas between the two countries and foster a more united company vision.

Virgin Active will also trial the possibility of organising further work experience placements between the two countries in the future.

Faragher-Thomas has been general manager of operations in South Africa for the past three years and was responsible for managing Virgin Active operations and staff for the country’s 77 clubs.

Meanwhile Brennan, who was brought over from the US as UK director of operations, has spent the last three years managing the roll out of 12 clubs in the UK.