Our business would not be where it is today without the continuing dedication and hard work of our diverse and talented teams of staff.
Everyone from our Managing Director to site managers and centre staff has a vital role to play in driving our business forward.
The Board of Directors guide Parkwood Leisure in providing the best possible services to clients and local communities alike. With years of experience in the leisure industry and a range of unique skills and qualifications, our Board of Directors are one of the many reasons that Parkwood Leisure is trusted to run over 80 leisure facilities on behalf of local authorities.
Managing Director
Glen has over 25 years of experience working within the Leisure Industry, joining Parkwood Leisure in 1997. He has been a Company Director since 2005 and took the reigns as Managing Director in 2019.
Having worked in the public and private sector, Glen is particularly skilled in strategic development, performance measurement & management, major build & design, organisational improvement and commercial turnaround.
Glen has been integral in growing and diversifying the Parkwood Leisure business over the last 20+ years.
Commercial & Finance Director
Prior to becoming Parkwood Leisure’s Finance Director in 2003 Giles had held Senior Finance Positions at a number of Nasdaq and FTSE listed companies in the service, retail and FMCG markets. He trained and qualified with Ernst & Young in their Birmingham office.
Giles provides strategic Financial guidance for the business and has overseen a five fold growth in the company, numerous contract handovers, system changes and developments as well as leading on a number of acquisitions and disposals. He was promoted to Commercial and Finance Director in 2017, taking on additional responsibilities for the commercial outcome of the company. Giles is very keen on all kinds of sport and physical activity of all kinds and seeks wherever possible to participate and encourage others to do so.
Operations Director
Alex has over 16 years in the Leisure and Fitness industry, joining Parkwood Leisure from his role at University Sport. He holds a degree in Sports Development, NEBOSH Diploma and is a chartered member of IOSH and CIMPSA.
He has a wealth of experience at Parkwood Leisure, progressing upwards through the company since assuming his first role as Duty Manager in 2006. He has since then assumed multiple roles including Centre Manager, Contract Manager, Area Manager, Assistant Regional Director and his most recent appointment of Operations Director in January 2020.
In his spare time, Alex enjoys playing Rugby, having competed at a semi-professional level, and golf, where he has successfully achieved a single-figure handicap.
Strategic Director
Andy is widely recognised as one of the most innovative and forward-thinking leaders in the sector.
He joins Parkwood Leisure from British Cycling where he spent 3 1⁄2 years overseeing the development of their new operating model and business plan. He also designed and implemented their Places to Ride investment programme.
Andy was previously Business Development Director at Parkwood, overseeing arguably Parkwood’s most successful period of new business acquisition. In his new role Andy will shape the strategic direction of the company, including seeking new business opportunities, driving innovation, improving third party partnerships and exploring wider Parkwood Leisure services.
Regional Director, South East
Qualifications: Professionally Qualified to ISRM and active CIMSPA member
Pete joined Parkwood Leisure in April 1996. His operational experience in leisure and facility management spans over 35 years in both the public and private sectors. He was formally Leisure Manager for North Herts District Council, has held a Regional Director role for Parkwood Leisure for over fifteen years and is currently the Regional Director for the South East.
Pete is a qualified ISO 9002 Quality auditor, D33 / D34 NVQ training assessor and Quest quality systems assessor, and was awarded the HR Austin national award for achievement whilst studying for the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management. He is currently a member of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) and holds a NEBOSH Health and Safety qualification.
Pete has a broad base of experience in facility and contract management and has been actively involved in establishing and operating PFI, DBOM, PPP and best value management contracts in both the leisure and education sectors. The South East region is comprised of partnerships with 8 local authorities, as well as the operation of a private fitness club. Overall, the region hosts 28 facilities either directly managed or via partnership arrangements.
Regional Director, North & Midlands
Francois has worked for Fusion Lifestyle for 10 years and 1Life for 18 months and has a vast experience in contract management, mobilisation of new contracts and new developments. He has a track record of increasing revenues and reducing cost. Francois has also agreed partnership agreements with several national governing bodies which include Badminton England, British Gymnastics and Swim England. One of his notable achievements at Fusion Lifestyle was being appointed lead for their Open Active Data project, where they pioneered as the first operator to have open bookable data.
In his spare time, Francois coaches football for his daughter’s team and plays golf socially.
Regional Director, Wales & South West
Darren joined Parkwood Leisure in 2002 as a Contract Manager in Torridge, Devon, after starting his career as a lifeguard and swimming teacher in the late 1980s.
With 35 years of leisure experience, Darren excels in balancing strategic and operational needs, employing strong financial and people management skills alongside a hands-on management approach.
Overseeing 20 diverse sites ranging from a PFI leisure centre in Penzance to the company’s sole registered zoo in Swansea. Darren’s notable accomplishments include spearheading the development and successful launch of the Tarka DBOM facility in North Devon, surpassing all expectations. Outside of work, Darren resides on Dartmoor and enjoys cycling on sunny days.
