We’re proud to have an amazing team

Senior

Our Senior Team set the overall direction for Vivify. Their commitment to giving back to schools and building thriving communities of healthier and happier people across the UK, runs throughout everything we do.

Russell Teale

Co-founder and CEO

I have 18 years experience working in the leisure industry in schools, gyms and other leisure businesses. Starting from grass-roots, progressing to senior executive positions in a multi-site consumer-facing environment with a purpose.


I’m most passionate about health and wellbeing in the community, as well as being obsessed with delivering a world-class experience to venues, customers and colleagues.

"I’m happiest when I’m in the lakes, up a mountain with the family!"

Martin Hainsworth

Director of Operations

With over 20 years’ experience of working in the Leisure sector, the last 4 years as an operations Director and a year of being a Managing Director in scalable/startup businesses.

I’m passionate about delivering the outcomes customers expect and leading and inspiring my team to achieve ‘out of the park’ results.

I am happiest when spending time with the family and experiencing the world whether at home or abroad.

Lauren Bennett

Director of People & Culture

I am a senior Human Resources specialist with a lengthy background leading People & Culture initiatives in multiple sectors including FMCG, Manufacturing and Professional Services across global markets.

I am passionate about company vision, values and the employee experience as a driver of organisation, growth and development.

Happiest in the middle of a small music venue in Manchester or a crowded festival field.

Richard Millman

Non Exec Chairman

Over 20 years of board level experience, and early career was spent at Guiness, The Coca-Cola.

Currently working on a portfolio of Non-Executive roles, including as the Non Exec Chairman of The Protein Works, having spent the previous ten years focussing on the area of Private Equity backed businesses turnarounds in the Leisure Sector, most notably as the CEO of Leisure Connection (1Life) and the turnaround and subsequent management buyout of Total Fitness Health clubs.

Happiest when being active – cycling, running, boating, kayaking and hill walking – I have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro!

Leadership

Our leadership team are a group of highly experienced leaders across operations, customer experience, marketing and digital, united with the common goal of providing the best possible experience to the schools and communities we serve.

Debbie Gallagher

Head of School Relationships

18 years experience in the leisure industry working for David Lloyd and Virgin Active in various roles including Sales and Membership Manager and General Manager.

Strong communicator, putting people at the forefront of everything and winning many awards.
Managed and exceeded budgets whilst delivering the highest net growth over a 5 year period.

“Happiest when surrounded by happy people. Christmas is my favourite time of the year, and my favourite film is ELF (I’ve even called my puppy Buddy).”

Jen Shuttleworth

Head of People & Culture

A decade of experience working in Operations and Sales across both Leisure and Food Retail with a passionate focus for People Development.

Thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment with a proven record of delivering aspirational engagement, service and financial targets.

Developed projects in Human Resources from conception to delivery with a multi-faceted aim to recognise and enhance the employee lifecycle.

Associate CIPD Level 5. Have completed various courses including data analytics, GDPR and training. Currently studying Mental Health awareness.

Happiest when drinking a rhubarb gin after a scenic walk with my husband.

Sales & Marketing

Our expert sales and marketing team have a plethora of knowledge and expertise in education marketing and school lettings. They work tirelessly to make sure our schools facilities are booked throughout the year, while helping community groups find a place to get together.

Rob Aitken

Head of School Partnerships

A qualified teacher and academy trustee with a decade of experience supporting schools in the use of innovative technologies and services.

Understands the priorities of schools and how that can place specific challenges on change management or technology implementation.

Passionate about the wellbeing of students and staff and the quality of education: determined to put schools first and help to place them at the centre of their community.

Happiest when with my family in the park or at the beach; or miles away from them on my road-bike

Cydney Cryne

Digital Marketing Apprentice

I am a digital marketing apprentice and I am grateful to be able to work for a company that strives to make positive changes in society. I believe exercise and activity are the most essential things for physical and mental wellbeing and I love being a part of encouraging this!

I am passionate about content creation and marketing to different audiences, and I love challenging myself and stepping out of my comfort zone.

Happies when taking a long scenic walk and being surrounded by people that strive to be the best version of themselves.

People & Operations

Critical to the successful delivery of our schools’ lettings programmes, our expert People and Operations' teams are dedicated to understanding your school’s unique needs while providing a seamless service each and every day.

James Merlos-Coy

Regional Operations Manager - South

I have 10 year’s management experience in Leisure, across private health clubs, leisure centres, and franchised gyms. I am passionate about developing and bringing the best out of my team, through gaining a holistic understanding of each team member. I have a Master’s Degree in Strength and Conditioning and have published work within the field in addition to coaching elite-level athletes.

Happiest when exploring with my daughter and showing her the world.

Darriel Booth

Regional Operations Manager - North

I've worked in the leisure industry for over 10 years across a range of customer-facing roles.

Before joining Vivify, I was busy managing school sites, so I have a breadth of knowledge when it comes to managing and hiring out school facilities.

I’m passionate about ensuring our schools and hirers have the best experience, and I'm always ready at the end of the phone to help, no matter the question!

Francisca Morgan-Kilner

Regional Operations Manager - South

Hi am Francisca, most call me Fran or Frankie!

I’m a West London University graduate, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Event Management. I have over 18 years' experience in Customer Service, Sales, Service Admin and data cleansing, HR, Office Management, Co Ordinator roles and for the past 6 years now in Facilities Management and Operations. I've demonstrated experience in luxury brands, live events, within the prestigious automotive industry, luxury retail, corporate events, finance and most recent leisure and sports sector.

I have, always loved being able to deliver a service which people will feel and remember. I love being able provide more than something material, which is why I feel hugely grateful to be in the role I am in and able to lead and provide my wonderful staff in supporting the local communities of my school sites with the facilities to achieve this.

Happiest when I'm surrounded with my family, eating yummy food, drinking cocktails and ideally on an exotic holiday!

Olivia Cahill

HR Recruiter

I am a newly qualified HR practitioner who prides themselves in being an approachable, passionate, and driven individual. Committed to assisting others create a more efficient and effective way of working.

My favourite thing to do is get dressed up and go out with my friends, sipping cocktails and eating nice food.

Happiest when I am lay on a sun lounger on a beach, tanning

Robert Johnson

Customer Service Advisor

I have a background of working with several ethics-first organisations and customer facing roles, providing a high level of customer care backed up with empathy and a strong moral compass. With prior experience as an ecologist, tech support agent, and faculty representative for science at university, I have a well-rounded skill set to problem solve and a dedication for social causes.

I am happiest when marking a pub quiz and the opposing team gets a question wrong which my team got right.

Meet our community hosts...

Our Community Hosts are responsible for opening and closing our schools across the UK on evenings, weekends and school holidays. All our hosts are enrolled onto our thorough Training Academy, where they learn everything from operational standards, security, safeguarding and customer service. During the recruitment process we put a particular emphasis on Vivify's values, as it's crucial our hosts understand just how meaningful a lettings programme can be.

Here are some of our hosts describing the impact they see school lettings have on their local community.

Want to join our team?

We have a diverse team with a variety of skills, all united under one vision - decreasing inactivity and loneliness in society whilst generating much-needed revenue for community venues. We’d love to meet you.

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UK Active Award Winner Northwest Most Exciting Company Award
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