The Bannatyne Group has appointed Colin MacGillivray as its new regional manager for the North East.

MacGillivray will manage around 280 members of staff and will oversee teams at Bannatyne's Health Clubs in Carlisle, Chester-Le-Street, Coulby Newham, Darlington, Durham, Ingleby Barwick and York.

He will also be responsible for the 50-bedroom Bannatyne Hotel in Durham and the region's three Bannatyne Spa operations, which are located within the Darlington, York and Carlisle health clubs.

MacGillivray began his career at Bannatyne's in 2002, when he joined the company as fitness manager at the health club in Ayr. From here he progressed up the ranks to general manager and then cluster regional manager, before being offered the senior management role.

Nigel Armstrong, managing director of The Bannatyne Group, said: "Colin has worked his way up from ground level, and this experience will set him in good stead in his new role. We have very high expectations for Regional Managers in the company to deliver at the highest levels for all our health clubs and I'm sure Colin will rise to the challenge."