Nuffield appoints Richard Wayment as new COO

Nuffield Health has announced the appointment of Richard Wayment as chief operating officer of its fitness and wellbeing division.

Richard joins Nuffield Health - the UK's largest not-for-profit healthcare provider - from House of Fraser where he was retail operations director, taking responsibility for 63 stores and 17,000 staff.

Richard will report to Laura Kerby, managing director, consumer wellbeing, taking responsibility for all sales and operations, food and beverage, nursery and membership administration across Nuffield's 65-strong portfolio of fitness and wellbeing centres.

Laura Kerby, managing director, consumer wellbeing, said: "We are delighted to announce Richard Wayment's appointment.

"Richard's expertise in running complex multi-site and multi-channel businesses, as well as his proven track record producing robust results through people, will be a real asset to Nuffield Health."

• Nuffield Health's annual report, published in June, revealed how finances grew stronger despite the challenging economic circumstances, with turnover rising by 4 per cent last year to £575m from £552m.

In addition, EBITDA, before exceptionals, increased to £72m in 2011 - a rise of 6.3 per cent.

• In January 2012, Nuffield acquired Greens Health & Fitness, a chain of 15 fitness centres from De Vere Group.