Board of Directors

Clive Chesser joined Pure Gym as Group CEO in November 2024. Prior to this, he was CEO of Punch Pubs & Co, having taken on the role in 2018 as it was taken private. During his time there, he oversaw its strategic transformation into a progressive and forward-thinking pub company. Despite navigating the Covid pandemic, he led the business through a successful sale from Patron Capital to Fortress Investment Group in December 2021. Clive has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, including 17 years in the pub industry. Before taking on the leadership of Punch Pubs & Co, Clive held senior positions with Greene King and Enterprise Inns. Prior to this, between 1999 and 2007, Clive gained extensive international experience whilst overseeing the expansion of the Häagen-Dazs international franchise business, having started his career with SSP. Clive holds a degree in Politics and an MBA from the University of Leicester, and is a keen marathon runner and cyclist.

Alex Wood is the Group Chief Financial Officer. Alex was previously CFO and Interim CEO of Gala Bingo, the UK’s largest operator of low stake high volume gaming venues and co‑led a private equity backed management buy‑out of the business from Gala Coral Group, where he was previously Group M&A Director. At Gala Coral Group Alex assisted the CEO and CFO with the carve out and disposal of several non‑core divisions and subsequently the reverse of Coral Bookmakers into Ladbrokes Plc. Alex spent 13 years working in the corporate finance practice of KPMG having qualified as an ACA in 2003. He holds a 1st Class Master’s Degree in Chemistry from Nottingham University.

Rebecca Passmore joined PureGym in October 2017 as the UK Operations Director and is now Group Chief Operating Officer leading PureGym’s UK, Danish and Swiss businesses. Rebecca is an experienced leader with over 20 years in Retail and Leisure across Food, General Merchandise, DIY and now Fitness. She joined PureGym directly from Wickes where she held the role of Store Operations Director, and prior to Wickes, Ms. Passmore held various senior roles in Asda, TKMaxx and Aldi. She holds a BA Honors Degree in Business Management at University of Nottingham and completed an Exec MBA at Harvard Business School.

Morten Bentzen is the Managing Director of PureGym’s Danish business and joined the PureGym Group in January 2021. Morten comes with more than 15 years of management experience from the Nordic Telco Industry, last serving for 4 years as CEO & Country Manager for Telia Denmark, part of the Nordic telco‑operator Telia Company. Prior to that he has worked in various Vice President and management roles within Telia Company and Orange. Before joining Telia he was part of a start‑up, which was sold to Orange. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Copenhagen Business School.

Francine Davis joined PureGym in 2015 as the Group Chief Strategy Officer. Prior to joining PureGym, Francine was Commercial Director at the Snow & Rock Group with responsibility for the Cycle Surgery and Runners Need businesses. Prior to this, she held several senior management roles in private equity backed businesses. Ms. Davis started her career with Bunzl plc, where she spent 13 years working in a variety of business development functions with leading brands such as Marks & Spencer, Asda and Starbucks. During this time, she worked alongside the Starbucks team to implement the supply chain strategy for the entry and growth into the UK, Europe and Australian markets. Francine has an MBA from Henley, is a British Age Group Triathlete and continues to compete regularly.

Andy joined PureGym as Group Chief Information Officer in June 2022 taking on responsibility for Digital Strategy, Digital Product and Technology across the group. Andy has spent time in technology leadership positions at a number of companies including Group CTO at Whitbread (Premier Inn and Costa Coffee), Group CIO for Virgin Active and various roles at easyJet including CTO where he delivered their award winning mobile app and one of the busiest eCommerce sites in Europe. Previous companies include Cable & Wireless, NatWest Group and Argos. Andy has also been a non-executive director, investor and regular speaker on the changing role of the CIO and inspiring a modern technology workforce.

Fraser Inglis is PureGym’s UK Finance Director and Business Partner to the Swiss and Danish Operations, he also leads the Property Acquisitions Estates & Development functions, as well as the Finance team. Fraser joined PureGym in 2015 initially to manage the integration of the LA Fitness business into PureGym before setting up a commercial finance capability for the enlarged business. A qualified accountant with BA Honors degree in Business Studies, Fraser has more than 20 years’ post qualified experience in consumer sectors, specialising in multi‑site growth businesses and incorporating significant corporate transaction experience. Fraser has 15 years’ experience in the fitness industry including internationally, having spent 9 years at Virgin Active prior to joining PureGym, where he held senior finance positions in both the UK and Group teams. He previously worked at Costa Coffee, Whitbread PLC, KP Foods and Carlsberg UK.

Eve Sukhnandan is the Group Chief People Officer and joined PureGym in 2015 following the acquisition of LA Fitness. Eve is an experienced People & Human Resources professional, with over 20 years’ experience in retail, the pub trade and predominantly the fitness industry. Eve joined PureGym directly from her role as HR Director for LA Fitness, prior to which she held management roles in Punch Taverns and the Home Retail Group. Eve is a Chartered Fellow with the CIPD and most recently completed a Strategic Human Resources Programme with Hult Ashridge Business School.