Community Leisure UK’s (CLUK) Board of Trustees has been bolstered by the appointment of two new CEOs.
Stuart Lockwood, CEO of Oldham Active has been appointed Honorary Secretary following long serving member, and founder of CLUK, Mark Sesnan stepping down.
Ivan Horsfall Turner, CEO Freedom Leisure, will take the lead on a new board position representing National Operators.
Together with their fellow board members they will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation as well as raising the profile and benefits of the Charitable Trust model.
Stuart Lockwood, CEO of Oldham Active, said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as Honorary Secretary. We have a strong board that represents all of our members and their interests.”
Stuart added: “Given the challenges we will face from increased National Insurance contributions and employer costs over the coming 12 months we need to use our collective knowledge and experience to ensure our sector is able to continue to support individuals and the whole community improve their health and wellbeing through public leisure and culture. Creating positive social change and putting people above profit.”
Ivan commented: “It is a huge privilege to be joining the CLUK Board. As CEO of a genuine not-for-profit leisure trust it is more important than ever that we have a collective voice, and we use this power to influence and inform policy nationally and promote the benefits of the charitable leisure trust model.
Ivan added: “I look forward to working with Chair Phil Rumbelow and all the other Directors and the hugely focused and committed team at CLUK in ensuring we continue to have a real impact on the health and wellbeing of the community we serve and the value we bring to society, the economy and the environment.”
Mark Sesnan OBE, was the founder of Sporta back in the late 90s – a members association created to support charities delivering public leisure and culture – which eventually became Community Leisure UK in 2018. He was also CEO of GLL between 1993 and 2022 taking the company from sole deliverer of Greenwich Council’s Leisure Department to managing 300 leisure and library facilities in partnership with more than 50 local councils and sporting bodies.
Heather Stuart, Chief Executive of OnFife, has also stepped down as the board member for Culture at Community Leisure UK’s AGM last month after three years supporting the association.
Phil Rumbelow, Chair of Community Leisure UK, said: “I’d like to thank both Heather and Mark for their fantastic support over the years. Their leadership, experience and knowledge have helped our sector immeasurably during a very difficult few years following Covid, the Cost-of-Living Crisis and the Energy Crisis. I’d like to wish them both every success in the future.”
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