Appointment of new Chief Executive

BH Live is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Symons as its new Chief Executive.

Chris succeeds BH Live’s first Chief Executive, Peter Gunn, who led the formation of the Trust in 2010.

Chris joins from GLL, the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise. He has a wealth of sector experience and specialist knowledge having been one of its founding members. He also held an executive board position for over a decade, including five years as the company Chair.

Chris said, “It’s a great time to be joining BH Live – an organisation with a fantastic reputation, great ethics and a clear purpose. BH Live is recognised as a leading operator of leisure and cultural venues on the south coast and I’m privileged to have been chosen to drive forward the ambitions of the Trust.”

Mike Wright, Chair of BH Live said, “We look forward to working with Chris who has an impressive record of accomplishment and leadership with more than 25 years’ experience in delivering consistent performance, leading and securing business expansion.”

Chris holds an Executive MBA (Imperial College) and is an alumni of the London Business School. Chris is also a Non-Executive Independent Director of Achieving for Children.

Mike continued, “On behalf of the Board of Trustees we thank Peter for what has been achieved during his time as Chief Executive. Participation in leisure and cultural activities has increased from two million attendances in 2011 to over five million today. Turnover has risen from £20m (2010/11) to more than £42m (2017/18), and new partnerships with Portsmouth City Council and Croydon Council have expanded our reach. We wish him every success in the future.”

Chris will succeed as Chief Executive in April.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

Photo-caption:
Chris Symons
Credit: Achieving for Children

For more information about BH Live please contact:

Elizabeth Symmons, PR & Corporate Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
T: (01202) 055562

About BH Live

BH Live is the south coast’s leading operator of leisure and event venues; a social enterprise that designs and builds engaging experiences to inspire people and enrich lives.

With more than five million visits a year and £42 million turnover we are changing lives and are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy.

In 2017/18 we had 4.5 million leisure centre attendances, hosted more than 500 events and sold over half a million cultural, sporting and entertainment event tickets. We also welcomed 59,000 conference and exhibition delegates.

This generated an estimated £53 million in local economic benefit.

For more visit bhlive.org.uk.

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