Former Premier Global Group chief executive Debra Stuart has been named chair of The Training Room PT, a training company specialising in personal trainer education.

Stuart, a fitness industry veteran with more than 35 years’ experience, has been brought in a bid to "strengthen and enhance" The Training Room’s position within the fitness sector.

According to Andrew Powell, CEO of The Training Room, Stuart will be tasked with ensuring that the company – a subsidiary of the Route2Work Group – provides the sector with personal trainers and fitness professionals who are "a cut above the competition”.

"Debra will support our strategy as we focus on growing our portfolio of education both in the UK and internationally," Powell said.

"Debra has a wealth of knowledge and experience which will be applied to maintaining quality and the needs of the student at the heart of everything we do, while ensuring that all our courses provide the knowledge and skills needed for today’s fitness sector."

Commenting on her new role, Stuart said: "At a time when government funding for health and fitness education is being cut and courses are being shortened, it is refreshing to be working with an organisation that wants to invest in a quality learning experience for its students.

"The fitness industry is becoming much more diverse, with many new and innovative ways of working and a strong shift towards overall wellness.

"This presents vast opportunities for personal trainers and it is essential that education evolves to support their needs and the needs of employers. I’m looking forward to working on some exciting new projects with Andrew and the team."

The news follows a recent management buy out of The Training Room PT, by the board of holding company, Route2Work.

As a result of the MBO, investors Rakesh Bhasin, formerly CEO of Colt Group; entrepreneur Philip Blackwell; and Piers Marmion, an expert in global human capital and technology, joined The Training Room board of directors.