Pure Gym has appointed Rebecca Passmore as its director of operations, replacing Jacques de Bruin, who has decided to leave the company after six years.

Passmore will be joining the gym group from DIY retailer Wickes, where she has been store operations director since September 2015.

The 35-year-old, who studied business management at the University of Nottingham, began her career on Aldi's graduate programme in 2002. She has also held roles at TK Maxx and Asda.

On Passmore's appointment, Humphrey Cobbold, Pure Gym chief executive, said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Rebecca Passmore as director of operations and welcome her to the senior leadership team. Attracting someone of Rebecca’s capability and extensive operational and business leadership experience is a real validation of the strengths and prospects of Pure Gym.

“Rebecca will, in early October, replace Jacques De Bruin who, after six years at Pure Gym, has decided to seek new opportunities and will be stepping down from his position as chief operating officer. He’s made a spectacular contribution to Pure Gym’s growth and the expansion of budget gyms in the UK and will leave with our very best wishes for the future.”

Pure Gym has 182 sites in the UK and more than 900,000 members.