There are changes at the top for Places for People Leisure (PfPL), with two mainstays retiring and another winning promotion.

Business development director Tim Hewett and development director Peter Kirkham are both due to step down from the board at the end of June. Moving in the other direction is John Bates, who has been promoted to the vacant business development director role and will join the board.

Both Hewett and Kirkham have been stalwarts of the leisure industry and have played key roles in the growth of PfPL.

Hewett joined PfPL in 1992 when the company, then known as DC Leisure, operated four leisure facilities. During his time at the firm, Hewett has been instrumental in winning new leisure management contracts and successfully extending numerous contracts.

Kirkham has been with the company in 2002 and has led the way in the industry with PPP (Private, Public Partnership) projects, winning new business, developing 14 new centres in the last 10 years with more than £140m investment and overseeing the refurbishment of many facilities.

The newly-promoted Bates brings more than 34 years of leisure industry experience to the board and he has been involved in leisure facility contract management since 1986.

Sandra Dodd, CEO of PfPL, said: “I am extremely proud to have worked with both Tim and Peter and we will miss them both.

“John Bates has a wealth of experience in the industry and will continue to be a great asset to the business in his new role.”