BANNATYNE Fitness, the UK's largest independent health club operator, has appointed a new commercial director to mastermind its expansion across the UK.

Nigel Armstrong, 30, from Darlington, will play an instrumental role in the development of the Bannatyne Fitness empire over the next year.

His promotion, from the post of financial controller, is proof of the company's commitment to promoting from within to ensure that its corporate philosophy is maintained.

Mr Armstrong has been with Bannatyne from the company's inception in 1997.

As financial controller, he was involved in the opening, funding and operation of the 15 health clubs opened by the company in the past four years.

He will continue to be based at the company's head office in Cleveland Terrace, Darlington.

From there, he will have a greater input into the running of individual club operations and the structure of the company nationwide, as well as the opening of a further eight clubs next year.

Bannatyne Fitness has seen unprecedented growth over the past two years, with clubs opening across England and Scotland.

The company now has 20 clubs open or under development under the Bannatyne Health Club and Just Fitness banners.

New clubs in Ayr, Scotland, and Colchester, Essex, are due to open at the end of the year.

Further towns and cities earmarked for clubs include Broadstairs in Kent, Southport, Merseyside; Banbury, Oxfordshire; and Dumfries in Scotland.

Bannatyne already has 28 clubs either running or in the pipeline, with plans to have an empire of 32 in total.

The majority of those will be under the Bannatyne banner, with four being Just Fitness clubs.

Just Fitness operations are gyms which have no swimming pools or steam rooms.

Duncan Bannatyne, chairman of Bannaytne Fitness, said: "There is room in the UK market for twice as many health and fitness clubs as there are at the moment.

"We are confident that we can grow our own business to fill some of that capacity. We currently have 40,000 members and are aiming for a membership of 100,000 in the next few years."

Before joining Bannatyne Fitness, Mr Armstrong trained in accountancy with Pannell Kerr Foster in Darlington, qualifying in 1992.

He then worked in the manufacturing industry for four years before entering the health and fitness business.

Mr Armstrong said: "This company has grown at a tremendous rate over the past couple of years and I feel proud to have played a part in that development.

"This promotion is a great opportunity to play a larger part in the continued expansion of the company and its two health club brands."

Mr Bannatyne added: "Nigel has been an integral part of the growth of Bannatyne Fitness and this promotion is testament to his commitment to the company.

"I am always keen to promote from within the company as it ensures the Bannatyne Fitness philosophy is maintained at every level of the business.