Ley and Davidson shape up for Total Fitness

WARWICK Ley, the former Endless dealmaker, and business partner Brian Davidson, who led the turnaround of Crown Paints, have taken over the management of Total Fitness, the North West gyms business.

The pair set up RooGreen earlier this year after Mr Ley exited Endless, where he had led the successful Crown Paints investment, and where he got to know Mr Davidson.

Based in Handforth, Total Fitness has 16 gyms and has had something of a troubled recent past, having gone through a pre-pack administration two years ago.

The business, majority owned by its lenders after a debt-for-equity swap deal, is understood to be profitable and trading well in a challenging market.

Mr Ley and Mr Davidson are working full-time in the business with a goal of further strengthening its financial and operational performance and rebuilding its management team, and eventually grooming it for sale.

Former chairman Graham Hallworth and group finance director Andrew Fortune have left the business, which has annual sales of around £46m and has more than 700 staff, including 60 at head office.