GLL has announced the appointment of Philip Donnay as CEO and Andy Bindon as deputy CEO, following the retirement of Peter Bundey.
A qualified chartered accountant, Donnay has more than 30 years’ experience across the leisure, health, sport and cultural services sectors. His previous roles at GLL include finance director, chief finance officer and deputy chief executive.
During his time with the employee-owned social enterprise, he has helped oversee its growth into one of the UK’s largest charitable providers of public leisure and cultural services. He also chairs the GLL Literary Foundation.
Donnay says it’s a privilege to lead GLL after being part of the organisation for three decades: “I’ve watched it grow from a single London borough into a national social enterprise, and I’ve seen the difference our people make in communities every single day.
“Good health isn’t built by treatment alone. It’s built in pools, gyms and libraries, close to home. That’s where GLL already is, and where we can do so much more.
“We’re owned by the people who deliver our services, and that’s our greatest strength. Every surplus goes back into communities, and we’re building something that lasts, not just for the next few years but for generations to come.”
Bindon rejoined GLL in 2019 as chief officer, change and values, having previously served as its HR director from 2002 to 2008. His career has included senior HR roles in the NHS, printing industry, London Underground and the rail sector, where he helped deliver major transformation programmes.
As deputy CEO, he will lead GLL’s corporate plan, change and values agenda.
GLL says prevention is central to its ambitions, highlighting the contribution of everyday activity, reading and community connection to keeping people well.
It plans to strengthen its work with existing council, health and community partners, expand its library services into new areas and make its offering more personalised, digital and inclusive.
