Active Together has appointed a new Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson as it continues to lead progress on making physical activity a part of everyday lives.

Andy Reed OBE picks up the baton from Mike Sandys DL, who last week stood down from the Board after achieving the maximum nine years of service permissible under Active Together's governance code.

Mr Reed will be supported by Tracy Bingham, who was confirmed as Vice-Chair during a vote among Board members at Sport Park in Loughborough on Friday.

Mr Reed chaired Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport - the forerunner to Active Together - from 2005 to 2016. He brings extensive experience in government relations and sports policy from his 13 years as the MP for Loughborough.

Mr Reed also chairs the Sport For Development Coalition, and previously was the chairperson for the Sport and Recreation Alliance. He is Co-Chair of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) and a Board Member of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

"I have a genuine passion for sport at every level and believe that I have the links and contacts to use this passion to increase the profile and development of sport in the County," he said.

"As a Board, we will continue progress made under Mike and on the further implementation of our planned strategy, such as the new Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan which has been developed over the last nine months and which was approved by the Board last week."

Mrs Bingham grew up in Coalville and served as Strategic Director at Oadby and Wigston Borough Council before transferring to Strategic Director of Corporate Resources at South Derbyshire District Council last year.

She said: "I've been very interested in Active Together's people-led approach and will be looking at how flexible conditions allow people to build more movement into their daily lives."

Dr Mary Hardwick, who sits on the Board as Senior Independent Director, was among those involved in the recruitment process.

She said: "The process of transferring the Chairperson began last September, with a selection process based on leadership, influence, and sector experience criteria, as set out in our governance code.

"Mike has done a first-class job as Chairperson , but, as an organisation, we aspire to best practice in our governance and that meant Mike had completed his nine years.

"In Andy and Tracy, however, we are fortunate to have gained two candidates who are highly experienced boardroom leaders, each of whom is able to offer deep insight into organisational strategy and sports development."

Friday also marked the final meeting as Chairperson for Mr Sandys, who is the Director of Public Health for Leicestershire County Council and Rutland County Council.

He had chaired Active Together since September 2022, having succeeded former North West Leicestershire District Council CEO Bev Smith in the role.

Speaking last week, he reflected on his nine years on the Board, which has further included a place on the national Active Partnerships Board.

"I think Active Together and Leicestershire were ahead of our time (in shifting the way physical activity is encouraged)," he said.

"We recognised that sport wasn't the only way to encourage the people of the city and county to get moving."