Mind Gym appoints new COO and chief people officer

Learning and development group Mind Gym has appointed David Turnbull as its chief operating officer and Tara Tapper as its chief people officer

Turnbull, who has been filling the role of COO on an interim basis since November 2018, joins the company from leadership consulting practice Heidrick & Struggles, where he was COO from 2015. Prior to that, he worked at McKinsey & Co 14 years, latterly as global manager of the firm's Organisation Practice from 2010-2015.

Mind Gym said he has gained extensive operational expertise as a consultant advising companies across multiple industries on organisation design.

Tapper, meanwhile, has held senior HR leadership roles across a range of industries including retail, legal, health, IT, and financial services. Most recently, she led change and transformation programs in the FinTech sector, including at Zopa, HSBC and as group HR director of Wonga.

Mind Gym said she brings significant international experience, having spent four years in India, where she established and managed the HR department for the Royal Bank of Scotland's offshore business.

Chief executive Octavius Black said: "Just as we advise our clients, Mind Gym invests heavily in building our leadership team both by developing people from within and by bringing in exceptional people with fresh perspectives from outside. David and Tara are two such exceptional people with deep, relevant skills and experience. Just as importantly, they share our values. I'm delighted to welcome them to Mind Gym to help fuel our next phase of growth."