Merseyside-based Applied Nutrition announced the appointment of AJ Bell founder Andy Bell as its new chair. 

Tony Buffin, former CEO of Holland & Barrett and COO of Travis Perkins plc, has also joined the Applied Nutrition board as a non-executive director

Applied Nutrition CEO Thomas Ryder said: “I am delighted to welcome Andy and Tony to the team, and I am excited to benefit from their extraordinary experience as we continue to grow Applied Nutrition here and globally. 

“Andy is a Liverpool success story who has built a household name from scratch and his multi-decade experience will be invaluable to Applied Nutrition.

“We agreed last year that Andy would invest in the business. More recently our conversations around strategy and how we can continue our growth story led to Andy accepting the role of chair. This is the first such role he has accepted which is a huge endorsement of our business.

“Tony’s deep understanding of the sector will also be extremely beneficial. The global wellness economy is projected to grow by 8.6% a year, reaching $8.5 trillion in 2027, and Tony’s experience as CEO of Holland & Barrett, one of the world’s leading health and wellness retailers, will ensure that we are best positioned to capitalise on this exciting opportunity.”

Bell said: “I agreed to become a shareholder in Applied Nutrition last year, attracted to the outstanding growth delivered by its strong leadership team, the quality and diversity of its products, and growing market share in over 60 countries.

“I am now excited to have the privilege of being chair to support this fantastic UK business in its next phase of growth.”