Mr Pethick joins Healthspan from Saga Plc where he was Group Chief Marketing Officer & Group Director of Strategy & CEO of Saga Publishing and a member of the executive board, and Executive Chairman of Allied Healthcare, a business that was wholly owned by Saga.

He hails from New Zealand originally, and is married with three daughters. From entrepreneurial start-up ventures to multi national corporate entities, He gained international experience from living in the US, UK and Australia.

Healthspan chairman Derek Coates is delighted at the appointment.

He said: “We have been looking for the right person to head up our continuing company expansion that will include international opportunities. I am certain that Tim is the right man to lead the company into the future. His extensive experience is second to none and I also believe he is highly entrepreneurial as well as sharing my own passion for brands.”

Mr Pethick said: “I will be continuing to build from the solid foundations laid down.” He went on to say: “according to US consultancy, Future Market Insights, the global supplements market is predicted to be worth US$131bn by 2016. We’ve only just scratched the surface. There is tremendous scope to grow Healthspan and I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with Derek and all the team to do just that.”

Graham Case, Chief Operating Officer, and Michael Lawther, Group Finance Director, who will report to Tim, continue on the Healthspan Executive Board of Directors, with Chairman Derek Coates.

Healthspan is a completely ‘home-grown’ enterprise founded by Derek twenty years ago with a range of just 10 products originally. The brand now offers more than 200 products including nutritional supplements, a licenced herbal range, skin-care, cosmetics and a veterinary range. Healthspan has recently partnered with China’s leading direct marketing company EC Moho to become one of the company’s core ‘Flagship brands’ along side J&J and a number of successful US brands.