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Just Childcare appoints new chief executive to replace co-founder David Johnson

Business Provision
Just Childcare’s original co-founder David Johnson is to step down as chief executive of the group, which has acquired another setting.
Co-founders of Just Childcare, David and Jacqueline Johnson, have now left the nursery group's board
Co-founders of Just Childcare, David and Jacqueline Johnson, have now left the nursery group's board

The nursery group, which operates settings in the North-West, Yorkshire and the South-West, has bought Footprints Day Nursery in Atherton, Greater Manchester.

The deal sees Just Childcare, which was bought by Partou in 2021, grow to 64 sites, providing over 5,000 childcare places.

Liz Carroll, operations director at Just Childcare, said, ‘We are absolutely delighted to see Footprints join the Just Childcare Group. Footprints have an excellent local reputation and we look forward to working alongside their existing teams to develop their setting further.’

At the same time, the co-founders of Just Childcare, David and Jacqueline Johnson, have announced they are stepping down from the nursery group’s board.

Under the changes, David Johnson has relinquished his role as chief executive to pursue other business interests, alongside his love of travelling. His wife Jacqueline, however, will continue to work with the nurseries and the broader Partou Group as a nursery concept consultant.

Replacing David Johnson as chief executive is Samantha Rhodes who has experience working for multi-site businesses within the retail and hospitality industry, as well as the health and wellbeing sector.

She said, ‘I am thrilled to join Just Childcare at such an exciting time in their evolution. The journey that Jacqueline and David have taken the company on has been extraordinary and I now look forward to working alongside our amazing nursery teams and my colleagues within our nursery support centre and Partou to develop the organisation further.’