Record-breaking mountain climber Annabelle Bond, OBE, is tacking a challenge of a different kind after joining corporate and personal development company, Advance Performance to help boost its presence in the south east.

Bond, a former director at global real estate provider FPD Savills, is best known for becoming the only woman in the world to have climbed the Seven Summits in under a year. Her appointment at the North West-based behavioural training specialists is the latest step in the company’s drive to win an increasing number of high-profile clients.

Jacqui Chatwood, managing director at Advance, said: "Over the last 12 months we have invested a considerable amount of time and resources in recruiting the right people as we look to reaffirm our position as the leading provider of corporate and personal development training in the UK.

"We have an established presence in many areas of the country – as well as the US and Australia – but Annabelle’s appointment will help significantly in reaching a greater number of high-profile corporate businesses based in southern England."