Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries has appointed Grace Cole as its new managing director.

Cole joined the nursery group, which has more than 70 settings, as head of franchising for Hertfordshire in 2014, and became franchise director in 2020.

“I’ve had such a strong emotional connection with Monkey Puzzle over the past 11 years,” said Cole. “It’s so much more than a job for me – it’s a community I’ve grown with, and now I feel honoured at being able to lead the business. I’ve always believed in our mission to make a meaningful difference for the families and communities we serve – that’s what’s driven me every step of the way.”

As managing director, Cole aims to strengthen relationships across the entire Monkey Puzzle group, from franchisees to nursery teams and the children in their care. “We want everyone at Monkey Puzzle to feel genuinely supported, empowered and part of something bigger,” she said. “We’ll be looking to strengthen our operations, evolve training and refine our strategies to ensure we meet the changing needs of early years education.”

“Growth matters, but it has to reflect who we are,” she added. “It should always come back to our core principles. I’m the biggest believer in what we do and the difference we make. Leading Monkey Puzzle into our next chapter is something I’m incredibly proud of.”