HelloSelf, an online therapy platform that focuses on mental health and wellbeing, has hired James McErlean as its managing director.

McErlean joins HelloSelf from Headspace where he held general manager for work, EMEA, and general manager of B2B and health international positions.

He will be responsible for developing the employer proposition to ensure people at work have the support they need.

McErlean said: “There are increasingly more options for employers when it comes to preventative mental health care. Yet talk therapy is still preserved for those who can afford it, or for those in desperate need of treatment.

“When great therapy meets considerate use of smart technology, like that at HelloSelf, people can be supported to stay better for longer. This is why it was so important for me to join a company that shared my passion and advocacy for therapy, and one that is actively working on making the whole experience easier, better, and more accessible.”

HelloSelf currently looks after 250,000 employees through its employer programme which includes the likes of BP, Bulb, Impression and BGF. It also works with health insurers including AXA, Aviva, Vitality and Bupa.