#United States #Planet Fitness #Hampton #Chip Ohlsson #Brian Povinelli

Planet Fitness Strengthens Its Leadership Team

In a strategic move aimed at fostering growth and advancing its mission, Planet Fitness, Inc. has announced the appointment of Chip Ohlsson as Chief Development Officer and Brian Povinelli as Chief Marketing Officer. These appointments are scheduled to take effect on January 20 and February 10, 2025, respectively.

New Leadership Roles

Both Ohlsson and Povinelli bring a wealth of experience from their previous roles in the hospitality industry, underscoring Planet Fitness's commitment to attracting top talent as it expands its footprint across the fitness sector.

Chip Ohlsson: Chief Development Officer

Chip Ohlsson joins Planet Fitness from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, where he was an influential executive with over three decades in the hospitality field. His tenure at Wyndham as the Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer allowed him to oversee the expansion of 24 hotel brands across North America, achieving remarkable success in his delivery of consistent growth results. Ohlsson's history of building robust relationships with franchisees and managing large-scale development projects will be critical to Planet Fitness's goals of increasing its club openings and reinforcing its nationwide presence.

With a strong foundation in hospitality and firsthand franchise experience, he aims to leverage strategic partnerships and innovative programs to facilitate franchisee support. Ohlsson expressed his enthusiasm upon joining the team, voicing eagerness to contribute to Planet Fitness’s growth journey both domestically and internationally.

Brian Povinelli: Chief Marketing Officer

Brian Povinelli arrives at Planet Fitness with an impressive marketing background, having spent over 30 years with renowned brands such as Marriott International. As the Global Head of Marketing and Brand at Marriott, Povinelli managed multiple marketing functions and oversaw a substantial marketing budget exceeding $1 billion, indicating his adept ability at driving growth through strategy and customer engagement.

His experience at Marriott also highlights Povinelli’s skills in forging strong connections with franchisees, a key component for success in the fitness industry. He expressed his excitement about joining Planet Fitness, focusing on the task of enhancing the brand’s visibility and expanding its reach to promote fitness and wellness to a broader audience.

Strategic Goals Ahead

Chief Executive Officer Colleen Keating expressed optimism about the new leadership appointments, conveying confidence that Ohlsson and Povinelli will significantly contribute to the company's ongoing initiatives. Their collective expertise will be essential in executing the company’s strategic imperatives, such as accelerating club openings and refining brand strategy, thus ensuring the fitness chain continues its upward trajectory.

Keating emphasized the importance of both leaders’ capabilities in leading consumer-facing brands through expansion phases and fostering fruitful collaboration with franchisees. She added, “Chip and Brian are two highly experienced executives in their fields, and their impressive records in driving profitable growth will fortify our operations as we navigate through an exciting period of transformation.”

Looking to the Future

Planet Fitness, founded in 1992 and based in Dover, NH, has quickly become one of the largest fitness franchises globally, boasting approximately 19.7 million members across 2,722 locations as of December 31, 2024. With the newly appointed executives expected to join forces with Keating and the broader team, the fitness franchise aims to maintain its expansion momentum while ensuring its members enjoy an outstanding fitness experience in a welcoming environment, aptly dubbed the Judgement Free Zone.

Both executives share a unified vision to elevate the brand and broaden the access to fitness, driving the company towards further heights as it initiates this new chapter.