Planet Fitness Restructures Leadership to Enhance Growth and Innovation
In a significant strategic move, Planet Fitness, one of the foremost names in the fitness industry, has announced a major reshuffle in its leadership team to bolster its growth initiatives and enhance operational effectiveness. This move comes as the company prepares for future expansion and aims to reinforce its position as the leading brand in fitness. Effective March 3, 2025, the changes reflect Planet Fitness's commitment to providing a non-intimidating, high-quality experience for its members while simultaneously maximizing growth potential.
Bill Bode, the current Division President for U.S. Franchise, will step into a newly created role as Chief Operating Officer (COO). In this position, he will oversee all operations for both franchise and corporate fitness clubs, ensuring that the core mission of Planet Fitness—creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all—is upheld. With eight years of experience at Planet Fitness, Bode's leadership is expected to enhance the customer experience throughout all facilities. He will continue to report directly to CEO Colleen Keating, reinforcing the company's strategic alignment at the highest levels.
Jennifer Simmons, who has served as Division President for Corporate Clubs for eleven years, will transition into the newly established role of Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). Her focus will be on implementing data-driven strategies to ensure that Planet Fitness remains at the forefront of emerging fitness trends and to support the company's strategic imperatives. By leveraging analytical insights, Simmons aims to maintain and grow the brand's competitive edge in an ever-evolving market.
The leadership changes announced in this restructuring follow the recent appointments of Chip Ohlsson as Chief Development Officer and Brian Povinelli as Chief Marketing Officer. Ohlsson will concentrate on advancing key growth initiatives, including both domestic and international expansions and enhancing the franchise network, while Povinelli will oversee global marketing to further solidify the brand’s market position.
Reflecting on these changes, CEO Colleen Keating expressed, "As we position Planet Fitness for growth in 2025 and beyond, we remain focused on executing our strategic imperatives—redefining our brand, enhancing member experiences, refining our product offerings, and optimizing our club formats. Our upgraded management team structure aims to capitalizes on efficiencies and leverage the expertise of our leaders to support our growth initiatives." This strategic alignment not only positions Planet Fitness for a robust year ahead but also addresses the need for heightened accountability and operational efficiency.
As part of their roadmap for growth, Planet Fitness is looking to optimize club openings and improve member retention, which are critical drivers for their success. The enhancements in leadership structure are anticipated to foster collaboration among the management team, enabling them to effectively promote growth engines—members and clubs.
With a current membership nearing 19.7 million across 2,722 clubs as of the end of 2024, Planet Fitness is a force in the fitness realm. The brand's unique positioning as a welcoming space, defined by its Judgement Free Zone® philosophy, continues to resonate with new and existing members alike. These leadership changes are expected to facilitate a further uplift in service quality, enhancing the overall fitness experience for everyone who walks through their doors.
This leadership shift comes as Planet Fitness prepares to announce its full fiscal year 2024 results and outlook for 2025 on February 25, 2025, setting the stage for an ambitious year of growth and development. The company's mission remains strong— to enhance lives through fitness in a welcoming environment— and the newly aligned leadership team is poised to deliver on this promise as they steer the company into the future.