03 Jul 2020
World Gym reshuffles top team, appoints turnaround specialist as new CEO
BY Tom Walker
Franchised fitness operator World Gym has reorganised its senior leadership and appointed two new top executives to its team.
The brand, which currently has 200 locations in 15 countries and territories, has named Lewis Stanton as its new CEO, taking over from Guy Cammilleri, who has moved to become non-executive chair of the board.
Stanton runs Stanton Associates, a management consulting firm specialising in turnarounds and exit planning for privately-owned companies.
On his LinkedIn page, Stanton Associates is described as a company providing "practical, roll-up-our-sleeves assistance to companies facing challenges, including at times of crisis".
"We have the experience and the smarts to deliver rapid and effective tactical measures to improve the situation significantly, as well as long-term solutions for growth and profitability," the description reads.
Stanton's first move as CEO has been to bring in a new chief operating officer, Jarrod Saracco.
Saracco is president and owner of Health Club Doctor, a firm offering fitness consulting services, specialising in "maximizing the growth of health and fitness clubs".
Saracco will take over operations at all corporate-owned gym locations while supporting franchisee operations.
"Lewis and his team have helped us navigate the current pandemic while continuing franchise development in the US and internationally," Guy Cammilleri said.
"Lewis' experience transforming companies to achieve rapid growth and his commitment to fitness make him the perfect CEO for World Gym."
World Gym was founded in 1976 at Santa Monica, California by Joe Gold during the "Muscle Beach" era.
The Cammilleri family – Joyce Cammilleri and her three sons Guy, Marcus and Leo – acquired World Gym in 2009. Guy Cammilleri has steered the company as CEO since 2018.
Commenting on becoming the new CEO, Lewis Stanton said: "World Gym is a storied brand that helped to shape the modern fitness industry as we know it.
"I'm honored to lead this passionate team and to continue to grow this company globally. We are focused on helping our franchised and corporate gyms reopen and be successful."
World Gym has experienced growth over the past three years, adding 39 new gyms in 2019 alone. It currently has more than 1 million members across its 200+ sites.
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