After a five-month search for a new president and CEO, 24 Hour Fitness, Carlsbad, California, has appointed a familiar face to the role: COO Karl Sanft, who had been acting as interim CEO since Tony Ueber, who had been CEO, left the company in December 2021.
Sanft had served as COO of 24 Hour Fitness since April 2019 overseeing operations of the company’s nationwide network of clubs and leading initiatives to transform fitness experiences for the company’s nearly 2 million club members and guests. Prior to joining 24 Hour Fitness, Sanft had spent 20 years with Best Buy.
During his tenure at 24 Hour Fitness, Sanft has guided the company in a number of initiatives—piloting the company’s approach to its personalized membership pricing structure (responsible for driving increased club traffic coupled with demand for mind and body wellness), spearheading the return of 24/7 club operations for the majority of its club members nationwide, while developing new concepts such as MODUS small group training, the HIIT+mindfulness program, P.A.S.E. Factor; and forming industry partnerships, such as those with nutrition, supplement and wellness provider Nutrishop, and recovery program creator iCRYO.
“After a strategic review of our company’s revitalized business proposition, we concluded that Karl is the best leader to take the company into the future of fitness,” said Michael Barnett, who serves of the company’s board of directors. “His diverse background in the retail services industry along with his extensive familiarity with the 24 Hour Fitness brand—as a club member since 1993, and as a vital member of the company’s executive leadership team for the past three years—has resulted in his keen understanding of the member experience, and the creation of strong relationships both inside and outside the industry, and has earned the respect and support of our nationwide team of fitness professionals. These valuable perspectives will help shape the future of 24 Hour Fitness as well as the post-pandemic recovery of the fitness industry.”
Sanft said in the announcement that he was excited about his new role and is prepared to lead the team.
“I look forward to learning more about what is most important to our members in the post-pandemic environment and to helping the company continue to earn the title of ‘fitness industry leader,’” Sanft said. “I am confident about our future and look forward to further innovating the fitness experience in the club and as a virtual companion to become the best part of our members’ day.”