Keiser UK makes changes to management team

After more than 10 years with Keiser UK, Tim Colston has stepped down as managing director to pursue other enterprises within the fitness industry.

Colston’s duties included growing the Keiser brand in the UK and ensuring the company met the challenges of the changing UK market.

Customer relations manager Jackie Broome will take over the day-to-day operational running of Keiser UK, while Gary Oleinik will continue in his role as sales director, supported by sales manager Colin Averis.

Colston will continue to work with Keiser UK on special projects, in a consultancy capacity. Details: http://lei.sr?a=t8w7P

The Gym appoints Spaven as property director

Jonathan Spaven has accepted a new position as property director with The Gym Group, the fast-growing 24-hour budget gym chain in the UK.

This announcement follows news in June that The Gym has secured £50m funding to grow the property portfolio, opening between 20 and 30 new gyms each year.

Spaven, who was previously Matalan’s director of property, says: “The budget gym sector is growing, now occupying 18 per cent of the total gym market. Not bad for a concept which, before 2008, did not exist in the UK. In my previous role, I managed a portfolio of 217 stores, which has equipped me well for my new role at The Gym.”

Spaven will sit on the board of The Gym and will head up a team of four acquisition managers and a property development manager. Details: http://lei.sr?a=R6f9G

Jonathan Spaven will oversee expansion plans

EHFA positions itself for growth

EHFA (European Health and Fitness Association) has announced the appointment of Nathalie Smeeman as executive director from 1 November.

The appointment follows the approval of the ‘EHFA Plan for Growth’ at a board meeting and general assembly in Cologne, Germany, in April.

Smeeman holds a MSc in marketing from Groningen University in the Netherlands. She has been head of marketing and communication for SportAccord in Lausanne, Switzerland, for the past four years. Before that, she worked for the Olympic Committee and National Sport Federation in the Netherlands for nine years, with her last position being the director of marketing, communications and events.

Harm Tegelaars, president of EHFA, says: “Nathalie’s background, with more than 15 years of experience in Europe in the field of associations for physical activity and sport, will be extremely valuable in the next spurt of growth for EHFA.

“She has the right skillsets and experience to further develop the association for the benefit of our members and partners.”

Herman Rutgers, EHFA board member and former executive director, adds: “Having spent over five years as the first EHFA executive director, coupled with my previous 15 years in the sector, I know what it takes to be successful and am convinced Mrs Smeeman is the perfect choice for the next phase of EHFA’s development.

“Together with Harm and the other board members and staff, I will be very happy to offer my assistance in the transition phase and introduce her to the many key partners of EHFA. I welcome Nathalie to EHFA and the industry and look forward to working with her.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=7q4A3

Smeeman has Olympic Committee experience

New training manager for Jordan Fitness

Functional fitness specialist Jordan Fitness has appointed Mark Laws as the new training academy manager for its continued professional development (CPD) training courses through the Jordan Fitness Academy.

Laws has worked in health and fitness for eight years, providing functional fitness training to people with a wide range of physical abilities – from elite athletes through to deconditioned beginners.

As a strength and conditioning coach, Laws trained Sheffield United Football Club, Castleford Tigers Rugby League and Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He also worked with the Chinese 2008 Olympic Squad, assisting with the training of medallists. In addition, Laws has lectured on athlete development for the International Ice Hockey Federation.

As the training academy manager at Jordan Fitness, Laws’ role includes managing a team of trainers delivering workshops and seminars – as part of the newly launched Results Based Training system – through the REPs-accredited Jordan Fitness Academy. He will also be involved in developing new courses to support product launches and emerging fitness trends within the marketplace.

Laws says: “As the fitness industry continues to evolve, I’ll be helping to ensure that Jordan Fitness evolves with it. The Jordan Fitness Academy provides relevant and specialist training using our highly skilled and dedicated team of trainers throughout the country, delivering comprehensive training programmes.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=y4p9x

Laws previously worked with Sheffield United FC