Les Mills International (LMI) has announced that Clive Ormerod will become its new CEO. Ormerod is currently chief marketing officer for the business.

The move is part of a planned evolution of the top team of LMI as it prepares for further global growth.

Also promoted are CFO Doug Robb, who takes up the position of COO, and US-based Jean-Michel Fournier who becomes CEO of Les Mills Media, the business driving the growth of home workouts via the Les Mills on Demand platform.

Keith Burnet continues in his role as CEO of global markets.

Ormerod said: “We have the ability to change lives across the world and to connect with different cultures. This gives us the opportunity to become a truly global brand.”

With a strong background in marketing and international business, Ormerod held a number of key senior commercial and marketing roles during a seven-year stint on the senior team at Nike and recently served as GM at Spark, New Zealand’s leading telecoms provider.

When he steps into the role of CEO in 2019 Ormerod will focus on growing Les Mills’ global presence.

“We make world-leading products that span live, virtual and on-demand platforms," he said.

"Our club partners, instructor tribe, and consumers are passionate about what we do, and that’s an awesome foundation to have. A real strength, and a real opportunity."

LMI founder and MD, Phillip Mills, says the promotions have been designed to build a foundation of “empowered leaders and highly autonomous teams around the world” to drive the business forward.

“I’ve put a great deal of thought into what our organisation needs to take us through the next stage of development,” he said.

“We operate in a highly competitive industry where change is constant, so the way we work together needs to be as innovative and fit for future as our core product.”

Mills will now take on an executive director role that will allow him to “focus more on his passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.”

With LMI poised for ongoing growth, Mills says the time is right to make the transition from an operational role to allow more time to provide strategic direction across areas where he can add the most value.

Mills said LMI will continue to operate from its spiritual home in New Zealand. The Mills family will also remain committed to the business, with Phillip’s wife Jackie Mills as chief creative officer and their adult children Diana and Les in “ever-growing roles”.

Look out for our interview with Clive Ormerod in the January issue of Health Club Management magazine.