Crunch Fitness announced that Chequan Lewis has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Lewis succeeds Jim Rowley, who has transitioned to Executive Chairman.
The leadership transition was announced at the opening of Crunch’s 2026 Global Franchise Convention in San Antonio, which was the largest gathering in the company’s history.
Lewis joined Crunch as President and has worked closely with Rowley during one of the company’s strongest growth periods. During that time, Crunch has driven significant unit growth, improved operational performance, and advanced innovation across the brand.
Together, Lewis and Rowley helped expand Crunch into a $1.5 billion systemwide enterprise with more than 550 locations serving 3.5 million members worldwide.
As CEO, Lewis will oversee day-to-day operations, member-experience innovation, branding, and marketing. He will also help shape and execute Crunch’s long-term growth strategy. His appointment reflects the evolution of a leadership partnership between Lewis and Rowley focused on franchise success, stronger operations, and global brand expansion.
Rowley will remain actively involved in the business as Executive Chairman, focusing on Crunch’s vision, long-term strategy, and overall performance. Since joining Crunch in 2009, Rowley has helped guide the company through a period of accelerated expansion, international growth, increased membership, and the recent strategic investment from Leonard Green & Partners.
Crunch is a global fitness brand known for combining fitness and entertainment through its “No Judgments” philosophy. The company is headquartered in New York City and serves 3.5 million members across more than 550 gyms worldwide. Crunch operates in 41 states, the District of Columbia, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and India.
KEY QUOTES:
“Crunch has never been stronger, and that strength reflects years of close collaboration with Jim, our franchise partners, and our teams across the brand, who have built something special over time.”
“I’m honored to step into the CEO role and continue that partnership, building on the foundation we’ve created together. As we enter this next chapter, our focus remains clear: to support our franchise network, invest in innovation, and grow the Crunch community in a disciplined way while staying true to the culture, values, and ‘No Judgments, No Limits’ experience that define this brand.”
Chequan Lewis, CEO of Crunch Fitness
“Crunch is on a mission, and it takes thousands of dedicated people across our system to bring that mission to life every day.”
“Chequan and I have built a close, trusted partnership, which gives me real confidence in his leadership as he steps into the CEO role. I’m excited to move into a role focused on strategy, results, and performance, helping guide our current priorities and future plans that will shape the next phase of Crunch’s growth.”
Jim Rowley, Executive Chairman of Crunch Fitness
