Exec Moves: ABC Buoys Experiences, Franchise FastLane Taps New CEO

Executive moves is ATN’s weekly roundup up of the key industry personnel changes

Jodi Searl Join ABC Fitness

ABC Fitness, a leading technology provider for fitness businesses globally, announced the appointment of Jodi Searl as chief experience officer. Reporting directly to Bill Davis, chief executive officer, Searl will lead the customer success function and drive the customer experience strategy as ABC Fitness continues its global expansion. 

“In the past 40-plus years, ABC Fitness has become a true partner for our customers globally, in many cases creating a platform for their own growth. With over 30,000 customers relying on our software every day, our team needs to deliver and that requires exceptional leadership in customer experience,” said Davis. “Jodi has spent her career building high-performing teams and driving customer-centric strategies at scale. Her track record speaks for itself, and we are excited to have her lead this function as we move into our next phase of global growth.” 

In this role, Searl will be responsible for a global team focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences and strengthening service across the company’s global customer base. She will focus on helping fitness businesses improve performance, scale more effectively, and create stronger member experiences through ABC Fitness’ technology, services, and industry insights. Drawing on her background in customer success, operations, and business transformation, Searl will also help advance ABC Fitness’ customer relationship strategy as the company continues supporting clubs and studios of all sizes in over 100 countries. 

Searl joins ABC Fitness from Medallia, Inc., where she served as chief client experience officer with accountability for more than $800 million in annual recurring revenue. Prior to Medallia, she spent nearly a decade at Harley-Davidson Motor Company, transforming the company’s global dealer training division and leading Latin American product compliance. She has also held executive roles in public service with a focus on federal civil rights law and has a JD from Marquette University Law School and a Ph.D. in Leadership and Policy Analysis.  

Harris Named CEO at Franchise FastLane

Franchise FastLane has named Heather Harris as its new chief executive officer. With nearly three decades of leadership experience across franchising, retail and consumer brands, Harris brings a people-first approach shaped not only by her executive career, but also by a lifetime of building teams, developing people and creating cultures rooted in accountability, collaboration and growth.

Harris most recently served as CEO of Uni K Wax, where she led operational and marketing initiatives that strengthened the brand’s growth strategy, expanded its studio footprint and helped position the company for national franchise growth. Previously, she held executive leadership roles including president of CycleBar and Intelligent Office, where she helped guide franchise brands through periods of rapid growth, operational transformation and strategic expansion. During her tenure at CycleBar, the boutique fitness concept grew from four locations to more than 200, underscoring her ability to help emerging franchise systems scale with intention.

“Franchising has always been personal to me because it gives people the chance to build something of their own, create opportunities for their families and make a real impact in their communities,” said Harris. “I’ve known Franchise FastLane for years through my relationships with Carey and Ryan, co-founders of Franchise FastLane, and throughout my years in the industry I’ve admired the company’s growth, culture and impact on franchising from afar. What makes this opportunity so meaningful is that it feels like a natural next step — joining a team that shares my belief that relationships, accountability and genuine care for people are what move businesses forward. I’m excited to support our employees, consultant partners, brand partners and entrepreneurs as we lead Franchise FastLane into its next lap.”

Whoop Taps Dr. Ami Bhatt as Chief Medical Officer

Whoop, the human performance company, today named Dr. Ami Bhatt as chief medical Officer. Dr. Bhatt, a board-certified cardiologist and one of the country’s leading voices in digital health, will help accelerate the expansion of Whoop into consumer health.

Dr. Bhatt’s appointment strengthens the company’s position in proactive health as the company builds on its foundation in human performance. Her experience across clinical care, digital health, and AI regulation will help ensure the company’s science and technology are clinically meaningful, trusted, and useful for members and their clinicians.

In her role, Dr. Bhatt will work across Whoop to bring the company’s health offerings together and shape its consumer health strategy. Her near-term priority will be to sharpen what Whoop already does well: empowering members to optimize their health. Over time, the goal is to establish Whoop as a trusted bridge between everyday health and clinical care. 

Dr. Bhatt brings more than two decades in cardiology and national medical leadership. As the former inaugural Chair of the FDA Digital Health Advisory Committee, she had a direct view into how AI tools are evaluated and brought into care. Dr. Bhatt previously served as Chief Innovation Officer of the American College of Cardiology, Director of Outpatient/Telecardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, and holds a medical degree from Yale School of Medicine and an undergraduate degree from Harvard University.