Exec Moves: Alterio Joins Fit Fusion

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

Fit Fusion Taps Ron Alterio as Chief Operating Officer 

Fit Fusion, one of the fastest-growing Crunch Fitness franchisees, announced the appointment of Ron Alterio as Chief Operating Officer. Alterio will lead day-to-day operations as Fit Fusion accelerates toward 30 clubs nationwide. 

“At this stage of our growth, Ron brings exactly the combination of operational depth and expertise that Fit Fusion needs,” said Robert McCormack, CEO of Fit Fusion. “His track record of building teams and driving significant, sustainable growth speaks for itself. We couldn’t be more confident in what he’s going to help us build.” For Alterio, the timing was decisive. “Fit Fusion is at an inflection point, and the executive team is investing in scaling and building the right way at exactly the moment getting it right matters most,” he said. “That’s not an opportunity you pass up.” 

Most recently, Alterio spent more than six years as Vice President of Personal Training at Crunch Fitness, scaling personal-training revenue across a large multi-unit system and sharpening an operating philosophy that spans the entirety of the business, not a single department. Ron believes in a customer-success model, with a focus on an elevated member experience that increases lifetime value and decreases attrition. “My goal is to cultivate the people, systems, and revenue infrastructure that allow every club to perform at its highest level and to protect the standards that make that performance repeatable as we grow,” he said. 

ACE Names Dr. Antonio S. Williams as Chair, Appoints Two New Board Members

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) announced that Dr. Antonio S. Williams has assumed the role of Chair of its Board of Directors, effective July 1. ACE also announced the appointment of Jaclyn Byrer, MA, MA, and Ingrid Knight-Cohee, MSc, to its Board of Directors.

Together, these leaders bring expertise in brand strategy, consumer engagement, healthy aging, and cross-sector collaboration that will help advance the ACE mission of getting people moving and improving public health.

“Antonio has already made meaningful contributions as a member of the ACE Board of Directors, and I am delighted to welcome him into the role of Board Chair,” said Cedric X. Bryant, PhD, FACSM, ACE chief executive officer. “I am equally excited to welcome Jaclyn and Ingrid as the newest members of the Board. Their collective experience in brand leadership, community health, and fitness innovation will strengthen our ability to expand the impact of ACE and advance access to physical activity.”

Byrer’s expertise in global brand strategy and consumer engagement, combined with Knight-Cohee’s leadership in healthy aging and community health, will provide valuable perspectives as ACE continues to evolve its role within the broader health and fitness ecosystem.

“I am honored to assume the role of Chair of the ACE Board of Directors,” said Dr. Williams. “ACE plays an important role in advancing health and fitness through education, professional development, and advocacy. I look forward to working alongside my fellow board members and the ACE leadership team to build on the organization’s strong foundation and help shape its future impact.”

David M. Denton to Join Nike as CFO

Nike Inc. announced that David M. Denton will join the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective August 17. Matthew Friend will step down as executive vice president and chief financial officer at that time and remain with the company through September 4 to support an orderly transition.

Denton will lead Nike’s global finance organization, partnering with president and chief executive officer Elliott Hill and the senior leadership team to support disciplined execution, capital allocation, and long-term value creation.

“Dave is a proven public-company CFO who knows how to help great consumer brands operate with discipline and invest to win,” said Elliott Hill, President and chief executive officer, Nike Inc. “We’re focused on doing what Nike does best: serving athletes, leading with sport and building the most innovative products in the world. Dave’s experience, judgment, and operating rigor will help us execute against these priorities with consistency and build on the progress underway.”

Denton joins Nike from Pfizer, Inc., where he has served as chief financial officer and executive vice president since May 2022. He brings more than 30 years of finance and operating leadership experience across complex global public companies. Prior to Pfizer, Denton served as chief financial officer and executive vice president of Lowe’s Companies, Inc. from 2018 to 2022, where he oversaw finance, strategy, and other enterprise functions while helping advance the company’s transformation and growth priorities. Earlier in his career, he spent two decades at CVS Health Corporation, including as executive vice president and chief financial officer, where he helped guide the company’s evolution into a diversified health solutions organization. Denton also brings public company governance experience, having previously served on the Boards of Directors of Haleon (2023–2024) and Tapestry (2014–2023), and is expected to serve on the Board of Honeywell Aerospace following its planned spin-off from Honeywell.

Rich Kleiman Joins Board of Mental Health Nonprofit Project Healthy Minds

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Project Healthy Minds has appointed Rich Kleiman, the CEO and co-founder of Boardroom and investment firm 35V, to its board of directors as the nonprofit looks to expand its reach and accelerate its mission to improve access to mental healthcare.

Kleiman joins a board that includes NBC “Today” co-host Carson Daly, Universal Music Publishing Group Chairman and CEO Jody Gerson, media executive Michael Kassan and Indianapolis Colts vice chair and owner Kalen Jackson.

A longtime executive operating at the intersection of sports, media and technology, Kleiman has built a career identifying emerging trends and brands. Before co-founding Boardroom and 35V alongside NBA star Kevin Durant, he helped launch Roc Nation Sports after establishing himself as a music manager. Under his leadership, Boardroom has evolved into a multimedia platform spanning editorial, video, audio and membership offerings.

Beyond his business ventures, Kleiman has been an outspoken advocate for mental health, frequently sharing his own experiences to help reduce stigma around seeking support.

“Joining the Project Healthy Minds Board is one of the most meaningful moments of my career,” Kleiman said. “I’ve spent my life aware of the importance of mental health. I watched challenges with it derail my mother’s life, and that experience impacted me greatly. It has also become one of the greatest strengths in my life to utilize mental health resources myself and help others by talking about my experiences.”

Founded in 2020, Project Healthy Minds is a nonprofit focused on transforming how people access mental health resources through technology and innovation. The organization has attracted support from leaders across entertainment, sports and business, and last year honored Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at its annual gala.

Get A Drip Appoints Dr. Luke Pratsides as Chief Medical Officer

Get A Drip, one of the UK’s largest providers of longevity health treatments, is strengthening its clinical leadership with the appointment of Dr Luke Pratsides as its new chief medical officer.

Dr Pratsides joins Get A Drip at a crucial time, amidst a consumer shift prioritizing longevity in wellbeing. In the last 12 months alone, global Google searches for longevity have tripled.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr Luke Pratsides as our new Chief Medical Officer and are excited for what the future holds,” says Richard Chambers, founder and CEO of Get A Drip.

“Healthcare is at a pivotal juncture. Treatments that were once seen as a luxury are now featured as part of everyday wellness routines. As technology evolves and science continues to support the benefits, we’re seeing a step change in consumer behaviour. This is promising because ultimately, people are taking charge and living healthier for longer. Now, together with Dr Pratsides, we are looking towards the future, spearheading progressive, proactive longevity measures.”

Gary Payton II Named Chief Athletic Ambassador of Valor

Vector Science & Therapeutics Corp. announced that Gary Payton II has joined the company as chief athletic ambassador for Valor, the company’s sports medicine division. The Valor division has been purpose-built to develop relationships in the professional athlete market to permit the company to incorporate learnings directly from elite professionals into its biomechanical and transdermal peptide delivery platforms.

In his role as chief athletic ambassador, Payton II will serve as the face of Valor inside the NBA and across professional sports, bringing his network, credibility, and firsthand perspective to athletes seeking a healthier path to soft tissue repair, longevity, and pain management.