Xponential Hires Former F45 Exec as BFT President
Duncan Cork will lead BFT as Xponential Fitness looks to grow the group strength and conditioning franchise across North America
Body Fit Training (BFT), the Xponential Fitness-owned group strength and conditioning brand, has named former F45 Training executive Duncan Cork as its new president as it gears up for North American expansion.
The global fitness brand just opened its 300th global studio, in Barcelona, a milestone that gives the Australia-born BFT a presence in nine countries including New Zealand, Singapore, the U.K., Hong Kong and the U.S.
In the States, BFT opened 30 studios last year and has hundreds of signed franchise agreements to develop new studios, according to the brand.
“Body Fit Training is best-in-class when it comes to strength training and boutique fitness, and I am looking forward to ushering in the brand’s next phase of growth and evolution as president,” said Cork, a franchising veteran and former F45 exec. “The importance and benefits of strength training and conditioning are being recognized in the industry, echoed by its growing popularity across the world.”
Cork replaces Lou DeFrancisco as BFT president. DeFrancisco, who served in the same role at StretchLab before joining BFT, will now become president of Lindora, Xponential’s most recent acquisition.
BFT’s 50-minute, science-based and coach-led classes are designed into eight-week progressive training blocks that combine strength training and conditioning work to deliver results in a group setting. The concept has been recognized for bringing gamified workouts to strength training using heart-rate tracking technology.
Xponential acquired the Australia-founded brand in 2021 and is looking to grow BFT into its next boutique fitness success story as strength training surges in popularity.
As Cork puts it, BFT represents the “gold standard” in its modality of fitness, and he is eager to grow the brand in the U.S.
“Alongside our talented franchise partners and backed by Xponential, BFT is set to reach hundreds of thousands of new members and communities, building stronger, longer lives together,” Cork said.
