The leading American supplier of premium elliptical cross trainers has set up a sales subsidiary in the UK. Like many of its operations around the world, it will be run by a former official of Life Fitness, in this case Neil Campbell, who previously worked as key account manager of Life Fitness UK, and then as its consumer business manager. He previously spent almost five years at two health clubs in the UK.
Campbell will report to Leo Schreuders, another former Life Fitness executive who set up Octane Fitness International in the Netherlands last August to handle Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with a shareholding in the operation. A 17-year Dutch-born veteran of the sporting goods industry, he worked previously at Life Fitness, too, most recently as sales and marketing director of the Atlantic export region at its headquarters in Illinois.
Octane Fitness was founded in Minnesota in 2001 by two partners, Dennis Lee and Tim Porth. Lee managed the sales side of ParaBody, the home fitness equipment company acquired by Life Fitness in 1998, and then acted as vice president of sales, service and logistics for consumer products at Life Fitness. Porth was previously senior business director of cardiovascular products at Life Fitness.
Augie Nieto, the founder and former owner of Life Fitness, is chairman of Octane Fitness, and he has shares in the company. Another shareholder is North Castle Partners, an American private equity firm specializing in investments related to healthy living and aging. Last January, Health magazine gave the prestigious “Best of Fitness” award to Octane’s elliptical trainers for the second year in a row.
