US gym chain Crunch Fitness has hired Chris Flowers as its inaugural general counsel to support the company’s global growth plans.
Flowers joins from Restore Hyper Wellness, where he was deputy GC. At Crunch Fitness, he will oversee its legal operations and support the company’s domestic and international franchise administration by advising the executive team and working directly with franchise owners. He brings more than a decade of legal experience across corporate law and litigation, along with experience managing complex franchise systems for high-growth companies.
New York-headquartered Crunch Fitness has more than 500 franchised and corporate-owned fitness clubs in the US, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and Australia.
Jim Rowley, CEO of Crunch Fitness, said: “Bringing Chris on board as our general counsel strengthens the Crunch team. His strong background in corporate law and the fitness and wellness industries equips us with the legal insight we need to support our fast-growing business and franchise network.”
Flowers spent just under three years at Restore Hyper Wellness, including a spell as interim GC. Prior to that he was an in-house counsel at Camp Gladiator, having previously worked in private practice at Thompson Coe Cousins and Irons, and Godfrey & Kahn.
He said: “Crunch has built a brand that not only makes serious fitness fun but also fosters community and inclusivity, which resonates with members. For me, this position is the perfect intersection of passion and purpose. Applying my skills in the legal profession for an incredible company, and to be a part of a transformative team whose collective work with committed franchise partners is making a real impact on people’s lives, is a thrill for me.”
The company thanked its long-time legal partners Tony Bakos and AJ Bakos at AJB Law Group for their “decades of dedicated service and guidance”, adding that their counsel has been invaluable in supporting the brand’s growth.
Chequan Lewis, president of Crunch Fitness, added: “As our brand expands across new markets, both in the US and internationally, [Flowers’] legal experience and leadership will be invaluable in guiding us through the next phase of growth. With Chris in this role, we can focus on strengthening relationships with franchisees and communities while keeping the Crunch experience front and centre.”
In other fitness-related moves, last year Swiss smartwatch-maker Garmin promoted associate GC Josh Maxfield to GC, replacing Andrew Etkind who stepped down after more than 25 years in the role.
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