24 Hour Fitness Brings Founder Mark Mastrov Back to Lead Next Growth Phase
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
24 Hour Fitness has brought its founder back into the business.
The company announced that Mark Mastrov has returned as Owner and Executive Chair following an acquisition led by Mastrov in partnership with LongRange Capital. The deal supports the existing executive leadership team, which continues to be led by President and CEO Karl Sanft.
Mastrov founded 24 Hour Fitness in the 1980s and grew the business from a single club into a national operator with more than 400 locations and millions of members before selling the company in 2005. He later led the acquisition of Crunch Fitness in 2009, overseeing its expansion to roughly 550 company-owned and franchised clubs prior to its sale in 2025. Across four decades, Mastrov has played a central role in shaping the modern health club model in the U.S. and internationally.
His return comes at a time when 24 Hour Fitness reports one of the strongest growth periods in its history. The company says demand for health and wellness has driven increased usage across its network, supported by significant reinvestment in club remodels and updated member experiences. Today, the brand employs approximately 7,000 people and supports more than 113 million workouts annually, placing it among the largest company-owned fitness operators in the country.
Over the past two years, 24 Hour Fitness has focused on upgrading its physical footprint and expanding services beyond traditional strength and cardio offerings. That effort includes the rollout of Recovery24, a premium recovery-focused concept, alongside broader investments aimed at supporting long-term member engagement rather than short-term usage spikes. The company has also expanded partnerships with professional sports organizations across the NBA, NFL, and NWSL as part of a wider push to strengthen its community presence.
Sanft said Mastrov’s return aligns with the company’s current trajectory, noting that the business has stabilized and is positioned to grow with investments centered on what members value most. LongRange Capital echoed that view, pointing to its focus on patient capital and long-term value creation as a fit for an established brand with room to evolve.
Looking ahead, the company says Mastrov’s involvement and LongRange Capital’s backing will support continued innovation, new partnerships, and potential international expansion. Additional initiatives are expected to be announced throughout 2026.
