Former president Chris Clawson returns to Life Fitness as CEO. Augie Nieto invests and joins the Board.
18 Jul 2019 . BY Tom Walker
Life Fitness has appointed Chris Clawson as its CEO, succeeding the outgoing Jason Worthy.
Clawson previously served as President of Life Fitness – from 2010 to 2016 – and most recently was chair of the Sports and Fitness Industry Association.
He first joined Life Fitness in 1994 in a product development role and, after 10 years with the company, went on to several fitness industry leadership roles, including president of Matrix Fitness Systems, before returning in 2010.
Clawson will take over the role of CEO with immediate effect.
"Given his extensive fitness industry and leadership experience, we believe that Chris is uniquely positioned to once again lead Life Fitness and help the company succeed," said Jay Bernstein, partner at KPS Capital Partners, Life Fitness' majority shareholder.
Clawson isn't the only one returning to Life Fitness. His appointment was accompanied by the announcement that Augie Nieto, founder of the modern-day Life Fitness company, will be a co-investor in the business and will be appointed to its Board of Directors.
Nieto served as P
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Against all odds, dad with ALS walks daughter down the aisle
Lindsay Nieto's father was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) when she was 15 years old, so she quietly made peace with the fact that he would never be able to walk her down the aisle at her wedding.
But ten years later, Augie Nieto, 56, was by his daughter's side, every step of the way, when she married Chris Williams, 28, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Defying the average prognosis of two to five years of survival for those with ALS, on Saturday, Augie helped escort Lindsay up the grassy incline to the altar while harnessed to an aluminum scaffolding that helped keep him upright for the emotional ceremony.
"I kind of thought that I would've been looking at Chris when I was walking down the aisle with Augie, but I couldn't look at anything but my dad,'' Lindsay told TODAY.com. "I was just amazed he was able to get in his device and stand up. The sun was in his eyes, and I was just thinking that he's done so much to be here and worked so hard that I just started bawling.
"I'm just completely honored that he's done so much preparation to do that for me. It was just the most special thing for me. I had no way of preparing myself for that."
Augie lost use of his arms and legs within the
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Augie’s Quest Patron Author: Chris Clawson
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