Leila Timergaleeva Returns to HFA as International Ambassador
Posted: August 3, 2025 in IHRSA
The Health and Fitness Association
BOSTON, MA – The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) announces the return of Leila Timergaleeva to its global leadership team as Ambassador for the Caucasus region for HFA’s international events, including ChinaFit (which occurred July 19 – 21), the HFA European Congress (October 2 – 4 in Amsterdam) and MeFit Pro (October 9 – 11 in Dubai). Her appointment bolsters the HFA’s international reach even further after the appointment in June of Hans Muench as an ambassador for the HFA European Congress.
From 2008-2020, Timergaleeva served as ambassador for the Congress, playing a key role in expanding participation from the Caucasus region. Known for fostering collaboration across borders, she cultivated a spirit of unity among delegates, who often saw each other not as competitors but as allies bound by a shared mission and cultural connection.
Timergaleeva earned a law degree before pivoting into the fitness industry at Gold’s Gym Moscow, where her leadership skills and passion for wellness quickly propelled her into executive roles. After moving to New York City in 2010, she served as regional director at CompleteBody and then in 2015 joined forces with renowned fitness entrepreneur David Barton.
“Leila’s return to the ambassador role is a tremendous plus for HFA,” said Barry Walsh, HFA Board member and founder of Iconic Health Clubs in Ireland. “Her deep industry knowledge, multilingual fluency, and global perspective make her uniquely positioned to help drive the growth of our events across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. She embodies the spirit of international collaboration that defines HFA’s mission to unite fitness professionals around the world.”
