Equinox Appoints Niki Leondakis As CEO Of Equinox Fitness Clubs
Posted: March 6, 2017 in Chains
Equinox
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Equinox, the high performance lifestyle leader, announced that Niki Leondakis, formerly CEO of Two Roads Hospitality, will join the company as Chief Executive Officer of Equinox Fitness Clubs.
Leondakis will oversee all facets of Equinox Fitness Clubs, head the executive leadership team and report directly to Harvey Spevak, who will step into the role of Executive Chairman and Managing Partner of Equinox Holdings, Inc.
As Executive Chairman and Managing Partner of Equinox and its portfolio of brands which include SoulCycle, Blink Fitness, Pure Yoga and Equinox Hotels, Spevak will continue to manage the company’s long-term strategic and growth initiatives, including identifying new opportunities.
Leondakis brings more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including twenty years with Kimpton Hotels where she was President and Chief Operating Officer of the $1 billion boutique hotel company. In 2012, she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Commune Hotels. Most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer, Hotels and Resorts of Two Roads Hospitality, where she oversaw all aspects of the $2 billion portfolio of 95 luxury and lifestyle brand hotels and resorts across North America and Asia.
“Equinox is more in-demand than ever before, and Niki’s proven track record of success in building lifestyle brands will prove invaluable as we embark on our next phase of global growth,” said Spevak. “A gifted leader with a keen grasp on guest experience, Niki will work closely with me and the team to execute our brand vision as we identify and capitalize on expansion opportunities.”
“I am thrilled to be joining Equinox as the team executes an ambitious vision for growth and further evolves its luxury lifestyle brand,” said Leondakis. “As a hospitality industry veteran, I am passionately committed to bringing the best possible experience to guests. This will be central to my role at Equinox, especially as the company diversifies its branded offerings to its members.”
In addition to the appointment of Leondakis, Equinox also promoted Scott Rosen and Jeff Weinhaus, two veteran Equinox leaders who have worked closely with Spevak and the Equinox team over the last 10 years during unprecedented growth.
Rosen, who began his tenure in 2003 as Chief Financial Officer and became Chief Operating Officer in 2005, has been promoted to the role of President & Chief Operating Officer. Rosen, a highly regarded company fixture, is responsible for overseeing all aspects of operation for Equinox’s 86 global club locations. Rosen has led the company to sustained double digit annual growth since assuming his role as COO.
Weinhaus, who started with Equinox in 2006, has assumed the role of President & Chief Development Officer. Weinhaus leads all real estate, design and construction functions. Under his leadership, Equinox has successfully sourced, designed and built more than 40 clubs and overseen the acquisition of more than 10 locations.
Both will assume their expanded roles immediately, while Leondakis will commence as CEO in April.
