Amidst a period of huge change, including international expansion, the launch of a new boutique fitness concept (thé Yard) and a network-wide rebrand, the énergie Group has announced that Neil King, the current managing director of 1Life Management Solutions, will be joining the fitness franchise group as its new chief operating officer.

Described by current CEO and company founder Jan Spaticchia as “a respected leader in our sector,” King will join énergie at the end of the month, at which time he will focus on the brand’s value proposition and operations.

Spaticchia said: “Neil’s appointment as COO is a clear statement of our intent. We have an ambitious agenda for growth and quality that requires us to add the very best talent to the énergie team.”

He added: “We’re looking at a capital realisation event at the back end of this year – it could be private equity or it could be an IPO – and this new appointment will give me the opportunity to work on that deal.”

King’s industry experience spans 25 years, during which he’s held senior management roles at Everyone Active, Balance Fitness (Elixia) and Fitness First.

He joined 1Life Management Solutions, in June 2013, where he led a rebrand of the American-owned leisure management company, which currently operates 40 local authority sites across the UK, including swimming pools, leisure centres and golf clubs.

Speaking about his new role, King said: “I’m delighted to be joining énergie Fitness at this very important stage of its development.

“The new énergie brand presents a fantastic opportunity to own a unique space in the marketplace and the current diversity in the sector brings multiple opportunities for franchising.

“Clear plans for a future capital realisation event, innovations such as ‘thé Yard’ and ambitious growth plans make this a very exciting time to be joining the énergie Group.”

King will be replaced at 1Life by Mark Braithwaite – the managing director of one of the business’s two contract groups – and is expected to take over as énergie’s CEO in the near future, while Spaticchia will remain as chair.