French health and fitness operator and franchisor, L'Orange Bleue Group, has appointed José Nercellas as chair, with the intention of pursuing an active European expansion strategy.

Former chair, Thierry Marquer, who founded the company in 1996, will join the board. Nercellas joined the group as CEO in October 2021 after more than 25 years experience in retail.

L'Orange Bleue has 400 clubs and 1,200 employees. The group has posted double-digit growth for the past three years and ended 2025 with a turnover of €190 million. After doubling its number of clubs in Spain, L'Orange Bleue opened its first location in Portugal in September 2025.

Growth has not been as fast as intended – in 2022, Nercellas told HCM the company was aiming to have an estate of 850 sites across France, Spain and Italy within five years.

The group now has five brands: L'Orange bleue Mon Coach Fitness, L'Orange bleue Mon Coach Wellness, YAKO, ENCP, and Fitzy.