Health & Fitness Nordic Company CEO Olav Thorstad was presented with the EU Club Leadership Award 2014 during the 14th Annual IHRSA European Congress in Amsterdam this morning (17 October).

Announcing the award, IHRSA president and CEO Joe Moore praised Thorstad for his efforts to advance both his company and the industry, as well as for his involvement in charity efforts and commitment to giving back.

Thorstad joined SATS in November of 2007 as the country manager for Norway and less than two years later was promoted to CEO for all activities in SATS Holding, which operates across the Nordics. During 2013, a merger process between SATS and Elixia was initiated. This was finalised in June 2014 and Thorstad was elected CEO of the new joint company (Health & Fitness Nordic), which counts more than 200 clubs and more than 550,000 members.

Not only has the company grown tremendously under Thorstad’s leadership, but all markets the company is operating in have grown as well.

"Thorstad is a visionary and has a holistic view on the industry,” wrote Rasmus Ingerslev, CEO of Fresh Fitness, in a letter to IHRSA nominating Thorstad for the award. "Thanks to this vision he initiated operations in the low-cost segment, through Fresh Fitness, in 2010. This makes Health and Fitness Nordic one of the few cross segment operators in Europe.

"In addition to the health clubs, Health & Fitness Nordics also owns SAFE, a company educating instructors for the fitness industry. Another way of helping the industry, as a whole, grow," Ingerslev continued.

"This complex operation requires great leadership, strong understanding of business cultures and the ability to attract and retain talent who shares your vision. And that is what Olav Thorstad is - a great leader - which is why I recommend him for IHRSA's 2014 European Club Leadership Award.”

Health Club Management will be in attendance for the duration of the event and (WiFi permitting) will be live reporting on key developments via the HCM website.

A preview of the event can be found in the September edition of HCM magazine on pp.26-27.