CEO of Gold's Gym is Gold

CEO James Weaver of Gold's Gym looks like he may be pure gold. Not long ago, he inherited a revolt of franchise owners.

At the time Weaver took over in November, Gold’s may not have seemed like a perfect environment. There had been some grumblings and disenchantment among Gold’s Gym franchisees about the direction of the company and about the support they were getting from the corporate office in Irving, TX. The president of the Gold’s Gym Franchisee Association, Blair McHaney, sent a letter to all Gold’s franchisees prior to the Gold’s convention last July. McHaney’s letter basically said that Gold’s did not see the value that franchisees brought to the Gold’s system. TRT Holdings apparently heeded their call. On Nov. 1, David Schnabel resigned as CEO of Gold’s Gym. - Fitness Business Pro (registration required)

That letter from Gold's independent franchisee association's president helped change leadership at the top. Once the new CEO James Weaver got in, this is how he has helped turned things quickly around. 

Weaver is changing not just the culture of Gold’s, but he is transforming the company from a vertical organization—with a multitude of levels and layers—to a more flat organization, with more open lines of communication between, for instance, franchisees and the CEO.

Although he says he has no previous fitness experience, he however is out there talking to his franchisees with open arms. Weaver quickly recognized the chain's independent franchisee association and began working closely with them. He doesn't like sitting in his office but is constantly out in the field doing what comes natural - managing by walking around. Says Weaver:

"A major part of what Gold’s is all about is our franchise community. For whatever reason, we had totally disengaged our franchise community.”