CrossFit LLC, the company behind the “sport of fitness” and affiliate gyms around the world, has a new CEO. The company announced in a letter sent to employees and affiliate owners, obtained by Men’s Health, that the chief executive will be Don Faul, a former U.S. Marine platoon commander and tech executive. The announcement was made on the eve of the CrossFit Games, the biggest event on the company’s annual calendar.
The past two-plus years have been challenging for the company, to say the least. Along with the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which closed gyms worldwide, founder and original CEO Greg Glassman resigned in the wake of racist statements and the ensuing controversy, which shook the CrossFit community. He then sold the company to Eric Roza in June 2020, who assumed the role of top executive. Roza’s tenure saw success; along with shepherding overall growth in affiliate gyms, a new boutique healthcare service, CrossFit Precision Care, was announced under his watch. Roza was also candid about his mental health while helming the company, announcing to employees and affiliates that he took time off to seek treatment for depression in 2021. He ultimately stepped down from his role to transition to the Board Chairman position in February 2022.
Don Faul, who will now take the role, is a former U.S. Marine with plenty of experience at top companies, specializing in growth and development. He was most recently the CEO of Athos, a smart apparel company for athletes and service members. Before that, he served as Head of Operations for Pinterest, VP of Global Online Operations for Facebook, and Manager of Online Sales and Operations at Google.
Don Faul
“At a time when global health trends are in decline, when people are starved for personal connection and community, CrossFit is more important than ever,” Faul said in a statement in the letter. “I’ve experienced the impact of CrossFit firsthand, seeing how it helps people improve their fitness, reverse chronic disease, and build meaningful connections with other members of the CrossFit community. There are over 13,000 CrossFit Affiliates around the world that have changed millions of people’s lives. But we’re just getting started. Our job is to share CrossFit with the rest of the world, so our affiliates and coaches can help and inspire the tens of millions of people we haven’t yet reached.”
Faul has been doing CrossFit for eight years, according to the company.
Brett Williams, a fitness editor at Men’s Health, is a NASM-CPT certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter who splits his workout time between strength and conditioning training, martial arts, and running. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.
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