Ironman taps Equinox president as new CEO in effort to woo more type-A executives

January 29, 2024

Ironman Group said Monday that it has hired the president of the high-end gym chain Equinox, Scott DeRue, to be its next chief executive as the endurance sports event organizer navigates a drop in race participation a decade after its peak.

DeRue, who joined Equinox in 2021 to help the 107-location chain recuperate from the pandemic’s devastating blow to the fitness industry, says cultural and economic factors support the continued growth of Ironman events. Those include its iconic triathlons—consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and a 140.6-mile run—as well as triathlons of half that distance, Ironman 70.3 races, and half-marathons. Despite lower triathlon and road race participation compared to a decade ago, DeRue predicts that Ironman’s cult fan base and its obsession with health and hitting tough goals will support the organization’s growth. Yahoo Finance