Chuck Runyon

As the CEO and Co-founder of Self Esteem Brands, Chuck Runyon leads a global collection of franchises intent upon improving the health and wellness of millions of people worldwide.

A leading authority in the field of fitness, Runyon revolutionized the industry when he and Dave Mortensen co-founded Anytime Fitness in 2002. The world’s largest and fastest-growing fitness club serves 4,000,000 members in nearly 40 countries and it is the first franchise in history with locations on all seven continents. Anytime Fitness features precisely what people say they want most from a gym: convenience, affordability, supportive coaching and a wide range of fitness program options.

For his unprecedented and unique contributions to the fitness industry, Chuck was honored as the “Visionary of the Year” by the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). He and Dave Mortensen also were recently named “Entrepreneurs of the Year” by Ernst & Young.

In addition to Anytime Fitness, Self Esteem Brands serves as the parent company to three other rapidly-growing franchises: Waxing the City – with nearly 200 studios dedicated to providing the finest waxing experience imaginable; The Bar Method – a popular, low-impact fitness franchise with more than 100 studios across 30 states and Canada; and Basecamp Fitness – a new high-intensity, class-based fitness concept.

Central to Chuck’s leadership philosophy is the concept of “ROEI” – the return on emotional investment. In fact, Chuck recently co-authored a book called “Love Work: Inspire a high-performing work culture at the center of People, Purpose, Profits and Play®.”

Under Runyon’s leadership, Anytime Fitness has earned numerous industry accolades, including “One of America’s Most Promising Companies” and the world’s #1 franchise. Additionally, Anytime Fitness has been honored as a “Top Franchise for Minorities” and “The Best Place to Work in Minnesota” – four years in a row.