Adaptation of organisational structure and changes to personnel reflect recent expansion in scope of Active Lifestyle unit
Zug, Switzerland – Infront has restructured its participation sport business, renaming it from Personal and Corporate Fitness to the Active Lifestyle unit and making a number of key internal personnel changes.
The changes are a direct result of the unit’s growth, demonstrated by its recent acquisition of a majority shareholding in Hyrox and investment in the Blackmore Sydney Marathon and Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in connection with the Abbott World Marathon Major project. It also reflects the Group’s growth and diversification ambitions in participation sport.
Lars Gerling, previously B2Run Managing Director, will take on a new role as Deputy Head of the Active Lifestyle division. In this position, his main focus will be on optimising sponsorships across the whole Active Lifestyle division, including World Marathon Major partnership. He will also continue to play a key role for B2Run Germany and XLETIX as a member of both group company boards. Johannes Schinzler and Christian Koesters will step up from their roles as Directors to become co-Managing Directors of B2Run Germany.
Elsewhere, Caro Tonn and Frank Fritzsche take over the leadership of XLETIX as Managing Directors, stepping up from the position of Deputy Managing Directors. This role was initially held by Lars and Infront Senior Vice President Active Lifestyle Hans-Peter Zurbruegg. Finally, Gerhard Wehr joins the Group, taking over the leadership of Business Run Vienna following the retirement current organisers Gerhard Seidl and his wife Katja Schneider.
Zurbruegg said: “Infront’s business in participation sports had a promising return post-COVID 19 and, since then, we have held over 100 owned events welcoming more than 500,000 participants. While the environment remains challenging the unit has expanded substantially and we expect to build on that growth as part of Infront’s overall strategy. The renaming of this unit reflects the core of what we aim for, inspiring people to have active, healthy lifestyles while being inclusive, motivating and truly inspiring.
“I’m also delighted to be promoting from within as it highlights Infront’s ability to nurture talent and progress careers. We have a solid foundation when it comes to internal succession, and this is the latest example of that.”
Gerling added: “This change is a new challenge for me, but that also comes with a fresh set of opportunities, and I’m thrilled to take on this mandate. Infront is directly involved in a broad range of events at every level of active lifestyle and the potential commercial offering across the group continues to grow. This includes our role with WMM and I look forward to exploring the ways in which we can work closely together to leverage both its current and future events.”
