Newly named Planet Fitness Chairman Marc Grondahl (right) with the company’s other owners—his brother, Michael Grondahl (left), and Chris Rondeau. Photo courtesy of Planet Fitness.

NEWINGTON, NH -- Planet Fitness co-founder Marc Grondahl has been named chairman of the company’s board of directors.

Grondahl, 44, had served as the chief financial officer of the Newington, NH-based company until April, when Jayne Conway took over that role.

“I don’t think my role is really changing that much,” Marc Grondahl told Club Industry. “I think it’s given me a little bit of recognition, to be honest. I may be a little bit more focused on the big picture as opposed to the day-to-day [operations].”

Marc Grondahl, along with CEO Mike Grondahl (Marc’s brother) and fellow owner Chris Rondeau, has helped Planet Fitness grow to 352 locations that are either in operation or in pre-sale in 36 states.

“Marc’s tremendous vision has always been a key to our growth, and we want to retain that for the long term,” Mike Grondahl said in a statement. “His financial expertise and steady hand guided us through the challenges of our early days, and he laid the groundwork and helped establish the culture that’s put us where we are now.”

Planet Fitness was eighth on Club Industry’s Top 100 Clubs list this year after generating $129.5 million in revenue in 2009. It was the second consecutive year that Planet Fitness cracked the list’s top 10.

“I think Planet Fitness is in a great position right now,” said Marc Grondahl, who had been an accountant for a manufacturing firm before he helped launch Planet Fitness in 1992. “We have the management, infrastructure, and of course, the business model to become the leader in the industry. I look forward to helping it continue to grow.”

Conway, who previously worked for Dunkin’ Brands and Gulf Oil LP, added, “Marc maintaining such an important leadership position is absolutely critical to the next stage of the company’s growth.”

In addition to Marc Grondahl, Mike Grondahl and Rondeau, the other two members of the Planet Fitness board of directors are Jeff Majkrzak and Shennen Saltzman.

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