CLEARWATER, FL — The board of directors of HydroMassage, Clearwater, FL, named former Town Sports International (TSI) CEO Robert Giardina as its new CEO. Giardina stepped down as CEO of TSI in October 2007 for personal and health reasons. Giardina, who had been with TSI for 26 years, helped grow the company from four clubs to more than 150 clubs and took the company public in 2006. He was replaced by Alex Alimanestianu.
OVERLAND PARK, KS — A recent lawsuit and an injury to an NBA basketball player have raised issues over the safety of exercise balls. Last month, a man filed a lawsuit against XSport Fitness, Big Rock, IL, after the exercise ball he was using allegedly deflated, causing a fall and an injury. Michael Ernst is seeking more than $50,000 in damages. In a separate incident, Francisco Garcia of the Sacramento Kings broke his arm last month while lifting weights in the team's weight room. Garcia was reportedly lying on his back on an exercise ball doing dumbbell presses with 90-pound weights when the ball burst. Garcia had surgery and is expected to miss four months of the NBA season.
IRVINE, CA — Former Nautilus CEO Gregg Hammann has been appointed global CEO of Power Plate International, Irvine, CA. Hammann took over as Nautilus' president and CEO in 2003 and added the chairman's role a year later. He resigned from Nautilus in 2007. Hammann also has served as chief customer officer of North America and president of Latin America and Canada for Levi Strauss & Co. Previously, Hammann held management positions at The Coca-Cola Co., Famous Footwear, The Rayovac Corp. and Procter & Gamble.