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John Treharne is a former accountant and England squash player whose experience in the fitness industry spans 35 years. In 1991 John started his first gym business, Dragons Health Clubs, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1997 with 22 clubs. Dragons was sold in 2000. He then lent his expertise to premium gym chain Esporta, before he founded The Gym Group in 2008.
The Gym Group pioneered the high value, low cost gym model in the UK with no-contract memberships, 24/7 operations and online sign-up. In November 2015, The Gym Group became the first UK health and fitness company to debut on the London Stock Exchange in over 15 years. John stepped down as CEO of The Gym Group in September 2018 but remains as Chair of the Plc Board. The Gym Group has grown to over 250 sites and over 900,000 members making over 65 million visits annually.
In 2025, John was appointed Chair for The Padel Club, one of the UK’s fastest-growing padel operators. John is also a Board member for EuropeActive fitness sector association.
4:15 pm - 5:00 pm
The Power of Partnerships
Never underestimate the power of collaboration. This session explores the transformative impact of strategic partnerships for brand building. Attendees will learn how to leverage collaborations in philanthropic efforts, forge PR relationships, and dive into ways to give back to the community—both on a small and large scale—while strategically partnering with like-minded businesses to elevate the brand and mission. Join us for an inspiring conversation on how partnerships can amplify your reach, foster community engagement, and drive positive change in the wellness industry.
10:45 am - 11:15 am
The State of the Boutique Fitness Industry
With boutique fitness on track to be an $80 billion+ industry by 2030, it's time we dove deep into what's driving our growth and what obstacles stand to hinder that success. Join Alina Cooper and Heather Garrick of Studio Grow as they break down industry insights from the modalities that are shining, the metrics that are struggling, the team and staffing needs we must address and marketing strategies that are working today. They will share data from over 4,300 studios in 43 countries alongside their analysis of major studies and reports.
Be Part of the Action