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RockSalt Pilates has appointed Stephanie Knepp as COO as it expands its U.S. franchise network and prepares to enter the UAE. IMG Academy has promoted Mike Milliron to lead its campus business and hired Fred Santarpia to run its online businesses. The appointments are part of a broader set of leadership changes across fitness and wellness companies.
RockSalt Pilates has named Stephanie Knepp chief operating officer as the fitness brand expands its franchise footprint and prepares to enter the United Arab Emirates, while IMG Academy has reshaped leadership across its campus and online businesses. IMG promoted Mike Milliron to president of IMG Academy Campus and appointed Fred Santarpia president of IMG Academy Online, according to an executive-moves roundup published by Athletech News. The changes put senior operators in charge as both organizations pursue growth across distinct business lines.
Knepp brings more than two decades of experience in fitness, wellness, operations and franchising. She most recently was CEO of Sit Still Kids Salon and previously held franchise leadership roles at Zoom Room Franchising and WellBiz Brands. At RockSalt, she will oversee operational standards, franchisee support, training and studio openings.
RockSalt was founded by Adrian Ramirez in 2012 and combines Pilates with cardio, resistance training, weights and choreography. The company began franchising in 2024. It reports eight operating studios, four under construction and another five planned for the first quarter of 2027. It also reports commitments from five multi-unit development groups for 33 additional studios over four years. Those figures describe company-reported locations and commitments; the roundup does not provide independent verification or a breakdown by market.
At IMG Academy, Milliron will oversee the Bradenton, Florida, campus businesses, including its boarding school, camps, events, team training, hotel and golf club. He joined the organization in 2011 and became campus COO in 2024. Athletech News reported that, in that role, he oversaw the academy’s largest capital expansion and the introduction of four sports in 18 months. Santarpia joins from Endeavor Streaming, where he was president and led global expansion strategy; his prior roles include senior positions at Condé Nast, Moda Operandi and Vevo. He will lead IMG Academy+, NCSA and SportsRecruits.
Leadership Tied to Growth Plans
These appointments assign executives to the operating demands of physical expansion and digital growth. RockSalt’s franchise plans require consistent studio operations, training and support for franchisees, while its proposed UAE entry adds an international component. Knepp’s background spans franchise businesses, but the company has not disclosed a launch date or operating details for the UAE market.
At IMG Academy, splitting campus and online leadership gives separate executives responsibility for businesses with different operating needs. Milliron’s remit covers a broad campus portfolio, while Santarpia takes charge of digital products and recruiting platforms. The changes follow a major campus expansion and the global launch of IMG Academy+, making the appointments relevant to how the academy manages its next phase of growth.
The broader roundup also points to continued executive hiring across the fitness and wellness sector. Such appointments can indicate companies’ priorities, but they do not by themselves establish that projected openings, revenue growth or expansion targets will be achieved.
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Four Companies Reshuffle Leadership
The roundup covers several personnel moves beyond RockSalt and IMG Academy. Solv Wellness appointed Dr. Christine Vaccaro as its first chief medical officer to guide menopause education and develop resources for patients and healthcare professionals. Vaccaro is a double board-certified urogynecologist and sexual medicine specialist, a retired U.S. Army colonel and a former leader in urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
4Ever Young named Tony Nicholson vice president of development as the anti-aging and wellness franchise works toward 100 open locations nationwide. The report says the brand has a development agreement for its first New York location, planned for Commack, and an upcoming opening in Westfield, New Jersey. It lists Chicago, Austin, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey among additional target markets.
Commercial fitness equipment company Core Health & Fitness named Joey Osborne president and James Drake chief strategy and development officer. The changes follow acquisitions of Aktiv Solutions and Comm-Fit. Core says Drake and his key accounts team doubled that division’s volume over the past two years; that performance figure is the company’s claim, and the source does not specify the underlying calculation.
Expansion Timelines Still Open
The source report does not include direct quotes from the executives or companies, nor does it give the exact dates when the appointments take effect. It also does not state when RockSalt expects to begin operating in the UAE, identify the planned location or describe the steps required before opening.
RockSalt’s figures for studios under construction, planned studios and multi-unit development commitments are company-reported pipeline details, not confirmation that every location will open on schedule. For IMG Academy, the report does not provide financial targets, staffing changes or further detail on the division of responsibilities between Santarpia and Chris Ciaccio. Ciaccio will focus on campus commercial operations and organization-wide brand and commercial initiatives after leading the online business while serving as chief commercial officer.
The roundup describes leadership decisions and stated expansion plans, but it does not provide evidence of the appointments’ business results. The pace and outcome of each company’s growth plans remain to be seen.
Franchise and Digital Plans Ahead
RockSalt’s next reported milestones include completing four studios under construction, progressing toward five planned openings in the first quarter of 2027 and advancing its UAE entry. The company’s stated commitments for 33 additional studios are planned across four years, though the source does not identify opening dates or locations for that group of developments.
At IMG Academy, Milliron will take responsibility for the campus portfolio and Santarpia will lead IMG Academy+, NCSA and SportsRecruits. The report offers no timetable for new digital products or further campus investment. The near-term test will be how the new leadership structure supports the organization’s existing campus and online operations as it carries out its stated plans.
Key Questions
Who is RockSalt Pilates’ new COO?
Stephanie Knepp has been named chief operating officer. She will oversee operational standards, franchisee support, training and studio openings.
What leadership changes did IMG Academy announce?
Mike Milliron was promoted to president of IMG Academy Campus, and Fred Santarpia was appointed president of IMG Academy Online. Santarpia will lead IMG Academy+, NCSA and SportsRecruits.
How many RockSalt studios are operating or planned?
The company reports eight operating studios, four under construction and five more planned for the first quarter of 2027. It also reports commitments for 33 additional studios over four years; those figures are company-reported plans and commitments.
When will RockSalt open in the UAE?
The source says RockSalt is preparing to enter the United Arab Emirates, but it does not provide an opening date, location or further launch details.
Source: athletechnews.com
