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CDM Fitness Holdings, a major Planet Fitness franchise operator, has appointed Steve Venezia as Chief Executive Officer and Christopher Derderian as President and Chief Financial Officer. Announced June 2, 2026, the leadership transition positions one of the brand’s larger franchise groups for its next phase of growth across New England and the Pacific Northwest.
The reshuffle matters beyond a single operator: it shows how scaled franchisee groups are professionalizing leadership around real estate, M&A and operational discipline to keep expanding within a mature fitness system.
The franchisee elevated two long-tenured executives who drove its real-estate and M&A growth into the top operating roles, alongside a slate of internal promotions. The move consolidates leadership that already expanded the group’s portfolio across two US regions — a continuity-focused succession rather than an outside overhaul.
“This foundation will allow us to continue to grow revenue and profit,” said incoming CEO Steve Venezia.
The strength of a franchise system rests heavily on its largest operators. When a multi-region group institutionalizes leadership around real estate and acquisitions, it signals disciplined, acquisition-led growth — the same operator-quality lens investors apply when evaluating fitness unit economics and platform expansion like Xponential’s global growth.
The episode is a reminder that operator capability — not just brand name — determines franchise success. For master franchisees building large territories across ASEAN and the Gulf, the lesson is to invest early in professional leadership around real estate, finance and M&A. Scaled, well-governed operating groups are what allow a fitness system to expand sustainably across multiple markets.
