The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) has announced the appointment of C. Victor Brick, CEO of Planet Fitness Growth Partners (PFGP) and chair of the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation, to its 12-person advisory board.

As a board member, Brick will help the GWS further extend its reach and impact within the US$109bn fitness industry.

He believes the pandemic has accelerated the need for all industries – especially those involved in wellness – to actively collaborate for the greater good, delivering on the promise of prevention over cure.

“Wellness, including exercise, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices, must be integrated into the healthcare delivery system and recognised as essential business,” said Brick. “I believe the best way to make this happen is through funding, conducting and evangelising evidence-based research that the medical industry will embrace and support.

“Now is our time – the window of opportunity has opened.”

In 1985, Brick founded his first health club, Brick Bodies, with his wife Lynne, and 20 years later they went on to found PFGP, the largest privately-owned Planet Fitness franchise with 70 clubs in the US and Australia.

In 2015, he and his wife went on to co-found the John W. Brick Mental Health Foundation in memory of Brick's oldest brother, who suffered from schizophrenia and died from complications from the disease.

Today, the foundation is focused on evangelising the “prescription” of holistic therapies and healthy lifestyle choices in the treatment of mental health.

“Victor has long been an advocate and supporter of GWS, and his obvious passion for encouraging a closer collaboration between the fitness industry and the wellness world will help us extend our message,” said Susie Ellis, GWS chair and CEO.

Brick joins an advisory board that includes:

• Susie Ellis
• Anna Bjurstam, Six Senses (Sweden)
• Dr Marc Cohen, Extreme Wellness Institute (Australia)
• Cathy Feliciano-Chon, CatchOn – A Finn Partners Company (Hong Kong)
• Irene Forte, Rocco Forte Hotels (UK)
• Andrew Gibson, wellness advisor (Sweden)
• Susan Harmsworth, founder ESPA (UK)
• Omer K. Isvan, Servotel Corp. (Turkey)
• Tony de Leede, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat (Australia)
• Dr. Franz Linser (Austria)
• Yoriko Soma, Conceptasia Inc. (Japan)