SportsArt EMEA managing director Giorgio Gervasoni has taken charge of the company’s UK office as the equipment manufacturer gears up for a busy year of new launches.

With former SportsArt UK managing director Jeremy Jenkins having completed his two-year contract, the UK business will now report directly into Gervasoni, with Roger Eldergill providing additional support as UK country manager.

Gervasoni, a fitness industry veteran of more than 25 years, held several senior roles at StairMaster before joining SportsArt in 2003. His current position sees him managing more than 50 national distributors across the EMEA territory.

“Since February 2016, I’ve been leading our SportsArt UK office with the invaluable support of our country manager Mr Roger Eldergill, who – along with other key members of staff – is responsible for the day to day running of the UK operation,” said Gervasoni.

“Our sales in 2015 were up 53 per cent over the previous year. In 2016, we are not only investing heavily in new staff in the UK, but launching over 20 new products.”

The equipment manufacturer hopes the new management structure will pay dividends as it looks to build on last year’s sales momentum. Among the new products set to launch this year will be a 19” UI screen; a functional trainer with 1:2 and 1:4 ratios; a new range of Eco-Powr CV equipment which feeds excess energy back into the grid; plus a new wellbeing smartphone app with asset management functionality.