The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has opened a new office in Brussels – a move intended to “better engage, serve, and grow” its European membership.

IHRSA executives Jeroen van Liempd (IHRSA Europe director), and Angela Meurer (IHRSA Europe general manager) have been tasked with leading the office, which will have three other staff members.

These include Paulina Santiago (marketing & communications manager), Murat Dogru (membership development analyst) plus a fifth staff member – who will be announced in mid-February – and will have the title of membership manager.

The new team will replace outgoing Europe director Hans Muench, who announced his resignation last year to pursue other endeavours.

“Hans Muench has done a great job for IHRSA,” said Joe Moore, IHRSA president and CEO.

“He stepped back into IHRSA eight years ago and has been tireless in his efforts to serve members and grow membership. With his involvement with IHRSA dating back to the association’s beginning, Hans was uniquely qualified to spearhead our operations in Europe. It has become clear that the job has become bigger and more diverse than one person can handle.”

Alison O’Kane Giannaras, IHRSA associate VP of international development added that IHRSA will continue to work with an extensive network of partners, federations and ambassadors in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Poland, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, the UK and Russia.

“Together with our existing network and the IHRSA Europe Council, our new team in Brussels will greatly increase our ability to reach out to more European countries, as well as better serve our existing membership,” said Giannaras.