Harm Tegelaars, a board director and current treasurer of the Fitness Industry Association (FIA), has decided to retire from his roles at the association.

Tegelaars, who was one on the FIA's original founders and a former chair of the organisation, made the decision to concentrate on his duties of president of the European Health and Fitness Association (EHFA).

Fred Turok, FIA chair, said that Tegelaars' long and distinguished career in the industry made him a valuable asset at FIA.

"Harm has been one of the pillars of the industry and a major force in the FIA ever since our inception: his wise counsel will be sorely missed," he said.

"On behalf of the Board and everyone connected with the FIA and our industry, I would like to thank him very much for his dedication and immense contribution to making the FIA what it is today. We wish him well at the helm of EHFA - our loss is their gain."

Tegelaars set up the Cannons Group in 1980 and subsequently sold it, in 1996, to Vardon.

Commenting on his resignation, Tegelaars said: "Being one of the founding fathers of the FIA and having gladly served the association for some 20 years or so, it has been a privilege and an immense pleasure to work with so many interesting and dedicated colleagues in an industry that has the real potential to become a positive contributor to the health of the nation."

The FIA today announced that Tegelaars' replacement as treasurer of the FIA will be Andy Jackson, director, Fitpro. Jackson, who is a longstanding member of the FIA board, is already a member of the organisation's Treasury Committee.