The Health & Fitness Association (formerly IHRSA) has announced Singapore-based attorney and international industry advocate, Sean Tan, as its senior representative in Asia.

In the role, Tan will represent HFA in the region, co-ordinate with other regional organisations, expand the HFA’s membership base and guide the formation and expansion of regional and national federations and industry partner organisations.

Liz Clark, president and CEO of HFA says there is a great deal of activity going on in the Asian fitness industry and Tan will be a prominent member of the team: “There are few health and fitness industry leaders as successful and well-known in Asia as Sean Tan. His background as an entrepreneur, thought leader, and industry advocate will well serve the association’s members and support our federation partners.”

A former treasurer and council member of WorldActive and president and co-founder of the Singapore Fitness Alliance, Tan is an attorney who earned his LLB at National University of Singapore and was on-site legal counsel to the Singapore team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He is also the founder and CEO of RX Health.

“I have witnessed and experienced the benefits of having a national industry association, which helps to pull together the entire industry,” said Tan. “I'm excited about the opportunity to represent the Health & Fitness Association serving this industry in a vital region and to help support the work our industry does to improve physical and mental health in Asia and around the world.”

Speaking with HCM last year, Clark said she was looking to build relationships with oversea partners: “There are more than 20 federations in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, so we’re looking at creating a kid of consortium of what we could do together.”