The Well appoints Ariella Willoughby as VP of operations to drive global growth

US integrative wellness brand The Well has named Ariella Willoughby as its new VP of operations, aiming to drive significant growth and operational success across its current and future locations worldwide.

The Well, which launched its flagship New York City location in 2019, has expanded into the hospitality space in recent years through a partnership with Auberge Resorts Collection. This collaboration includes locations in Washington, Connecticut, Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica and Los Cabos, Mexico.

It is also set to unveil a mixed-use development concept in Miami, The Well Bay Harbor Islands – featuring branded residences, offices and a holistic wellness club – in 2025.

In addition, The Well plans to open its first European location, in 2027 at a newly renovated hotel in Geneva.

With 15 years of experience in the hospitality, fitness, healthcare and wellness sectors, Willoughby brings a robust background in building and scaling start-up operations. Most recently, she served as the head of operations at Tia, a women’s health and wellness care model integrating both in-person and virtual services. She also led operations at Monument, an online platform for alcohol counselling and treatment.

Before joining The Well, Willoughby was a key member of the founding team at SoulCycle, where she played a pivotal role in expanding the company from a single flagship location to 65 sites.

"I'm thrilled to join The Well and collaborate with a passionate and seasoned leadership team dedicated to executing our strategic vision,” says Willoughby. “I look forward to partnering with the operations teams across all of The Well locations internationally to scale the business while we deliver on integrating wellness into people's everyday lives."

The Well says Willoughby’s varied experience in operational leadership, strategic planning and growth initiatives will play a crucial role in helping it continue to expand its presence around the globe.

"With a pipeline of more than 10 new locations around the world and over 1mm square feet currently under development, Ariella’s extraordinary background scaling brick-and-mortar health and wellness start-ups makes her a key addition to our leadership team,” says Rebecca Parekh, co-founder and CEO of The Well.

“She has a unique ability to inspire and connect with the people she leads and we look forward to working together to grow our impact while furthering our mission to make wellness part of your every day.”