Nigel Wallace has resigned as executive director of the Fitness Industry Association (FIA).

He is to be replaced by Innes Kerr, currently customer services executive with Fitness First, who will become member services director.

Wallace's departure comes as the association embarks upon a major expansion and restructure following a strategic review.

“The restructure would have meant either seeing this next stage of the FIA’s development through for the next three years or easing my way out over the next few months," he said.

“I am passionate about the FIA and the industry in general and have put blood, sweat and tears into its development. However I would like to pursue a number of personal ambitions and feel that the timing is right for this.”

Kerr will join the FIA in December and will work closely with Wallace in a handover period until 14 January 2005, when he will officially take up his new role.

Meanwhile, Wallace is moving to McLean Events to head up the SIBEC series of meeting forums and help develop the brand.

Joint managing director of McLean Events, Noor Kassam, welcomed Wallace’s forthcoming involvement: “We will shortly be announcing plans to stage a new SIBEC event, which will take place in the UK just for the trust and local authority marketplace,” he said.

“Nigel will be playing a key role in this exciting development.”

Wallace has also accepted an annual retainer from the FIA in respect of his freelance services on all industry matters involving academia.

Since he was appointed executive director of the FIA in 2000, the association has grown from 750 members to 2,000, including more than 1,600 operators.