Former Fitness First CEO Andy Cosslett will share management insights gained from a career of helming international companies as part of ukactive’s upcoming Future Leaders programme.

Cosslett, who was also CEO of hotel giant IHG and is now a partner at Advent Capital, will supplement the programme’s academic modules with an informal Q&A session in which he’ll offer strategic insights to the next generation of physical activity sector executives.

Taking place from 17-22 July at Barcelona’s world-renowned IESE Business School, the Future Leaders programme aims to equip the sector’s rising stars with the tools needed to lead the sector into a new era of growth.

The programme will include a focus on five key themes for the industry: global trends and digitalisation; leading through uncertainty; operational excellence and efficiency; customer centricity; plus personal leadership and team management. Each theme will be led by one of IESE’s experienced professors.

A total of 32 delegates are expected to take part in the week, with leading sector employers such as Virgin Active, Fitness First, GLL, Les Mills UK, Active IQ and Life Fitness placing their top young talent on the scheme.

In Cosslett’s view, the Future Leaders programme gives delegates the chance to hone skills not typically taught in physical activity sector training.

“In my time at Fitness First, it was clear that this is a sector ripe for transformation and taking to the next level in terms of customer engagement, brand building and the development of new services,” he said.

“Achieving this transformation requires new skills and an open innovative approach not currently readily found across the sector. Working with world class business institutions like IESE will provide a group of Future Leaders with an accelerated development opportunity to drive their organisations on to success.”

A small number of places remain on the 2016 Future Leaders course. For more information, or to apply for the programme, click here.