Harm TEGELAARS

Harm Tegelaars was unanimously elected President of the European Health and Fitness Association in April 2007.  He was re-elected as President for another two year term in April 2009.

Harm was the original creator of the company called Cannons Group, and spearheaded its development since 1980. Over the past 20 years, he has built the company from a sole trader with one club, into a company with over 3,500 employees, three brands and over 60 sites. As Chief Executive for Cannons Group, he masterminded the £365 million management buyout of one of the UK's leading health and fitness provider.

In 1978 he established Archer Leisure with the building of the Wandsworth squash club, now a Cannons Health Club. Through expansion plans and acquisitions he expanded the company to include 17 clubs by 1996 when it was sold to Vardon PLC.

He then transformed Vardon PLC from a broad-based leisure company into a pure health and fitness company. Over the next five years, the bingo, holiday parks and visitor attractions divisions were sold off and the company focused on building new clubs and acquiring existing ones.

In October 2005 Harm was named the 2005 European Club Operator of the Year by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) in recognition of his achievements. “The most significant thing about Harm is not the enviable business that he has built,” said John McCarthy, then executive director of IHRSA, commenting on the award. “It is his willingness to put his own self-interest aside in favour of doing what is best for the industry.”

He was one of the founders of the UK Fitness Industry Association in 1988 and prior to taking up the role as President of EHFA was the FIA's Chairman. Until recently he was also the Vice Chairman of BISL- the Business in Sport and Leisure government lobby group.

Harm was born in Holland and is married with three children. He brings a wealth of experience to the organisation and unrivalled reach across our industry. Harm donates his time and experience to EHFA in a completely voluntary fashion, meeting all his own expenses and costs and requesting no remuneration for his time.

From the President 13/04/2010

From the President 17/09/2009 

From the President 10/04/2008

From the President 11/07/2007


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