VASA Fitness has named Chris Tarrant as its new chief growth officer, strengthening the company’s leadership team as it continues its national expansion.
A longtime member of VASA’s board, Tarrant brings more than 30 years of experience overseeing market planning, real estate, design, construction and development for major consumer brands. In his new role, he will lead VASA’s real estate and development teams, working closely across the organization to support continued expansion and advance the company’s long-term growth strategy.
Tarrant’s responsibilities will include guiding site selection, market planning and construction oversight, with a focus on ensuring VASA’s growth remains consistent, efficient and scalable across markets.
Throughout his career, Tarrant has played a key role in shaping growth strategies for multi-unit brands including McDonald’s, Krispy Kreme, Panera Bread and Starbucks, where he helped lead large-scale national expansion efforts. Most recently, he served as chief development officer at Sweetgreen, overseeing real estate, design and development initiatives while scaling the brand nationally and advancing sustainable design and operational efficiency aligned with the company’s mission and values.
At VASA, Tarrant is expected to help balance ambitious growth with operational discipline, supporting expansion while maintaining the high-quality club experiences members expect. He is also known for mentoring future leaders and fostering a collaborative, innovative culture.
“Chris brings a rare combination of strategic vision, operational rigor and hands-on development expertise,” said Rich Nelsen, chief executive officer of VASA Fitness, in a statement. “Having already served as a trusted board member, he knows our business and culture well. As chief growth officer, his leadership will be instrumental as we continue to expand into new markets and build a strong, sustainable foundation for VASA’s next phase of growth.”
The appointment follows the recent appointments of Chris Griebe as COO and Danielle Petersen as chief marketing officer, two seasoned executives who bring proven expertise in scaling businesses, strengthening operations and driving membership growth.
VASA has more than 60 locations in eight states across the U.S.
