EuropeActive Announces the Launch of “Next Level Leaders” A New Executive Development Era for the Global Health & Fitness Sector
Brussels, 29 January 2026
EuropeActive is proud to announce the successful launch of Next Level Leaders, a new, worldclass executive development programme delivered in partnership with IESE Business School, a globally leading institution for executive education. Designed for the highest potential talent across the health, fitness and wellbeing sector, the programme has received exceptional industry backing from industry leading brands and is already 85% fully subscribed following an initial closed promotion to EuropeActive Presidents Council members and ukactive’s Strategic Partner Group.
Reimagined from the highly respected ukactive Future Leaders Programme, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary in 2026, Next Level Leaders represents a major step forward in preparing the next generation of strategic, globally minded leaders. As part of this anniversary year, IESE will host a special Future Leaders alumni celebration event in Barcelona during the on campus week of the programme.
Next Level Leaders has attracted strong support from across EuropeActive’s Presidents’ Council of Operators, with backing from industry leading operators such as BasicFit, GO fit, David Lloyd Clubs, RSG Group, SC Fitness, The Gym Group and Urban Sports Club.
In addition, the programme has been backed by the world’s leading fitness equipment and technology partners, including Life Fitness, Matrix, Technogym and Wellhub.
This level of commitment demonstrates widespread recognition that leadership capability will be the defining factor in the sector capitalising on the great opportunities presented to it at this time, determining which organisations thrive in the fast changing landscape of health, fitness and wellbeing.
While rooted firmly in Europe, Next Level Leaders has gained global momentum, with final programme participants expected from the Middle East, Asia, and North America. With capacity limited to just 40 seats worldwide, the programme offers a uniquely intimate and highimpact leadership development experience shaped by the world’s leading faculty at IESE.
Marcel Boots, President, EuropeActive, said:
“Our sector stands at a pivotal moment. The pressures and opportunities we face require leaders who can not only read the future but shape it. Next Level Leaders has been built precisely for this moment, combining global business insight, strategic foresight, and deep peer learning.
The response from operators and partners has been extraordinary, a clear signal of the collective belief that we must invest in our highest potential people now. With the programme already 85% subscribed, I strongly encourage organisations who wish to be part of this first cohort to submit their application of interest as soon as possible. This is a unique opportunity to prepare the leaders who will define the future of our industry.”
Dr. Jobst Müller-Trimbusch, CEO, RSG Group, said:
“At RSG, leadership development is central to our longterm strategy, which is why we have committed three rising leaders to the inaugural cohort. Next Level Leaders combines rigorous academic insight with the real-world challenges of our sector. It is exactly the programme the industry needs at exactly the right time.”
David Stalker, Chair, ukactive, said:
“This new programme proudly builds on the legacy of the ukactive Future Leaders initiative, which reaches its 10 year milestone in 2026. There has never been one graduate of that programme who did not feel it changed the course of their career. EuropeActive’s reinvigoration of this platform through its partnership with IESE will accelerate the development of the leaders our sector needs. ukactive is delighted to support the launch and will celebrate this next chapter with a special alumni event in Barcelona during the programme.”
Next Steps for Interested Organisations
Organisations and individuals interested in joining the inaugural cohort of Next Level Leaders are invited to submit an expression of interest for one of the remaining places. At this stage, applications from female leaders are particularly encouraged.
For further details, including programme content, admissions timelines, and application materials, please contact Emilia Happel at emilia.happel@europeactive.eu from the EuropeActive team.
