Ironman Appoints New CEO

Ironman’s previous CEO Andrew Messick stepped down back in July of 2023. Six month later the company announced Scott DeRue to take over in the top leadership position.

Chris Foster for Triathlete, a publication part of the Outside family reports:

Today the Ironman Group announced that it has appointed Scott DeRue—an executive with experience in the luxury fitness industry and the upper levels of academia—to the position of chief executive officer of Ironman effective immediately.

DeRue previously was president of Equinox Fitness, an American luxury fitness company which operates five separate fitness brands, including hotels, an app and clubs around the world.

DeRue, 46, is also an ultrarunner and accomplished mountaineer who has claimed six of “the Seven Summits”—Everest, Denali, Elbrus, Vinson, Aconcagua, and Mt. Kilimanjaro. He recently completed the Gobi March, a week-long, 155-mile footrace through central Mongolia.

Last year DeRue completed the Gobi March, a six day stage race covering 250km in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.

The new guy seems to be familiar with trail races and mountain adventures, but he has never competed in a triathlon. Does that give any indication where the company sees their growth opportunities for the coming years?