Trends, Technology, & The Long View With Frank van de Ven

In this episode of the Fitness + Technology Podcast, Bryan O'Rourke welcomes Frank van de Ven to the show. Frank recently retired as Chief Commercial and Chief Marketing Officer of Life Fitness, closing out a nearly three-decade run with the company that took him from EMEA Marketing Director to General Manager of Life Fitness Benelux, Managing Director for Continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and ultimately Vice President International, with responsibility for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Born in the Netherlands and a veteran of Philips and GE Plastics before entering the fitness industry, Frank spent the early 1990s as Commercial Director of High Five Health Promotion, where he built the franchise model that carried the brand into the commercial club market. He has served multiple terms on the board of EHFA (now EuropeActive), written columns for two trade publications, and presented at conventions across Europe. Today he advises a portfolio of companies —including HUR, One Beyond Success, Recharge Yourself, and Fold Reformer — and mentors emerging leaders across the sector.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Bryan and Frank trade questions on trends, technology, and where the industry is heading.

Check out FIT-C's 2026 Digital Pulse Report: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GTV2QT18

Learn more about Fitness Brazil 2026: https://www.fitnessbrasil.com.br/fitness-brasil-expo-2026/

Learn more about HFA's European Congress: https://hub.healthandfitness.org/european-congress

One Powerful Quote:

18:46: "If you do what you get, you get what you got."

4-10 Bullet Points (w/ timestamps) - Highlighting key topics discussed:

3:34: Bryan opens the show, and Frank walks through his path into the fitness industry and the work he's focused on now.

10:42: Frank identifies the key trends shaping the market, and the ones the industry is overlooking.

18:40: Bryan asks how the competitive landscape is shifting as new ideas and products enter the space.

21:03: Frank shares his perspective on technology and the impact it's having across the industry.

23:59: Frank closes with the lessons he's taken from his career.

Bullet List of Resources:

https://foldreformer.com/

Guest Contact Information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-van-de-ven-48b5974/

https://www.bryankorourke.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryankorourke/

http://www.fittechcouncil.org/

https://www.youtube.com/user/bko61163