Planet Fitness Adds Covista CEO Steve Beard to Board to Strengthen Governance

Headline: Planet Fitness adds healthcare education chief to strengthen governance and growth oversight

Governance boost aims at operational discipline

Planet Fitness appoints Steve Beard to its board, a move the gym chain frames as a strategic governance upgrade to support national expansion and member retention. The company names Beard — chairman and CEO of Covista Inc., the country’s largest healthcare educator — to bring additional operational rigor, legal expertise and a healthcare-focused perspective to board oversight. Planet Fitness says the addition increases its board to nine directors and is designed to enhance oversight of risk, talent and long-term brand execution.

Board expects cross-sector experience to aid expansion

Company leaders underline that Beard’s background in scaling large education operations and driving strategic transformation complements Planet Fitness’s fast-growing footprint and member-first business model. Executives point to his work refocusing Covista on healthcare education, producing accelerating organic growth and increased student enrollment across five accredited institutions, as evidence of his capacity to guide complex, multi-site organizations. The board anticipates Beard will contribute to systems for franchise oversight, operational consistency and initiatives aimed at improving member retention and service quality.

Legal and talent-management skills seen as governance levers

Beard’s combined experience in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, executive search and leading a major education group is portrayed as particularly useful for governance areas such as risk management, regulatory compliance and executive succession planning. Planet Fitness highlights his track record in talent development and institutional scaling as likely to inform its strategies around franchisee support, staffing standards and customer experience improvements while the chain continues to expand its network.

Board composition and announcement context

The appointment is announced from Hampton, New Hampshire via PRNewswire and immediately formalizes what Planet Fitness describes as a strategic governance addition. The company is positioning the hire as part of broader board strengthening amid ongoing national growth efforts.

Beard’s credentials and career path

Beard is recently named to the 2025 TIME100 Health list and previously serves as Covista’s COO and general counsel. His earlier career includes senior roles at global executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles and a background practicing corporate and securities law with a focus on regulated industries.