The Experienced Franchise Executive Transitions from Consultant to C-Suite with the Fitness Brand
D1 Training, a Tennessee-based fitness franchise, has appointed Elliot Capner chief commercial officer. Capner previously served as a consultant on special projects for D1 and now is responsible for driving product innovation for franchisees and improving the customer experience for clients. His experience as a franchise executive has focused on growth, operational efficiency and transformative strategies within the health and fitness industry.
Capner said he has been impressed with D1’s strong culture and leadership team including CEO Will Bartholomew and COO Dan Murphy. “I also got to experience the D1 product and visit a number of facilities, and I had seen nothing like it,” he said. “When Will asked me to join D1 as a member of the C-suite, it was an easy decision. We have a number of product innovations that we are testing, and we are eager to share them with our franchisees and members.”
Murphy said Capner’s appointment will take the training franchise to the next level. “Elliot is familiar with our brand and mission, and he brings unique expertise, experience and passion to D1,” Murphy said. ”We have already seen the impact he has made as a consultant. It’s going to be exciting to see what our team can accomplish as we enter this new phase of growth at D1.”
Driving Innovation
Capner’s professional background includes working as a corporate lawyer and serving as COO of the F45 Training franchise, which he helped grow from 100 studios to 2,200 over eight years. He also has served as executive director and strategic advisor for Strong Pilates and consulted for Xponential Fitness, an umbrella franchisor of fitness concepts. He said his experience with fitness franchising has given him an appreciation for the opportunities it provides entrepreneurs of all backgrounds to take control of their lives.
Capner’s achievements as a consultant for D1 include securing a partnership with ClassPass to bring D1’s training programs to the popular app’s members. “This partnership with ClassPass marks an exciting milestone for D1 Training,” Capner said. “We’re passionate about providing everyone with the tools and support to train like an athlete, and through ClassPass, we can now connect with a broader audience of people eager to take their fitness to the next level.”
About D1 Training
D1 Training was founded by former NFL player Will Bartholomew in 2001. The Tennessee-based fitness franchise has grown to 130-plus facilities, with more than 250 in development. D1 offers training programs for everyone from fitness novices to professional athletes. Each fitness program is based on the five athletic-based tenets: warm-up, performance, strength program, core and conditioning and cool down.
