NRG GYM Founder & CEO Shafiq Ahmed joins Health and Fitness Association Board of Directors 

Shafiq Ahmed, Founder and CEO of UK-based gym chain NRG GYM, has been appointed to the Health and Fitness Association Board of Directors.

Announced last week at The HFA Show 2025 in Las Vegas, Shafiq joins a team of experienced leaders from across the global health and fitness sector, with the directive to serve the association and the wider fitness industry by providing guidance, strategic direction, and insight that has a lasting global impact.

With over 25 years’ experience in corporate finance, retail, and health and fitness, Shafiq founded NRG GYM in 2011 to offer something different to other ‘high value low price’ gyms, by offering best-in-class facilities at a highly competitive price and creating communities that empower individuals to make positive change.

Now at seven gyms and over 30,000 members across the UK, and in cities including London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Sheffield, NRG also recently announced £4 million investment from Puma Growth Partners to support the 24/7 gym chain’s ambitious growth plans. 

Commenting on his appointment, Shafiq said: “I am incredibly proud to be joining the HFA Board and to be given the opportunity to use my experience and expertise for the wider benefit of our sector.

“Our business is the health, performance, and wellbeing of people; something that I’m very passionate about with NRG and is well-aligned to the fantastic work that the HFA continues to do.

“Our industry is not without its challenges, but I believe that by working as a collective, we can better drive social impact and positive change for our sector, and the millions of people worldwide that we are able to support.”