Steven Dale, Chief Executive Officer
Steven Dale has been a Director of Zest since early 2004. Steven joined Zest in July 2002 into a newly appointed role as the General Manager - Sales and Marketing. After establishing a new sales system and through leadership of a sales force of 160 Club General Managers and Membership Consultants across 29 facilities he successfully achieved a 44% improvement in national sales in a one year period. Steven was appointed as the CEO in January 2004. Steven's main purpose is to maximize profit and return on invested capital by establishing strategic direction, serving members and maintaining the Company's stability and ensuring growth.
Prior to joining Zest, Steven held a regional management position at Fitness First, achieving highest performing accolades and successfully managed a multi-million revenue earning premier health club, No 1 Martin Place in Sydney. Steven has an engineering academic background, his qualifications being achieved in the UK.
John Smith, General Manager - Finance and Administration
John joined Zest as the General Manager Finance and Administration in October 2003. John's main purpose is to accomplish the Company's strategic financial objectives by development of financial plans and systems, establishing effective financial resources, securing finance, undertaking analysis and maintaining corporate governance and compliance with regulatory requirements.
John is a Chartered Accountant with extensive financial management experience in merchant banking and financial markets, television home shopping, forensic accounting, litigation and risk management. John is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia (Qualified in 1978) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
David Woodbury, Financial Controller
David's role reports to the General Manager Finance and Administration and its main purpose is to establish financial policies and procedures, prepare budgets and financial plans, maximize cash management , deliver effective controls, develop effective reporting systems and ensure compliance with financial reporting and payroll preparation.
David joined Zest in January 2004. Prior to this experience David was National Commercial with Metcash Ltd, more recently he has performed Financial Controller roles a ASX listed National Retailer where he performed the role of Financial Controller managing a large team. David's academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts from Flinders University (SA). David is also CPA qualified.
Malcolm Partridge, National Property Manager
Malcolm joined Zest in June 2006 to spearhead the Company's national roll-out of clubs. He has extensive experience in site selection, lease negotiation, conducting rental reviews and feasibility studies and overseeing day-to-day maintenance matters. Prior to joining Zest, Malcolm was the Real Estate Manager with Luxottica Pty Limited, Australia's largest provider of optometric and optical services, where he was responsible for managing the company's property portfolio (which includes 694 retail stores in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore). Prior to Luxottica, Malcolm was an Associate Director of Landplan Property Group, a property consulting group that assists its clients (retail firms) in, among other things, site selection and lease negotiation. Prior to Landplan, Malcolm was a Senior Property Manager at the City of Sydney Council and the Property Manager of Dick Smith Electronics, where he was responsible for managing the electronic retailer's leasehold property portfolio.
Steve Pettit, General Manager - Product and Marketing
Steve began his fitness career studying at Otago University (NZ) where he completed a Bachelor of Physical Education majoring in Exercise Prescription and Management and a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing. Steve operated his own Personal Training business with Les Mills in NZ, during this time Steve assisted with the development of national Personal Training systems and PT mentoring. Steve has worked with Les Mills Australia as the National Personal Training Manager, introducing the BodyTrainer personal training system into Australia, and working with Les Mills International on it's ongoing development.
Steve has been employed at Zest since 5 June 2003 and until recently held the position of National Personal Training Business Manager. He was promoted to the role of National Product Manager in August 2006 and is responsible for strategic direction of the Personal Training, Group Fitness, Exercise Therapy, Swim School and Merchandising teams.
Steve's other qualifications include Cert IV in Fitness with the Australian Institute of Fitness and Cert IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. Steve is also an industry representative on the National Industry Reference Group (NIRG) for the review of sport and recreation training packages.
Nathan Elliott, National Sales Business Manager
Nathan has been employed with Zest since September 2005 as National Sales Business Manager, a role allowing him to manage and oversee the membership sales results on a national basis. Having had 14 years experience within the Fitness industry, many as part of a Senior Management team, Nathan has excelled in this newly created role.
His responsibilities include the development of current sales and management teams, implementing succession planning, maintenance and development of the sales culture. Nathan places particular emphasis on the continual development of the sales team through intense training and coaching. Prior to his role with Zest, Nathan held roles ranging from Membership Sales to Club General Manager to National Sales Manager with Health Clubs in both the UK and Australia. These included Healthland, Fitness First and LeisureCo. Nathan also has a Bachelor of Arts in Sports Science.
Ross Thursby, National Membership Services Manager
Having held the role of State Operations Manager from 2003 until early 2005, Ross' vast experience with Members was such he was the ideal choice for his new appointment as National Membership Services Manager. Ross manages the Membership Services team, controls membership maintenance (debt collection) and ensure the Frontline Handbook development is compliant with company guidelines. Prior to his role with Zest, Ross worked for Fitness First as a Club General Manager as well as gaining experience in the UK as a centre manager for Holmes Place. Ross also holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement Studies.
David Lewis, State General Manager - Western Australia
David has recently been appointed to the role of State General Manager, having spent the past 2 ½ years in the role of State Operations Manager for Zest Health Clubs. He began his career in the health and fitness industry in 1994 in the UK, holding various management positions in Fitness, Sales, Operations and Club General Management, along with Project Management for Bannatyne's Health Clubs and LivingWell Health Clubs.
David holds a Bachelor of Science (HONS) Sports Science from the University of Brighton and is currently completing a Masters of Business Administration at the University of WA. In his role as State General Manager, David will draw on his experience to manage all aspects of the business and ensure the success of Zest Health Clubs in Western Australia.