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RockSalt Pilates has named Stephanie Knepp chief operating officer as the fitness brand expands its U.S. franchise network and prepares to enter the United Arab Emirates. IMG Academy has promoted Mike Milliron to lead its campus business and appointed Fred Santarpia to run its online operations. The appointments are part of a wider set of executive changes across fitness and wellness companies.
RockSalt Pilates has named Stephanie Knepp chief operating officer, and IMG Academy has reshaped leadership across its campus and online businesses, according to Athletech News. The appointments come as RockSalt builds its franchise footprint and IMG Academy develops its expanded campus and digital offerings.
Knepp will oversee RockSalt’s operating standards, franchisee support, training and studio openings. She brings more than two decades of experience in fitness, wellness, operations and franchising. Her most recent role was CEO of Sit Still Kids Salon; previously, she held franchise leadership positions at Zoom Room Franchising and WellBiz Brands.
IMG Academy promoted Mike Milliron to president of IMG Academy Campus and appointed Fred Santarpia president of IMG Academy Online. Milliron, who joined the organization in 2011 and became campus COO in 2024, will oversee its Bradenton, Florida, businesses, including the boarding school, camps, events, team training, hotel and golf club. Santarpia joins from Endeavor Streaming, where he was president, and will lead IMG Academy+, NCSA and SportsRecruits.
The roundup also reports leadership appointments at two other companies. Solv Wellness named Dr. Christine Vaccaro its first chief medical officer, tasking her with guiding menopause education and developing resources for patients and health professionals. 4Ever Young appointed Tony Nicholson vice president of development, while commercial fitness equipment company Core Health & Fitness named Joey Osborne president and James Drake chief strategy and development officer.
Leadership for Expansion Plans
The appointments put senior operators in roles tied directly to growth, execution and business oversight. At RockSalt, Knepp’s responsibilities span franchisee support and studio openings as the brand adds locations. At IMG Academy, separating leadership of campus and online businesses gives each operation a designated president as the organization manages both physical facilities and digital offerings.
Those changes matter to franchisees, employees, customers and business partners because leadership choices can shape how expansion is carried out. The announcements identify who will lead key functions, but they do not establish that planned openings or growth targets will be achieved. The figures released for RockSalt are company development plans and commitments, not completed studios.
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Plans Behind the Appointments
RockSalt was founded by Adrian Ramirez in 2012 and combines Pilates with cardio, resistance training, weights and choreography. It began franchising in 2024. The company reports eight operating studios, four under construction and five more planned for the first quarter of 2027. It also reports commitments from five multi-unit development groups for 33 additional studios over the next four years. These are separate from the studios already operating or being built.
IMG Academy’s leadership changes follow a campus expansion and the global launch of IMG Academy+, according to the report. Milliron oversaw what the academy describes as the largest capital expansion in its history while serving as campus COO, as well as the introduction of four sports in 18 months. Santarpia succeeds Chris Ciaccio, who led the online business while also serving as chief commercial officer. Ciaccio will focus on campus commercial operations and brand and commercial initiatives across the organization.
The wider roundup places these moves alongside other growth-focused appointments. Solv Wellness is adding clinical leadership to its women’s health education work, while 4Ever Young is pursuing a goal of 100 open locations nationwide. Core Health & Fitness said its new leadership roles will support global expansion and integration of recent acquisitions, including Aktiv Solutions and Comm-Fit.
“The brand began franchising in 2024.”
— Athletech News, describing RockSalt Pilates
Opening Dates and Growth Targets
The report does not give individual effective dates for the appointments or specify how many of RockSalt’s planned studios have signed leases or secured opening dates. Its planned first-quarter 2027 openings and 33-studio development commitments are forward-looking figures; the schedule and completion of those projects remain uncertain.
For IMG Academy, the announcement outlines the executives’ responsibilities but provides no financial targets, performance measures or timetable for the online business under Santarpia. The report also does not detail how duties will be divided between Milliron and Ciaccio on commercial and brand initiatives. No outcomes from the new leadership arrangements are available in the source report.
Tracking the Planned Openings
The next visible measures for RockSalt will be whether the four studios under construction open, whether the five locations planned for early 2027 proceed, and how the company converts development commitments into operating sites. The source report does not name opening dates for the four projects under construction.
At IMG Academy, Milliron and Santarpia will take responsibility for the campus and online operations described in the announcement. Further updates could clarify how the organization measures the performance of those businesses and how its campus expansion and global digital launch develop. The available report does not set a date for another leadership or performance update.
Key Questions
What is Stephanie Knepp’s new role at RockSalt Pilates?
Knepp is chief operating officer. She will oversee operating standards, franchisee support, training and studio openings.
Who will lead IMG Academy’s campus and online businesses?
Mike Milliron was promoted to president of IMG Academy Campus. Fred Santarpia was appointed president of IMG Academy Online, overseeing IMG Academy+, NCSA and SportsRecruits.
How many RockSalt studios are operating?
The report says RockSalt has eight operating studios, with four under construction and another five planned for the first quarter of 2027.
Were there other executive appointments in the roundup?
Yes. Solv Wellness appointed Dr. Christine Vaccaro its first chief medical officer; 4Ever Young named Tony Nicholson vice president of development; and Core Health & Fitness appointed Joey Osborne president and James Drake chief strategy and development officer.
Source: athletechnews.com
