Crunch Fitness has named Howard University alumnus Chequan Lewis its next chief executive officer, placing another HBCU graduate at the helm of a major national consumer brand as the fitness company continues its global expansion, Yahoo Finance reports.
The company announced Lewis’ appointment June 30
He succeeds Jim Rowley, who will become executive chairman after serving as CEO since 2019. Lewis joined Crunch Fitness as president in January 2024 and now assumes responsibility for leading one of the world’s largest fitness franchise systems as it continues to grow its domestic and international footprint. Lewis, a 2005 Howard University graduate, earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and economics before receiving his law degree from Harvard Law School.
He began his career at McMaster-Carr before practicing corporate law at Baker Botts. He later transitioned into business operations at Pizza Hut U.S., where he served as chief operating officer and became the brand’s first chief equity officer before joining Crunch Fitness. His promotion highlights the growing influence of HBCU alumni in executive leadership across corporate America.