
Middle East-based fitness brand GymNation has appointed Rory McEntee, the former Brand and Marketing Director of Gymbox in London, as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO).
With a wealth of experience in the fitness industry and a proven track record in brand building, creative marketing and overall marketing strategy, McEntee has been tasked with elevating GymNation’s growth and further solidifying its position as the leading fitness destination in the region.
At GymNation, McEntee will lead the brand’s marketing initiatives and strategic communications, focusing on creative, disruptive and brand-led work to support GymNation’s rapid expansion across the GCC region.
With an ambitious, highly creative vision for the future, McEntee will work closely with the leadership team to implement innovative brand and marketing strategies aimed at attracting and retaining a broader fitness community.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rory to the GymNation team,” said Loren Holland, Founder and CEO of GymNation. “We’ve been long-time admirers of the work he has done with the Gymbox brand in the highly competitive UK market, His extensive expertise in creative brand building and disruptive marketing will be invaluable to us as we continue to grow GymNation throughout the region. We’re very confident that Rory will help propel the overall GymNation brand to new heights.”
During McEntee’s tenure at Gymbox, a well-established UK-based fitness brand, he played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s identity, driving its marketing strategies, and overseeing highly successful campaigns that resonated with gym-goers across various markets.
Known for creating some of the most-talked-about campaigns and stunts in the UK, McEntee helped elevate Gymbox’s profile in the competitive fitness sector.
“I’m extremely excited to join such a dynamic and forward-thinking brand and look forward to further cementing our position as the Middle East’s number 1, and most talked about fitness brand,” said McEntee. “The brand’s commitment to making fitness fun and accessible to everyone aligns perfectly with my passion for creating brands that resonate with diverse audiences. GymNation is The People’s Gym & I’m pumped to be working with the team to deliver highly creative brand campaigns that inspire and motivate everyone across the region to get moving and live their healthiest lives.”
With Rory’s appointment, Ant Martland, Founder and CCO, transitions to a broader commercial role, focused on driving GymNation’s continued growth across the region.
“As soon as we saw Rory was moving on from his previous role, we knew we had to move fast and bring him on to the team. His appointment is another big win for GymNation and further strengthens our senior management team as we head into another important period of rapid expansion,” Martland said. “I’m looking forward to working closely with Rory, doubling down on the successful marketing platform we have created since launching in 2018 and taking the GymNation brand to a whole other level in 2025 and beyond.”