Pocket Outdoor Media, the holding company that owns VeloNews, Triathlete, Women’s Running, PodiumRunner, Bicycle Retailer, VeloPress, and VeloSwap, has appointed Robin Thurston, co-founder of MapMyFitness, as CEO.
Thurston now shares ownership with Chairman Felix Magowan and investors Steve Maxwell and Greg Thomas.
Thurston was until recently the CEO of Helix, a fast-growing Silicon Valley startup acclaimed for building the world’s first personal genomics platform and a source for DNA learning. Under his leadership, Helix pioneered true next-generation sequencing to create a marketplace for DNA-powered products that will empower every person to improve their life through DNA.
Before joining Helix, Thurston co-founded and built MapMyFitness into one of the world’s largest open fitness tracking platforms. Following the acquisition of MapMyFitness by Under Armour, he joined the innovative sports apparel organization and served as Chief Digital Offer, where he led the overall strategic direction of the company’s Connected Fitness business. Prior to starting MapMyFitness, Thurston held senior executive positions at Lipper – A Reuters Company, American Century Investments, and Wellington Management.
“It’s hard to image someone more qualified to be CEO of Pocket Outdoor Media than Robin,” said Magowan. “He built arguably the most successful digital company in the endurance media space. He’s a lifelong cyclist and endurance athlete and has been an avid reader of our brands since 1983. Robin’s goal is to leverage Pocket Outdoor Media to become the leading destination for endurance athletes.”
Thurston added, “We will become the global home for athletes by taking Pocket Outdoor Media’s core strength, which is great content, and more creatively selling and distribution it across more platforms worldwide.”
