Life Fitness recently named Matthew J. Johnson vice president of strategic planning and business development. Johnson, 32, is responsible for implementing the companys long-term strategic plan, spearheading new market initiatives and driving new business development opportunities. He joined the company June 1 and reports directly to Life Fitness President Kevin Grodzki.
“Life Fitness is delighted to have Matt join its team,” said Grodzki. “His successful track record in identifying growth opportunities and developing new business initiatives makes him the ideal choice for spearheading our strategic planning and business development operations. I know he will be a tremendous asset to Life Fitness and will help us to forge our future direction.”
Prior to Life Fitness, Johnson accumulated 10 years of broad-based experience in operations, business development, marketing and finance at Baxter International Inc., a Deerfield, Ill.-based global healthcare company. Most recently, he resided in Shanghai, China, and served the company as a director of business development for the Asia, China and Hong Kong regions of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, the principal U.S. operating subsidiary of Baxter International. In that position, he was responsible for sourcing new growth opportunities, facilitating initial contact and negotiating with prospective partner and alliance companies, managing due diligence and providing acquisition integration guidance.
Active in business and civic affairs, Johnson serves as co-chairman of an Evanston, Ill., city council community development task force and as a member of the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in economics from the University of Vermont, Burlington, and an MBA with honors from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.
