PickleRage has appointed Rich DeStasio as CEO to support its continued national expansion. Previously, DeStasio is reported to have helped drive the expansion efforts for a major Orangetheory Fitness franchisee.
DeStasio brings over 25 years of experience across fitness, wellness and franchising to the role. Most recently, he served as chief marketing officer at FASTer Way to Fat Loss, a digital fitness and nutrition company. Prior to that, he was chief operating officer at Austin Fitness Group, one of the largest Orangetheory Fitness platform ownership groups. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at Town Sports International and The Edge Fitness Clubs.
“Rich brings a unique combination of operational excellence, brand-building expertise and franchise leadership that aligns perfectly with our growth trajectory,” said David Smith, COO at PickleRage. “His experience scaling multi-unit platforms and building high-performance teams will be instrumental as we continue expanding into new markets and supporting our growing network of franchise partners.”
At PickleRage, DeStasio will focus on accelerating franchise development, enhancing operational infrastructure and strengthening the brand’s position in the indoor pickleball market.
“Joining PickleRage at this stage of its growth is an exciting opportunity,” said DeStasio. “The brand has built a strong foundation centered on community, quality and experience. I look forward to working with the team, our franchise partners and investors to scale the business and bring this concept to more communities across the country.”
Founded in 2023, PickleRage reports it plans to continue rapidly expanding across key U.S. markets and open more than 500 clubs nationwide over the next five years.
Image courtesy PickleRage
