Doug started his career in sport & leisure in 1974 having studied at Loughborough, qualifying as a Physical Education teacher and coach. Taught in secondary and tertiary education for several years before developing a sports retail business in Scotland with several branches, combined with contract supplies to the education sector. Back in education he worked on the programmes for leisure & tourism, developing some of the first modules for health & fitness in the early 1990s. 

 

During this research he stumbled into Forza Fitness where he met David Giampaolo and remained working there until the company was transferred into the ownership of 24-HOUR FITNESS. The next step was to transfer the distribution of CYBEX into a wholly owned subsidiary, based initially in Northampton. Not satisfied with his work in the fitness arena he developed his knowledge of wellness working with KLAFS SAUNABAU and BALNEA, combining both into leisure construction projects across the UK & ROI. 

 

Retired temporarily to Cornwall to run a family surfing and café bar before being lured back by MATRIX FITNESS, where he developed a special projects division which offered a total solution of design & build alongside high-quality equipment. 2016 saw retirement number two with a brief return during COVID. 2022 retirement number three, this time to the Isle of Skye but again encouraged back by a call from BODY BIKE to set up its first direct distribution in the UK with full parent company support. Another chapter begins……