# Jim Pisani

> Jim Pisani is the Chicago-area chief executive of Life Fitness / Hammer Strength, appointed in July 2023. A former Northern Illinois University soccer captain and Lewis University MBA graduate, he previously led VF Licensed Sports Group, Timberland, and Newell Brands’ Outdoor & Recreation business. His public leadership philosophy emphasizes listening, team development, community service, and reliable products supported over time.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer & Board Member at Life Fitness / Hammer Strength
- **Organizations:** Life Fitness / Hammer Strength, Newell Brands, Timberland, VF Corporation / VF Licensed Sports Group / Majestic Athletic, PepsiCo, Kraft Foods
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science; political science, Northern Illinois University, Master of Business Administration, Lewis University
- **Known for:** Two-year soccer captain, MVP, and all-conference player at Northern Illinois University., First college graduate in his family., Led VF Licensed Sports Group during its MLB uniform partnership.

## Career timeline

- **1989** — Graduated from Northern Illinois University after playing Division I soccer.
- **Before 2008** — Held sales, marketing, and leadership roles at Kraft Foods and PepsiCo.
- **2005** — Earned his MBA at Lewis University.
- **2008** — Became president of VF Licensed Sports Group, including Majestic.
- **2016** — Appointed Timberland global brand president on August 8.
- **2018** — Completed all 40 paid community-service hours, earning Timberland 40s Club membership.
- **2019** — Spoke for Timberland’s announced goal to plant 50 million trees worldwide by 2025.
- **2020** — Joined Newell Brands as Outdoor & Recreation business unit CEO effective May 1.
- **2023** — Appointed Life Fitness CEO on July 25.

## Achievements

- Two-year soccer captain, MVP, and all-conference player at Northern Illinois University.
- First college graduate in his family.
- Led VF Licensed Sports Group during its MLB uniform partnership.
- Reported more than 50 percent jersey-sales growth over the preceding two years in a June 2016 interview.
- Completed Timberland’s full 40 paid volunteer hours in 2018.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Discussed the two-brand strategy, customer co-creation, and his initial focus on culture in an interview published August 4.
- **2026-07** — Discussed personalization, connected equipment, and partnerships in The Lens: Gym of the Future interview.
- **2026-04** — Discussed long-term equipment reliability, responsive service, and evaluating performance over years.

## Links

- Website: https://www.lifefitness.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-pisani-4437319

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jim-pisani
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23