Founders

Lindsay G. Merrithew – President & CEO

Lindsay Merrithew has been the driving force behind the growth of The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group, and its premier brand, STOTT PILATES®. He was nominated twice for Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award and is a five-time recipient of PROFIT Magazine’s 100 Fastest-Growing Companies award. In addition to directing and growing the fully integrated business from a visionary and strategic point-of-view, he has been instrumental in designing, producing and marketing the company’s extensive equipment and video lines. To date, he has developed dozens of commercial products and has executive produced over 100 videos for both the professional and retail consumer markets. Lindsay is a member of Ontario’s prestigious Innovators Alliance for elite entrepreneurs, and is consulted regularly by the trade and business media. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York City.

Moira Merrithew – Executive Director, Education

After an accomplished career as principal dancer with the City Ballet of Toronto and the Atlantic Ballet Company, Moira Merrithew went on to retrain and certify as a Pilates instructor under the tutelage of Romana Kryzanowska at the original studio founded by the late Joseph H. Pilates. In collaboration with President and CEO, Lindsay G. Merrithew, physical therapists, and sports medicine professionals, they have spent more than two decades refining the STOTT PILATES® method to ensure it’s aligned with current scientific and biomechanical research. This clear and detailed approach forms the basis for STOTT PILATES training and certification programs. In addition to overseeing the creation of the curricula and support materials for the STOTT PILATES Education & Certification programs, Moira is a content creator and featured performer in the STOTT PILATES video series. She has also trained such high profile athletes as former Toronto Maple Leaf goalie Ed Belfour and tennis great Martina Navratilova. A published author and media personality, she is actively involved in the company’s Fit Kids program, and presents at numerous fitness industry events.

Management

Tony Baylis – Chief Operating Officer

Tony Baylis joined The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group in January 2002 bringing 17 years of professional business experience in various senior roles within the entertainment industry. Most recently he held the position of President, Balmur Corus Music Inc. His background includes crafting and executing strategic plans, raising debt and equity financings and managing small to mid-sized companies. Tony also executive produced award-winning television specials for broadcast in Canada and the United States, and was Anne Murray's business manager. As a senior member of the Merrithew Corporation management team, Tony takes a leadership role in helping to guide the company’s strategic plans through its domestic and international growth. Thus far, he has been instrumental in structuring the company’s operations and management resources and systems; overseeing all business affairs; executive producing, with Lindsay G. Merrithew, the company’s newest video lines – and aggressively pursuing and analyzing new business opportunities. Tony has a Bachelor of Commerce, Honours Finance, from Dalhousie University and is a Chartered Accountant.

Martin Cox – Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Communications

As a marketing and communications professional for the past 20 years, Martin Cox has acquired considerable expertise in the areas of strategic market planning, product and channel management and integrated marketing communications. Prior to joining The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group, Martin was Vice-President, Marketing for ACCO Brands, a global manufacturer and distributor of branded office products where, he developed and implemented strategic marketing plans for several lines of business that resulted in significant revenue and market share growth within a multi-channel operating model. Prior to ACCO Brands, Martin spent eight years in progressive marketing roles with GBC, a global manufacturer and provider of document finishing, laminating and presentation solutions. Martin successfully expanded GBC’s product catalogue in commercial, consumer and online channels through new product introductions, product extensions and the addition of complimentary, third-party products. As Senior Vice-President, Marketing & Communications, Martin is responsible for providing marketing leadership, vision and strategic direction to the Education, Full Solutions™, Retail and Commercial lines. Martin has a Masters Certificate in Marketing Communications Management from the Schulich School at York University, supported by a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language from the University of Western Ontario and is an avid fitness enthusiast who focuses primarily on marathon distance running.

Sandy Gardner – Vice-President, Sales & Customer Service

Sandy Gardner has close to 20 years of progressive Sales Management experience within the Entertainment Industry, bringing with her an extensive background in product, business and channel development, domestic and international key account management, and digital and physical distribution across multiple channels, from mass merchants to specialty retailers. Sandy began her entertainment career as a Marketing Manager at Warner Music Canada where she created and launched event-based promotions for in-store appearances, concert tours and product releases for artists such as Madonna, Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top and more. From developing marketing programs and tools for sales representatives, Sandy moved into a sales role, officially launching her sales career. From Warner Music, she took on the challenge of marketing the Classical Kids® brand at The Children’s Group, and was a driving force behind the platinum-selling Mozart Effect series, promoting the positive effects of music on spatio-temporal reasoning and brain development of young children and the transformational powers of music in health, education, and well-being. Moving to Madacy Entertainment Group, Sandy was responsible for the launch and development of the Madacy Kids division, where she worked with international brands including Care Bears® and Crayola® to create an extensive music catalogue. Most recently, Sandy held the position of Vice-President of Sales for Twin Sisters Productions, an award-winning producer of children’s entertainment.

Kerrie Lee Brown – Vice-President, Communications

Kerrie Lee Brown has worked in the health and fitness industry as a writer, editor, magazine consultant and motivational speaker since 1998. She has played an instrumental role in many successful magazine launches and re-designs during her career; and has penned numerous articles on exercise, nutrition, health and wellness, celebrity training and athletic conditioning. Prior to joining The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group in August 2007, Kerrie Lee held the position of Vice-President, Publishing and Communications for FAME Media Group and the World Natural Sports Organization where she was responsible for the strategic re-vamp of their digest-size publication to full-size format for international distribution, as well as the Company’s corporate communications function within the fitness arena. Prior to WNSO, Kerrie Lee was the Editor-in-Chief of the world-renowned women’s fitness magazine Oxygen, and responsible for the strategic direction of all facets of the monthly from editorial to creative, marketing and communications. Kerrie Lee is also the Founding Editor and former Editor-in-Chief of the men’s magazine American Health & Fitness in which she planned and launched from inception. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies and Political Science Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Bachelor of Applied Arts, Graduate Journalism Degree from Ryerson Polytechnic University. Today, Kerrie Lee continues to promote the benefits of mind-body exercise through her passion for fitness, and wrote her first book entitled A Woman’s Guide to Rapid Weight Loss (©2006) receiving accolades in the U.S. in the weight-loss category.

Christine Newey – Vice-President, Finance

Christine Newey joined The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group in 2010, bringing with her almost 20 years of professional experience in various finance roles, most recently as Vice-President of Finance with Canadian Springs, the largest home and office bottled water company in Canada with over 100,000 customers, eight plants and more than 30 distribution centers. During her 14-year career at Canadian Springs, where she held roles as Corporate Controller and Director of Planning and Analysis before being promoted to Vice-President of Finance, Christine worked on numerous large corporate acquisitions resulting in the Company growing sales by over 300% during her tenure. She played an integral role in the sale of the company in 2006, led the finance team on the implementation of a new ERP system in 2008 and developed a comprehensive reporting package and forecasting model. Prior to working at Canadian Springs, Christine worked in the field of forensic accounting and also worked in a public accounting practice handling various client audits and tax return preparation. Christine holds a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a specialty in Commerce, from the University of Toronto and is also a Chartered Accountant.

Viral Bhatt – Director of Manufacturing

Prior to joining The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group in 1996, Viral Bhatt was Director of Production for BASQ International, a Montreal-based company specializing in packaging design and manufacturing for major packaged goods companies. Before emigrating from India to Canada, he was a practicing mechanical engineer with GSFC, one of the country’s largest fertilizer and chemical companies. Viral assisted in the research, design, development and production of the STOTT PILATES® equipment line. Engineered in collaboration with Lindsay Merrithew, he has developed innovative products including the Rehab Reformer, Rack & Roll® Reformer, Split-Pedal Stability Chair and SPX™ Reformer. Through his efficient management and attention to the bottom line, production has increased exponentially. Viral oversees a staff of 45 employees across metal fabrication, upholstery, carpentry, assembly and shipping/receiving departments. He has also been instrumental in the development of an MRP (Material Resource Planning) system. Viral holds a Mechanical Engineering Degree from India’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University.

Carol Tricoche – Vice-President, Full Solutions™

Carol Tricoche joined The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group in July 2006 as Sales Manager, Full Solutions, and was promoted to Global Sales Director a year later. As Vice-President, Full Solutions, the business development division of the Company, Carol plays an instrumental role identifying new sales perspectives, sales strategies and driving business growth by working with customer facilities, as well as STOTT PILATES business partners; Distributors and Licensed Training Centers. During her tenure, this division has contributed to the growth of the STOTT PILATES method of exercise with the addition of 15 new countries holding courses and workshops annually. Carol has developed turnkey sales approaches of STOTT PILATES products and services that have changed the way equipment is bundled. With over 17 years of experience in the fitness industry, she has been influential to the success of STOTT PILATES® programs worldwide. Prior to joining the Company, Carol spent five years as the Group Exercise/Pilates Director at the Claremont Club in California where she pioneered a successful Pilates program which continues to thrive today. During her time there, she gained invaluable experience and expertise in implementing Pilates programs from the ground up. Carol was the Owner/Operator of Make It Happen Health and Fitness Personal Training Studio in Covina, California; and VP Commercial Sales for Holiday Travel. Carol is a STOTT PILATES Certified Instructor and is a sought-after presenter at top fitness events around the globe.

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Rob Hanson – Director of Information Technology

A leader in IT, Rob Hanson knows how to exploit current technology and introduce latest tools that enhance any organization’s productivity and profitability. He has an exceptional ability to fully understand the workings of a company, to appreciate what the business areas need to succeed, and to introduce the solutions required to drive that success. The career path Rob has followed began with fast-tracking at Xerox where he was promoted to major IT roles that included worldwide travel. He took that experience to school – literally – when he became a professor at Niagara College where he taught a variety of information technology courses. Later, enticed by the challenges he saw in an upstart company, Rob left teaching to join Sportexe. For seven years, he played a pivotal role in the technical evolution that supported the exponential growth experienced by that company. For Sportexe, Rob established the technical infrastructure. As IT Director over a team of specialists, he launched the platforms and interfaced the tools that ensured employees could keep up with the rapid changes in their organization. Although the company had no marketing division, Rob led his team through the design and simultaneous launching of a corporate website, and e-commerce portal. When they purchased AstroTurf in 2004, Rob was essential in establishing the US headquarters, transitioning AstroTurf programs and software to Sportexe, assisting users in locations throughout North America, and ensuring interfaces for a seamless flow of information. Rob holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, and in his free time is also an amateur photographer who is frequently sought for capturing special events.

Sarah Chater – Director of Education Services

Sarah Chater comes to The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group with a background in Direct Marketing and Education. After working in these fields for 9 years, she joins us from EF Education, the world’s largest private education institution, where she held the position of National Manager for the High School Year in Canada division. In this role, she has had the opportunity to manage a network of 80 EF representatives across English and French-Canadian markets, and has had working relations with 20 countries, interacting in three languages. Her main responsibilities as a senior bilingual manager with this respected international organization included leading and supervising dozens of representatives and staff nationwide while ensuring that all annual sales, training and retention targets were reached. Sarah’s educational achievements include a B.A. Honors in Languages and Linguistics, with a minor in Psychology from Queen’s University.

Stefania Della Pia – Program Director, Education
& Master Instructor Trainer

A member of the The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group team since 1998 and Master Instructor Trainer since 2009, Stefania Della Pia has played a leading role in the company’s growth and success. Stefania first joined The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group as an instructor at the Corporate Training Center in Toronto. She soon became a certified Instructor Trainer and has represented the company in more than 14 countries as a presenter, trainer and examiner. As Program Director, Education, Stefania continues her invaluable contributions to the Education Department and is instrumental in organizing the development and procedures within the department. Stefania oversees the growth of the Instructor Trainer program and global implementation of training and certification programs. Throughout her impressive career Stefania’s articles have been published and referenced in various health and fitness publications and has been involved in the production of numerous STOTT PILATES DVDs and the development of instructional manuals. She is also a Can-Fit Pro certified Personal Trainer Specialist and an ACE certified Personal Trainer.

Laureen Dubeau – Communications Director, Education
& Master Instructor Trainer

Laureen Dubeau joined The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group in 1998 with an impressive seven years of public relations experience within the fitness industry. While working for Tennis Canada she was in charge of promoting amateur and professional tennis events across Canada and internationally for Canadian teams. While in this position, Laureen assisted with many successful events and was responsible for the media relations aspect. One of Laureen’s key accomplishments throughout her time at Tennis Canada is her involvement in the writing and editing of a player and event yearbook that was published annually. Laureen first joined The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group as an instructor and soon became an Instructor Trainer. In 2009 she was honoured with the title of STOTT PILATES Master Instructor Trainer. Her spirited approach to teaching makes her a vibrant international presenter, trainer and examiner. As Assistant Program Director for The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group, she became an integral member of a dynamic team responsible for the global development and implementation of training and certification programs. Recently appointed the position of Communications Director, Education, Laureen continues to play a leading role in the growth of the Education department. She is the Associate Editor of all STOTT PILATES education manuals and has been a featured performer in several STOTT PILATES instructional DVDs. Throughout her career Laureen has been the author of articles in several industry publications. She is a graduate of York University’s Dance program, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Beth Gibbs-Bartel – Director of Sales & Marketing, Retail

Beth Gibbs-Bartel plays a leadership role in building the company’s video and retail products business. She has also played a significant role in bringing numerous new DVD titles and retail products under the STOTT PILATES® brand to domestic and international markets. Beth was a Senior Vice-President with KOCH Entertainment Inc. prior to joining Merrithew Corporation in 2004. She was responsible for overseeing sales and marketing for KOCH Vision, the video division of the company. During her eight years with the company, her responsibilities included: growing the existing business channels and developing new business with non-traditional video retailers, overseeing the acquisition of new video lines, including the Gaiam line of mind-body videos and retail products, and marketing and promoting 14 video studios. Prior to KOCH, Beth worked in international marketing for EMI Music Canada focusing on the development of EMI’s domestic artist roster. Beth is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French. She also has a Certificate in International Conversational French.

Judith Saul – Director of Creative Services

Trained in graphic design, Judith established herself while working in visual roles for various industries. As one of the first fully Macintosh computer-literate artists in Toronto, she first became a typesetter, and then, associate art director at a magazine publishing house before working for several prestigious advertising agencies and graphic design firms. Prior to joining The Merrithew Health & Fitness Group, Judith was the lead designer for Signature Vacations' four art departments across Canada. Some of her earlier accomplishments included owning an art supply store in Montreal, working as a prop stylist for TV commercials, and as an award-winning display florist. Judith first discovered STOTT PILATES in 1990 as a client with an injury and soon started trading freelance design work for sessions before becoming a full-time member of the team in 1997. Initially the company's sole designer, she grew the art department to its five artists and two coordinators today. During her time with us, Judith has overseen the design and print production of some of the most professional and beautiful promotional material in the wellness industry. As Director of Creative Services, she continues her invaluable contributions to the company with her aesthetic ability, attention to detail, and overall corporate vision. In her free time, Judith enjoys cycling, travel to remote locations and nature photography. She continues to practice Pilates in her own home studio.

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