Ben Francis
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Birmingham, GB
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
Biography
Ben Francis MBE is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of leading fitness brand, Gymshark. In 2020 Gymshark secured a deal with General Atlantic that valued the company at over £1bn, making it one of the few British businesses to achieve 'unicorn' status since 2001.
Ben started Gymshark when he was just 19 years old, while he was still a student at Aston University. He famously juggled his studies with working as a pizza delivery boy in order to fund his Gymshark venture.
Since then, Gymshark has grown from a small operation in Ben’s garage to become one of the world's most recognised fitness brands. The company attributes its success to its strong online presence, continuous innovation, and commitment to producing high-quality performance wear.
Ben was CEO of Gymshark until 2015, utilising his expertise in business, social media marketing, sales, fashion, and market research. He also understood the value of collaborating with social media influencers in order to increase visibility. After stepping aside as CEO, he continued to use these skills in executive roles at Gymshark until August 2021 when he once again took on the position of CEO.
He studied Business and Management at Aston University but decided to stall his studies in order to dedicate more time to Gymshark. Prior to founding Gymshark, Ben also developed iOS apps, two of which made it into Apple's fitness charts.
Ben's achievements as an entrepreneur have attracted widespread industry recognition. In 2018, he was included in Forbes' '30 Under 30' list in Retail & E-commerce, the same year Gymshark's revenue reached $120 million. He was subsequently named EY UK Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020 and received an honorary degree from Aston University in 2022 for his contribution to business. Since 2023, Drapers has included him among the 100 most influential figures in fashion retail.
In January 2023 Ben Francis was appointed an MBE for services to commerce and the economy.
The Record
Background
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2021 — Present
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Gymshark
Founded by Ben Francis in 2012, Gymshark has grown into a leading sportswear brand and in 2020 acheived 'unicorn' status after being valued at over £1 billion. The business credits its success to a strong online presence, continuous innovation and high-quality performance wear.
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2020 — 2021
Chief Product Officer
Gymshark
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2013 — 2018
Co-Founder & Director
Manière De Voir
Manière De Voir is a premium clothing and accessories fashion brand based in the United Kingdom. The unisex clothing range is designed in-house with a focus on garment construction, innovative and sustainable fabrics, customised prints and unique finishings.
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2019 — 2020
Chief Marketing Officer
Gymshark
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2015 — 2018
Chief Brand Officer
Gymshark
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2012 — 2015
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Gymshark
In The News
Newsfeed
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13 April 2026 · Drapers
Gymshark flexes with first-ever gym
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12 March 2026 · TheIndustry.Fashion
Gymshark reports record year of sales growth for FY25
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18 February 2026 · The Retail Bulletin
Gymshark makes its German retail debut with two new in-store partnerships
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11 November 2025 · Drapers
First look: Gymshark unveils New York flagship
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23 October 2025 · Forbes
Gymshark And Dick’s Look To Each Other’s Virtues In Store Partnership
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27 June 2025 · The Times
Ben Francis: These companies make me proud to be a UK entrepreneur
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23 June 2025 · Retail Gazette
Gymshark to open Manchester Trafford Centre store next month
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26 May 2025 · Fashion United
Gymshark opens first European store in Amsterdam
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18 February 2025 · Forbes
Gymshark New York Store Set To Open On Bond Street This Year
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7 February 2025 · Entrepreneur
Gymshark Founder and CEO Ben Francis on His Goal to Build a Brand "That Lasts 100 Years"
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3 December 2024 · Forbes
Gymshark Lets Pop-Up Do The Heavy Lifting For Upcoming New York Store
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2 September 2024 · Forbes
Gymshark To Open In World’s Largest Mall, Which Is Getting Even Bigger
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16 July 2024 · Forbes
First Look: Gymshark Store Debuts At Westfield As It Targets New York
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15 July 2024 · Fashion Network
Gymshark's second store opens in Westfield with international rollout coming, US key
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28 June 2024 · The Times
Ben Francis: Britain is an amazing place to start a business
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1 March 2024 · TheIndustry.Fashion
Gymshark creates new Chief Digital Officer position
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22 February 2024 · TheIndustry.Fashion
Gymshark's Ben Francis: 2024 is going to be our "biggest ever year"
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10 May 2023 · The Daily Mail
Gymshark founder, Ben Francis, receives his MBE at Windsor Castle
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28 April 2023 · LBC
Pizza boy to billionaire Gymshark boss Ben Francis says the UK is an 'amazing' place to do business
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5 April 2023 · Forbes
From Bodybuilder To Billionaire: How Gymshark Founder Ben Francis Built A Sportswear Unicorn
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24 March 2023
‘Changemakers’ pledge to transform lives of sick children
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13 March 2023 · Gentleman's Journal
“We made more money in half an hour than we had done in the entire history of the business…â€
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15 February 2023 · The Retail Bulletin
David Laid becomes Gymshark’s first ever Creative Director
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27 January 2023 · The Sunday Times
The UK’s 100 biggest taxpayers revealed
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30 December 2022 · The Guardian
Gymshark founder who launched £1.25bn empire in parents’ garage awarded MBE
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28 October 2022 · TheIndustry.Fashion
Gymshark founder Ben Francis on his ambitious vision for retail
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26 October 2022 · Forbes
Gymshark Hits The Floor With London Flagship Debut
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27 September 2022 · City AM
Gymshark names former Asos chief Mat Dunn as new CFO
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7 September 2022 · City AM
Gymshark to open doors of first physical store on London’s Regent St next month
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15 August 2022 · The Times
US is a good fit for Gymshark
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1 July 2022 · The Times
Ben Francis on the success of Gymshark: ‘It was like we had won the lottery’
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20 May 2022 · The Sunday Times
Ben Francis net worth — Sunday Times Rich List 2022
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25 February 2022 · The Times
Gymshark boss isn’t about to reduce the pace after being a Covid winner
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12 January 2022 · Vogue
Gymshark CEO on building an athleisure unicorn
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2 December 2021 · The Times
Gymshark plans to open first ‘in real life’ store on Regent Street
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9 November 2021 · TheIndustry.Fashion
Serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk joins Gymshark
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8 November 2021 · GQ
GQ Heroes: Ben Francis
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13 September 2021 · CNBC
We don’t worry about larger brands
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24 August 2021 · CNBC
The founder of a $1 billion fitnesswear brand once felt too young to be CEO ...
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3 August 2021 · Campaign
Let's reclaim disruption as a positive force: eight lessons from CEOs and founders
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1 July 2021 · The Times
Gymshark founder Ben Francis reclaims top job to oversee US expansion
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Formative Years
Education
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Aston University
Business and Management
Areas Of Focus