On Tuesday, March 2, 2026, U.S.-based fitness giant CrossFit LLC announced that its CEO Don Faul will end his four-year tenure leading the company, his last day is March 6.

After nearly 4 years leading the company. CrossFit is currently in the thick of its Open, which kicked off Feb. 26 and runs through March 16.

On March 3rd, the official CrossFit website released the news, as follows:

After nearly four years as the CEO of CrossFit LLC, Don Faul is stepping down from his role. His last day will be March 6, 2026.

“Serving as CrossFit’s CEO has been an honor,” said Faul. “I will miss working with passionate CrossFit employees, affiliates, athletes, and community members on a daily basis. I am leaving with immense gratitude and pride in this community.”

The CrossFit Board of Directors has commenced the process of identifying a new CEO and plans to engage an executive search firm.

Please join us in wishing Faul the best in his next chapter.

“Serving as CrossFit’s CEO has been an honor,” Faul said. “I will miss working with passionate CrossFit employees, affiliates, athletes and community members on a daily basis. I am leaving with immense gratitude and pride in this community.”

CrossFit went up for sale in March, and has spent the past year actively pursuing a new owner. Around one year ago, the brand published an open letter to its community confirming it was seeking the right partner and tapped investment bank Moelis & Company to advise on the sale process.

Rumors have swirled since then about who might take the reins. Last November, reports surfaced citing unidentified sources that a group including 24 Hour Fitness co-founder Mark Mastrov had entered talks to acquire CrossFit, though no deal has been publicly announced (after those reports surfaced, Mastrov reacquired 24 Hour Fitness).

The CrossFit board says it plans to engage an executive search firm for its next CEO.

Last summer, CrossFit launched a provocative marketing campaign — “F*ck the Quick Fix. CrossFit Is the Cure” — taking direct aim at quick-fix culture in a spot featuring athletes grinding through brutal conditions.

The leadership search comes as CrossFit faces a more crowded arena than it has in years.

Hyrox, the fitness racing format that has exploded into a global phenomenon, is gunning for Olympic status and recently launched a Science Advisory Council. Then there’s Xenom, a just-launched “decathlon of fitness” backed by DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg’s firm WndrCo, which debuted last week with a $15 million seed round.

About Don Faul

Don Faul has a highly unique background, perfectly blending the traits of a “hardcore military veteran” and a “Silicon Valley executive.” Here is a detailed overview of his profile:

1. Core Professional Background: From the Battlefield to Silicon Valley

• U.S. Marine Corps Officer: He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a platoon commander in the U.S. Marine Corps starting at age 21, including combat deployments. His 8-year military career forged his immense resilience and grassroots leadership skills.
• Tech Giant Executive: After leaving the military, he successfully crossed over into Silicon Valley with an impressive resume. He worked as an Online Sales and Operations Manager at Google, served as VP of Online Operations at Facebook (now Meta), and later became Head of Operations at Pinterest.
• Venturing into Fitness Tech: Before joining CrossFit, he was the CEO of Athos, a smart sports apparel company. This role helped him build business experience at the intersection of sports and technology.

2. Tenure at CrossFit (August 2022 – March 2026)

Don Faul took over as CrossFit CEO in August 2022, succeeding Eric Roza. When he stepped in, the company was still in a recovery phase following the controversial exit of founder Greg Glassman. During his nearly four-year tenure, he navigated the following key phases:

• Advocating “Servant Leadership”: He heavily emphasized transparency and servant leadership in his management style, dedicating himself to repairing trust between the corporate brand, global CrossFit Affiliates, and community members.
• Pushing for a Company Sale: For over a year, CrossFit has been actively seeking new buyers, even hiring investment banks to help find suitable partners. Faul’s resignation occurred right in the middle of this prolonged capital restructuring phase.

3. Controversies and Challenges

Although Faul initially stabilized the company’s morale, the end of his tenure was accompanied by a massive crisis:

• The CrossFit Games Tragedy: A heartbreaking incident occurred during the CrossFit Games under his watch, where an athlete tragically drowned. This tragedy caused a massive uproar. The leadership (including Faul and Director of Sport Dave Castro) faced severe public backlash and potential legal disputes due to safety lapses and poor crisis management.
• Community Pressure: Alongside rising legal costs, the affiliation and certification fees for CrossFit gyms continued to increase, causing widespread dissatisfaction among grassroots coaches and gym owners. The combination of these pressures ultimately contributed to his resignation during the “Open,” CrossFit’s busiest event season of the year.