Franchise industry veteran to lead purpose-driven brand through next phase of national growth
Big Blue Swim School, one of the country's fastest-growing franchises in the $3 billion learn-to-swim industry, announces the appointment of Brandon Bean as Chief Executive Officer. Bean brings over two decades of executive leadership in franchise and multi-unit operations, most recently serving as co-founder and CEO of Lumin Fitness, a tech-enabled boutique fitness concept.
Before launching Lumin in 2019, Bean served as Chairman and CEO of Gold’s Gym, where he led the iconic global fitness brand through modernization and global expansion. He later served as president and CFO of United Veterinary Care, a multi-unit veterinary services platform that scaled nationally and completed a successful private-equity backed exit. He provides Big Blue with a proven track record of guiding organizations through strategic growth and brand innovation.
Chris DeJong, founder and president of Big Blue Swim School, will continue to lead Big Blue's brand and curriculum strategy, working closely alongside Bean to drive national expansion and elevate franchise support.
"Brandon brings deep expertise in scaling high-growth franchise systems and empowering operators – making him the ideal leader to guide Big Blue through its next chapter,” explains DeJong. "His values and desire to work with brands that create a lasting impact aligns with our mission to provide a life-saving skill to children across the. U.S., and we are excited to grow together."
As CEO, Bean will immediately focus on immersing into Big Blue's culture and operations and developing strong relationships with its franchisees and partners. He plans to identify opportunities to expand the brand's footprint and guide innovation efforts, such as advancing Big Blue's proprietary LessonBuddy™ scheduling platform, while keeping the customer front and center.
"I'm honored to join the Big Blue family and am committed to building on the strong foundation already in place,” says Bean, "Together we have the opportunity to positively impact countless children’s lives, and I look forward to collaborating with the team to strengthen Big Blue’s reputation as the most trusted name in swim education – for families and franchisees alike.”
Bean's career has centered around purpose-led franchise brands, expertise he will leverage to support Big Blue's ambitious development goals. His leadership style emphasizes scalable systems, transparent communication and team alignment, all of which will play a critical role as Big Blue targets new markets for development in 2025 and beyond.
Big Blue, which currently has 45 open locations and 250 total units sold, is actively looking for qualified franchisees.
To learn more about franchising with Big Blue Swim School, visit https://bigblueswimschool.com/franchising.
ABOUT BIG BLUE SWIM SCHOOL
Big Blue Swim School is one of the nation's fastest-growing swim school franchises, offering best-in-class swim lessons for kids ages three months to 12 years. The franchise was founded in 2009 by competitive swimmer Chris DeJong, and with support from Level 5 Capital Partners, now has 45 pools open across 14 states. Big Blue continues to grow through franchising and has 250 units sold. Big Blue Swim School's real estate expertise, strong brand, proprietary technology, and leadership support, coupled with its unparalleled consumer offerings, position its franchise owners for long-term success. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Big Blue Swim School, visit http://YourBigMomentStartsHere.com.
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