When people talk about the rise of modern fitness apparel, Gymshark almost always comes up.
As someone who’s worked in the activewear manufacturing space for years, I’ve followed Gymshark’s growth closely — and I often get asked: Who actually owns it now?
Let’s break it down clearly and simply.
The main owner of Gymshark is Ben Francis, who founded the company in 2012.
As of today, he holds over 70% ownership of Gymshark, making him the majority shareholder and CEO.
Francis built Gymshark from a UK garage brand into a billion-dollar fitness empire, with headquarters in Solihull, England.
Gymshark was founded by Ben Francis and his school friend Lewis Morgan when they were just teenagers.
At the time, they:
This direct-to-community approach made Gymshark one of the earliest digitally native fitness brands, long before influencer marketing became mainstream.
Ben Francis remains the majority owner and CEO, but he no longer owns 100%.
In 2020, Gymshark sold a 21% minority stake to General Atlantic, a US-based private equity firm, to fuel its global expansion.
| Stakeholder | Role | Ownership % (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Francis | Founder & CEO | ~70% | Main owner and visionary leader |
| General Atlantic | Investor | ~21% | Strategic partner for growth |
| Early employees & partners | Private shareholders | ~9% | Retained small equity positions |
This structure keeps Gymshark founder-led while giving it access to the resources needed for scaling in North America.
Unlike many startups, Gymshark avoided venture capital until it was already profitable — a rare move that allowed Francis to keep control and protect brand direction.
As of 2024, Francis still owns around 70%–75% of the company.
His large shareholding keeps him in full command of Gymshark’s:
That ownership concentration is one of Gymshark’s biggest strengths — it keeps the company authentic and founder-driven, even as it scales.
Under Francis, Gymshark has grown from a small UK startup to a global fitness lifestyle brand.
Here’s how it compares today:
| Metric | 2012 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Employees | 2 | 900+ |
| Markets | UK only | 180+ countries |
| Flagship Stores | 0 | London Regent Street (Opened 2022) |
| Annual Revenue | <£1M | >£600M |
Gymshark now competes directly with Nike, Lululemon, and Alphalete, yet maintains its community-first tone and direct-to-consumer model.
Ben Francis’s journey offers valuable lessons for anyone building an apparel brand:
At FuKi Yoga, we help founders follow similar steps — from design concept to production — so you can scale like Gymshark without losing creative control.
Q1: Who owns most of Gymshark?
Ben Francis owns most of Gymshark — around 70%.
Q2: Who invested in Gymshark?
US private equity firm General Atlantic holds a minority stake of about 21%.
Q3: Is Gymshark still a private company?
Yes. Gymshark remains privately owned and has not gone public.
Q4: Did Lewis Morgan sell his shares?
Yes. Lewis Morgan exited Gymshark in 2016 and no longer holds equity.
Q5: Where is Gymshark headquartered?
In Solihull, West Midlands, UK, where it began.
At FuKi Yoga, we understand how founders like Ben Francis build brands through passion and precision.
We help startup and mid-sized yoga or fitness apparel labels with:
Like Gymshark, your brand can scale globally with the right foundation — and FuKi Yoga is here to build it with you.