Steve Hewitt

Steve Hewitt is a business leader who specialises in scaling purpose-driven brands with clarity, resilience, and sustainable momentum. As former CEO of Gymshark, he transformed the company from a seven-person start-up with £5 million in sales into a global fitness brand valued at $1.5 billion, employing over 1,000 people across five international offices. Now founder of We Are Whanau and Non-Executive Chair at Passenger, Steve supports founders and leadership teams navigating critical growth stages whilst aligning commercial performance with culture and values. His keynote sessions equip leaders with practical strategies for building resilient teams, making confident decisions under uncertainty, and connecting growth to a clear sense of purpose.

When Steve Hewitt stepped into Gymshark as CEO in 2015, the fitness brand employed just seven people and generated £5 million in annual sales. Within six years, he had transformed it into a unicorn valued at $1.5 billion, with more than 1,000 employees across five international offices and over £500 million in annual revenue. His leadership turned a small British start-up into one of the most recognised global fitness brands of its generation, combining commercial success with a distinctive culture that resonated with millions worldwide. Gymshark's journey under Steve's stewardship demonstrated how purpose-driven growth could deliver both exceptional business performance and lasting brand loyalty.

Steve's career reflects deep operational expertise in scaling high-potential businesses through critical growth stages. He joined Gymshark as an external advisor in 2014 before taking the helm, guiding the company through rapid international expansion whilst maintaining alignment between values, culture, and commercial ambition. In 2022, he founded We Are Whanau, a consultancy supporting founders, entrepreneurs, and leadership teams navigating the complexities of sustainable growth. His work spans sectors and geographies, helping businesses scale without losing sight of their core purpose. As Non-Executive Chair at Passenger, a sustainable outdoor lifestyle brand, and through his involvement with ventures including jewellery brand D. Louise, Steve continues to apply his experience in building momentum, preparing organisations for long-term success, and ensuring internal culture drives performance. He also serves as Patron of Birmingham Children's Hospital and supports charities including St Basil's, reflecting his commitment to creating impact beyond the boardroom.

Steve's keynote sessions offer leaders practical strategies rooted in real-world experience rather than theory. He addresses the realities of scaling under uncertainty, building resilient teams capable of navigating change, and making confident decisions when the path forward feels unclear. His honest, engaging style helps audiences connect with their own sense of purpose, what he describes as their 'North Star', and understand how clarity of vision translates into sustainable commercial outcomes. Leaders leave his sessions equipped to align growth with values, create cultures that deliver both ethically and commercially, and lead with the humility and conviction that define long-term success. Through his speaking, advisory work, and hands-on partnerships with growing businesses, Steve supports organisations at the moments that matter most, offering insight drawn from a career defined by transforming potential into performance.