By Brazil Stock Guide – Smartfit (SMFT3) announced a leadership transition that hands the chief executive role to Diogo Ferraz de Andrade Corona, the son of founder Edgard Gomes Corona, while the founder leaves day-to-day management to assume the chairmanship and remain on the board.
The board said the move, effective March 2, marks the first time Smartfit will be led operationally by a chief executive other than its founder, though control and strategic influence remain with Edgard Corona from the board. The company described the change as part of a structured succession plan aimed at strengthening governance and management depth.
Diogo Corona, son of the founder, is one of Smartfit’s most senior executives, with 15 years at the company. He most recently served as chief operating officer, overseeing operations, expansion and marketing across all brands, and played a central role in scaling the group’s low-cost gym model across Brazil and Latin America. His appointment signals continuity of execution rather than a strategic reset.
Smartfit also named José Luís Rizzardo Pereira as chief financial officer, replacing André Macedo Pezeta, with Rizzardo accumulating the CFO and investor relations roles. The company said the reshuffle is designed to preserve operational momentum while reinforcing corporate governance.
In January, Smartfit disclosed that Edgard Corona transferred 8 million shares to his daughters while retaining full lifetime voting rights, leaving the company’s control structure unchanged. Smartfit is Latin America’s leading fitness company and the world’s fourth-largest gym network by number of members, operating more than 2,000 gyms across 16 countries after a record expansion year in 2025.
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