Jeanie Arnold

Background

About Jeanie Arnold

I lead international real estate strategy for one of the world's fastest-growing fitness brands, overseeing the development and management of both franchised and corporate-owned locations across multiple countries.With nearly a decade at Planet Fitness and over 20 years in retail real estate, I've built my career on understanding what makes a location succeed—from demographic analysis and market entry strategy to lease negotiations and cross-functional execution. My expertise spans the full lifecycle of international real estate development, with a particular focus on franchise business models where success depends on aligning brand standards with local market realities.What I Do:As Sr. Director of International Real Estate, I develop and execute comprehensive market development plans that support Planet Fitness's global growth objectives. This includes leading site selection for new markets, managing portfolio performance across franchised and corporate locations, overseeing complex international lease agreements, and collaborating with operations, finance, legal, construction, and marketing teams to ensure seamless execution.My Approach:I believe successful international expansion requires equal parts strategic thinking and practical problem-solving. Whether I'm evaluating a new market opportunity, negotiating with landlords across different legal systems, or mentoring franchisees through their first site selection, I focus on making data-driven decisions while building strong relationships that create long-term value.Background:My foundation in real estate began as an independent broker, which gave me invaluable frontline experience in deal-making and client relationships. I expanded into franchise development with Quiznos before spending nearly four years with McDonald's Corporation, where I honed my skills in high-volume retail real estate management. Since joining Planet Fitness in 2016, I've progressed from Director of Real Estate to my current role leading all international real estate operations.I travel extensively (up to 75% internationally) to support market development, conduct site evaluations, and build relationships with franchisees and local partners. When I'm not on the road, I'm based in the Seattle area.