Spartan Race Appoints New President

PITTSFIELD, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Joe Desena, co-founder of Spartan Race, today announced the appointment of Lee Goss as president of the company, which is recognized as the world’s leading obstacle race and Outside Magazine’s Best Obstacle Race in 2012.

“Lee exemplifies the Spartan character. He is thoughtful, extraordinarily driven, creative, passionate, inspirational and a strong leader”

“Our extraordinary growth demands the proven visionary leadership and exceptional management skills Lee brings to the table. He will provide the pragmatic, strategic direction needed to take Spartan Race to the next level as we broaden and deepen our impact in the U.S. and expand globally,” Desena said, adding that Goss has been on the ground floor of numerous successful start-up ventures, partnered with some of the country’s most celebrated entrepreneurs and led several effective corporate turn-around efforts.

“Lee exemplifies the Spartan character. He is thoughtful, extraordinarily driven, creative, passionate, inspirational and a strong leader,” Desena continued. “As an innovative, entrepreneurial executive with a 20+-year track record of managing and growing companies, Lee unquestionably is the right person to lead Spartan at this critical juncture.”

“At this point in my career, my focus is on establishing meaningful relationships in my work and doing meaningful work,” Goss commented. “These priorities align perfectly with Spartan’s mission to change lives by ripping people off their couches and getting them active and fit. What I love about this company are all of the inspiring human interest stories – everyday folks overcoming adversity and challenges to triumph. In this way, obstacle racing, and in particular Spartan Race, is very much a metaphor for life,” he noted.

“My role with Spartan Race is to prepare the company for broader impact and drive fiscal growth. I am committed to providing our team with the guidance and resources to attain these goals,” Goss concluded.

Goss is married with three children. The Memphis, Tenn. native earned an MBA from Duke University and graduated cum laude with a BA degree in computer science from the University of Richmond where he was an NCAA Division I scholarship varsity basketball player.

About Spartan Race

Spartan Race, voted Outside Magazine’s Best Obstacle Race in 2012, is the world’s leading obstacle racing series and the first of its kind to have global rankings. Spartan Race is a timed event series featuring races at three escalating distances in locations worldwide that culminate in a World Championship Finale with cash and prizes for the champions. While featuring competitive elite heats, Spartan Races are for athletes of all levels and abilities and are geared toward ripping people off their couches and into the outdoors.

Go to http://www.spartanrace.com/ for more information, a schedule of events or to register for a Spartan Race. For videos, please visit www.spartanrace.tv.