Joe Fortunato

After years of stability in the executive suite, GNC Holdings has sent longtime leader Joe Fortunato packing and installed an outsider — senior retail industry executive Michael Archbold, 53 — as CEO, effective immediately. Lead independent director Michael Hines has been elected nonexecutive chairman of the GNC board. Archbold comes to GNC from women's apparel retailer Talbots, but before that he held executive positions, including president and COO for GNC competitor Vitamin Shoppe. Tuesday's surprise announcement comes only weeks after GNC's longtime CFO Michael Nuzzo left the company to become chief administrative officer and executive vice president at 4Moms. 

GNC, the nation's largest specialty retailer of health, wellness and sports nutrition products, launched a new member price program nationwide in April. The rollout of the program followed a nearly two-year test-market campaign in select cities, including Kansas City, Pittsburgh, New York and Chicago. The test campaign yielded higher store traffic, increased revenues and strong margins in those cities, making the decision for GNC to expand the program nationwide an easy one.

GNC Holdings, the nation's largest specialty retailer of health and wellness products, announced a partnership with Academy Award-nominated actor/producer Mark Wahlberg to develop, market and sell MARKED, a new nutritional supplement line designed to meet the demanding lifestyles of active, results-driven fitness consumers who want to get the most out of their workout and improve overall health. "I'm excited to join forces with GNC, a brand I trust for quality and integrity, to develop the MARKED products," said Wahlberg. 

PITTSBURGH — Thomas Dowd has been named GNC EVP, chief merchandising officer and general manager, the company announced in an SEC filing Friday. Dowd has served as EVP store operations and development since April 2007. The move follows the announcement in June that Beth Kaplan would be stepping down from her role as GNC president and chief merchandising officer. Following that announcement, GNC CEO Joe Fortunato reassumed his role of president. GNC last month appointed Amy Lane to serve as a member of its board of directors in place of Kaplan. Lane, who serves as director for off-price home