Hans has a Masters in International Development from University of South Carolina. He studied the European market in 1984-1985 for IHRSA, and joined the world trade association for health clubs in 1994 as their first Director of International Development.
He has been a speaker at events in 18 countries, and rejoined IHRSA as Director of Europe in January 2008. Since then Muench has been to 26 European countries collaborating with members and suppliers, supporting partners and attending approx. 100 events as the "eyes, ears and face" of IHRSA in Europe.
Muench´s first contact with the fitness industry was in 1970 when he trained with Olympic athletes at the Fitness Institute in Toronto as a ranked junior tennis player. His contact with IHRSA began in 1982 first as a member, then was commissioned to research the European Fitness market 1984-85 before being nominated as IHRSA´s European Liaison from 1985-1993.
Living in Europe for most of his adult life (first visiting in 1978), he ran tennis programs in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, and launched a tennis-fitness-mental training camp in Italy 1986-87. He also worked in several facilities in Hong Kong, and was Project Manager in one of Germany´s largest racquet facilities (Oase, Bochum), where he designed and implemented the fitness facility.
As Chief Development officer for a chain of clubs then known as Fit Plus / Elixia, Hans gained insight into club acquisitions and private equity. Hans has also worked 12 years on the distribution side of the fitness and leisure business, including equipment manufacturers Nautilus and Life Fitness, the leading education provider in the fitness industry in Germany, BSA as well as a software company, Global Well Systems.
Early 2014 Hans moved to Winterthur, Switzerland and has continued his work for IHRSA from there as a independent contractor, while serving select clients in various capacities (presentations, strategic planning, distribution assistance, market research, club tours in various cities i.e. for Rick Caro’s Faust Round Table, etc.).
Starting in March 2016 Hans has begun pursuing new opportunities, including a part-time teaching position at the German University of Fitness, Health and Prevention in their MBA program, public speaking at various industry events (May Germany and Spain) and selectively working with suppliers and club operators focused on growth.