Carolynne Bull-Edwards, a former features editor at Shares Magazine, is due to take up a newly created head of communications post this week.
Bull-Edwards, who had worked for Shares Magazine for three years, left last week.
LA Fitness would not disclose the title or remit of Bull-Edwards' role, but it is understood to involve corporate communications, media relations and internal communications responsibilities.
It is also understood that Bull-Edwards will have responsibilities for LA Fitness's PR agency contracts.
The company currently uses two PR agencies: Bell Pottinger Financial on a City and corporate PR remit, and Promote PR for trade and national media relations work.
Bell Pottinger has worked with LA Fitness for around three years and Berkshire-based Promote PR has worked for the chain since June this year.