Searching for the World's Fittest CEO

BOULDER, CO (March 8, 2012) - The CEO Endurance World Championship is a made-for-TV event covering six grueling stages of competition from September 13 - 16, 2012 featuring 25 top CEOs that combine success in business with a healthy and fit lifestyle.Each of the six stages is designed to test the CEOs - mixing strategy with endurance - and at the same time be very entertaining to watch. The goal of the competition is to identify the World’s Fittest CEO®.

The CEOs that have been chosen to take part in the event were hand-picked for their athletic ability and, more importantly, for the charity for which they will be racing. The overall winner will earn the coveted title of Fittest CEO® plus the opportunity to donate $50,000 to the charity of their choice.

The entire competition will be filmed and packaged into a TV show (“The Fittest CEO®”) that will illustrate the breath-taking beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains, profile a number of charities that the CEOs will be racing for and applaud CEOs who combine fitness with success.

"As CEOs, we thrive on competition, yet it is often from the back of a desk," stated Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Carl Guardino. "CEO Challenges and the 'CEO Endurance World Championship' provide us with an opportunity to fuel that competitive fire outside of our normal comfort zone. The fact that we can 'do good while competing well' by selecting a charity of our choice only makes it more worthwhile. I will be racing for 'Best Buddies,' an international effort to serve young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to realize their full potential, in honor of our own son Emmanuel - diagnosed with multiple and severe disabilities - who would have been three years old this year."

Fred Uytengsu, CEO of Philippines based Alaska Milk Corporation, talks about the importance of giving back while enjoying his life’s passion. "I am taking part in the CEO Endurance World Championships as yet another opportunity to challenge myself physically and mentally. CEO Challenge's motto "when business competition is not enough" rings a bell - all of us participating do look forward to challenges outside the boardroom. The fact that this event combines a philanthropic component makes it even more appealing to me as it presents an opportunity to give back while doing something I really enjoy. I have nominated The Children's Hour Philippines, an organization focused on providing marginalized Filipino children with a better life; giving them better access to quality education, quality health and nutrition and a quality way of life."

Martin E Franklin, CEO of Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH) commented, “I am proud to be taking part in the CEO Endurance World Championship and pleased to compete for Jarden, a company that represents a number of outdoor and endurance sports related brands (Zoot, Marmot, and Coleman for example) while racing for the Wounded Warriors Project. I love the idea of CEO's bringing examples of wellness and healthy living to their employee base. I'm proud to join these great athletes and looking forward to having some fun!”

“CEOs are naturally driven people, so it will be great to take a short break from competing in the market, and take the competition to the mountains,” said uTest CEO, Doron Reuveni. “I’m honored to be racing in support of Dana Farber and the wonderful work they do in the fight to treat and cure cancer.”

Brandon Witte of Sight Line Systems points to the fact that his participation in the event may inspire his employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle, “I'm excited to be participating in the CEO Endurance World Championship - for me, an active lifestyle helps me remain focused and ready to face business challenges. The unique format of this event provides a competitive environment and an opportunity to have fun and socialize with other executives while providing an opportunity to raise $50,000 for a charity. I hope my employees will look at what I am able to accomplish with my busy schedule and light a spark within them to take up a healthier lifestyle.”

Darin Anderson of Salas O’Brien stated, “I am so excited to be participating in this event! There will be intense competition on the field with these guys fighting for the title of Fittest CEO AND exposure and big rewards for the charity of their choice. I was fortunate to have many opportunities in life because I was adopted by wonderful parents, unlike the foster kids of Orangewood Children’s Foundation who come from abusive parents, if any parents. I want to win for them!

He goes on to say, “The CEOs taking part are very serious and elite athletes that are always pushing higher, better and faster…whether in the boardroom, cycling, running or in the water…everything they do, they do to win! I expect there will be a lot of camaraderie and fun with this 3 day format. It will be thrilling and fun! Can’t wait…”

Finally, Brent de Jong of Zaff talks about using the event for goal setting. “Every year I set corporate goals and objectives. CEO Challenges gives an opportunity to also set a personal fitness goal and the motivation to carry it out. Their events provide a personable environment with a good size group of driven people facing similar time pressures and other demands on life - leveling the playing field. CEO Challenges has consistently put on well planned and executed events.”

The event will be filmed and edited by Ironworks Productions; a television production company that has produced over 100 sports based television shows throughout North America since 1999. Greg McFadden, President of Ironworks, said, “CEO’s crawling through the mud, fighting through seven events that will challenge them both physically and mentally over three grueling days – it is the ultimate hostile takeover with the top CEO’s charities being the true winners. Money and competition, the battle awaits!”

The Championship will be hosted at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, one of the world’s truly great resorts that was recently ranked #1 in North America. The resort is famous for its 9,200 acres of pristine wilderness, organic home grown food and award winning wine cellar.

More information on the CEO Endurance World Championship, including a link to profiles of each competitor, can be found at www.ceochallenges.com.