GCC Unites with Virgin Pulse and ShapeUp

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) has united with Virgin Pulse and ShapeUp to become the largest global provider of employee engagement, health and performance solutions.

Australian-founded GCC was already a star performer in its own right, bringing an impressive global footprint and expertise, with offices around the world -- including the USA, Canada, the UK, Switzerland, Singapore and Australia.

Since its inception in 2004, GCC has fundamentally changed the lives of 2 million people in 185 countries, improving their health, wellbeing and workplace performance.

This year's GCC, starting in May, will be the biggest in history; over 370,000 employees from more than 1500 organisations across the globe are expected to participate, said CEO Tom Sermon.

"The coming together of these three industry-leading businesses ensures that we can deliver more comprehensive employee engagement, health and performance solutions to more people in more places than ever before," Mr Sermon said.

"We're proud of the life-changing impact that GCC has delivered to employees and businesses over the past 12 years. And we're thrilled to now be part of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group which marks a new chapter in our growth story and commitment to changing even more lives for good.

"Because of GCC's innovative and entrepreneurial culture, Virgin Pulse is a fantastic fit for us. Just like GCC, ShapeUp is another young, dynamic business so we're going to make a powerful combination."

Virgin Pulse is widely recognised for providing an engaging, technology-enabled user-experience that drives employee health and productivity and a positive workplace culture.  Meanwhile, GCC brings a wealth of experience on the global stage, with offices in locations around the world to service its global clientele in 15 languages. Together with ShapeUp, these organizations will be able to deliver best-in-class employee engagement solutions to customers globally.

Sir Richard Branson shares the excitement for GCC and ShapeUp joining the Virgin Pulse family.

"Virgin Pulse is a great example of an organisation that helps companies take care of their employees through innovative technology. I am delighted that Virgin Pulse, GCC and ShapeUp are now joining forces to create an even stronger platform and service. This will ensure our customers can promote health and wellbeing for their people around the world," Sir Richard Branson said.

Virgin Pulse CEO, Chris Boyce echoed this sentiment, saying, "We couldn't be more excited to welcome GCC and ShapeUp into the Virgin Pulse family. In addition to bringing together the experience, strengths and momentum of three proven industry leaders, combining our organisations allows us to present an exciting and compelling opportunity to our collective customers and the firepower to aggressively expand into new geographies and markets."

With more than 30 years of experience between them, Virgin Pulse, ShapeUp and GCC have collectively empowered more than 5 million employees across 6,500 organizations to change their lives, and counting. Together Virgin Pulse, GCC and ShapeUp will be able to take their unique and exciting approach to improving employee engagement, health and performance to an even bigger global audience, helping to change lives around the world.

Mr Sermon added, "What we do changes lives for the better. Employees become healthier, happier individuals and this is great news for businesses because more engaged employees mean a stronger corporate culture and a higher performing work force. All of this contributes to driving healthier bottom lines."

Photographs and interviews are available with the following spokespeople in the following regions:

USA/Canada: GCC Senior Vice President Michael Soule (New York, USA). Please contact Natalie Austin at natalie.austin@gettheworldmoving.com or +1 917 291 2746.

UK: GCC Regional Director for EMEA Jill King (Leeds, UK). Please contact Emily Sowden at emily.sowden@gettheworldmoving.com or +44 (0)845 873 9304 or Charlotte Church at charlotte.church@gettheworldmoving.com or +44 (0)3304 30 30 30.

Europe: GCC Global Sales Director Martin Zelger (Zurich, Switzerland). Please contact Vicky Kummer at vicky.kummer@gettheworldmoving.com or +41 79 932 10 58.

APAC: GCC CEO Tom Sermon and Founder and President Glenn Riseley (Melbourne, Australia). Please contact Heather Potter at heather.potter@gettheworldmoving.com or +61 (0) 431 856 598.

ABOUT GCC

GCC, founded in Melbourne Australia in 2004, brings a wealth of global expertise in delivering a culturally relevant program which measurably improves the health, engagement and performance of employees around the world. During GCC's evidence-based and scientifically proven 100 day global journey, participants from thousands of the world's most respected companies engage in friendly competition designed to improve employee engagement, health, productivity and corporate culture. With offices all over the world, GCC has helped 2 million people, across 185 countries, change their lives and improve performance. Find out more at www.gettheworldmoving.com.

ABOUT VIRGIN PULSE

Virgin Pulse, part of Sir Richard Branson's famed Virgin Group, replenishes employees with tools that help them build better habits. Through its award-winning platform, the company helps employees thrive at work and across all aspects of life. The Virgin Pulse platform is purpose built to deliver a personalized, consumer-grade user experience designed to promote health, productivity, and culture across organizations and employees. More than 250 industry leaders representing more than 2 million employees have selected Virgin Pulse's programs to help them support their people and drive business results. Learn more at www.virginpulse.com.

ABOUT SHAPEUP

ShapeUp, founded in 2006 and based in the USA, provides highly configurable, socially-focused employee health and wellbeing solutions in 25 languages to more than 800 customers and two million users worldwide, including many of the Fortune 500. ShapeUp's market-leading challenge platform and wellbeing solutions leverage the power of social engagement, behavioural economics, and evidence-based science to allow employers of all sizes to unite their employees in a collective effort to improve health and enhance corporate culture. Find out more at www.shapeup.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20160223/8521601172

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