Title changes occur as organization grows its ranks of ACE-Certified Professionals® and accelerates programmatic work to get people moving

San Diego CA— The American Council on Exercise (ACE), a nonprofit organization with global reach that works to improve physical activity levels, has announced the promotion of Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., FACSM to the role of president and chief science officer, and Shane Kinkennon title change to chief operating officer.
Bryant is recognized as a leader on exercise science and the role of physical activity-based behavior-change intervention in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Bryant’s title was previously chief science officer, a position he served for 16 years.
“ACE’s secret weapon is not such a secret anymore,” said ACE CEO Scott Goudeseune. “Cedric’s leadership has been essential to ACE’s growth in the number of well-qualified exercise professionals and health coaches that we certify. Because of his guidance, ACE has become a trusted resource on exercise and behavior-change science, as well as a sought-after voice on the role of physical activity-based behavior-change intervention in the prevention and treatment of chronic lifestyle disease. No one has been more crucial to elevating ACE’s credibility and capacity to affect our mission more than Cedric.”
In his elevated role, Bryant will steward ACE’s strategy development to deliver exercise-science and behavior-change education in engaging and compelling ways – recruiting more people to become exercise professionals and health coaches, and equipping them for growth in the fields. He will drive innovation in the area of behavior-change programming, overseeing ACE’s preparation of qualified behavior-change coaches and the development of programs that ACE-Certified Professionals® can utilize to help people adopt and sustain healthier lifestyles. Bryant will also lead ACE’s exploration of how the science-based programs and interventions, delivered by well-qualified exercise professionals and health coaches, appropriately integrate into healthcare and public health.
Also announced today, Kinkennon has been named chief operating officer after a year serving as ACE’s chief strategy officer. In line with the direction set by Goudeseune and the nonprofit’s board of directors, Kinkennon will continue to lead the development of ACE’s strategic and operating plans and ensure the organization is held accountable for success against each goal set. He will drive cross-functional initiatives in support of those plans and ensure key stakeholders understand ACE’s story as a nonprofit with global reach pursuing multiple avenues to increase physical activity. Kinkennon oversees ACE’s operations, issue advocacy, community engagement, communications, credentialing and other areas.
“Shane’s new title is a recognition of both the evolving requirements of ACE leadership as the organization matures and the substantial contribution Shane has made during his short time here,” said Goudeseune. “With Shane, ACE gets the rare combination of the ability to facilitate strategy development at the highest levels and the skills to drive that strategy down to the operational details. Plus, Shane’s background as a communications professional benefits ACE daily as we strive to tell a more complete story about who we are and what we do.”