--- title: "Phenix Salon Suites Promotes John Gillespie to International Managing Director" url: https://burnaze.com/article/19ff2366-f351-4083-9079-34d0d3c818e9 source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20230428_phenix_salon_suites_promotes_john_gillespie_to_international_managing_direc.html category: "Hair & salon suites" industry: "Beauty & Wellness" segment: "Hair & salon suites" topics: ["People"] published: 2023-04-28T12:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T00:52:51.993Z image: https://imgs.franchising.com/brands/social/phenixsalonsuites.jpg --- # Phenix Salon Suites Promotes John Gillespie to International Managing Director **TL;DR:** Phenix Salon Suites has promoted John Gillespie to International Managing Director, overseeing international development and locations. The brand is expanding internationally, with new locations in Europe and the UK. *originally published in Franchising.com on 2023-04-28. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20230428_phenix_salon_suites_promotes_john_gillespie_to_international_managing_direc.html).* ## Story Gillespie is a world-renowned hairdressing expert and has been a part of the salon industry for more than 20 years. He is familiar with the operations style that Phenix is seeking to help strategize its international locations and understands the importance behind building a decorated team to further support this venture. As Managing Director, he will oversee the development of new salon suites in Europe and assist international franchisees with finding lifestyle professionals and operations support. “It’s been very rewarding to be a part of the Phenix team over these last few months and see the brand’s successful international expansion firsthand,” said Gillespie. “The business model provides lifestyle professionals with an amazing opportunity to become entrepreneurs themselves—something that was previously missing in international markets. I’m looking forward to continue supporting both the brand, its franchisees and lifestyle professionals in this new role.” The brand maintains its commanding industry reputation with its enticing opportunity for both single and multi-unit investors. As one of the world’s fastest growing salon suite franchises, ranking on Entrepreneur’s Fastest Growing Franchises list for nine years in a row, the demand for Phenix’s model remains strong. “We are very excited about John’s contributions to the Phenix brand as we expand our footprint beyond the U.S. border. John has been instrumental in building excitement for the brand as well as the industry on the international stage. John’s efforts were paramount in our launch in the U.K. with the highly successful opening of our first international location in One Deansgate, Manchester, U.K. and our newest location in Birmingham, U. K. scheduled to open in the fall of 2023. Phenix is positioned to dominate on the international front with John leading the charge,” said Brian Kelley, President & CEO of Phenix Salon Suites. Phenix Salon Suites was one of the first salon suite concepts to offer luxurious, spacious suites for independent salon and lifestyle professionals to rent on a month-to-month basis and become their own boss. The suites are equipped with upscale amenities including a styling chair, shampoo chair, two cabinets, a hairdryer and a shampoo bowl that hooks directly onto the sink. The salon essentials are designed to meet each professional’s basic needs while providing them the opportunity to customize their suites, set their own hours, and operate their businesses as sole proprietors. While no salon experience is necessary, the most successful franchisees have working knowledge of commercial real estate, general business experience, and are well-capitalized with the ability to invest $300,000 or more. Financing is available through our lending partners. The California-based salon suite franchise is a salon suite rental concept that offers an opportunity for salon and lifestyle professionals to operate their own business in a private salon suite within a larger, well-located salon. Phenix Salon Suites does not sell haircuts. The brand licenses individualized suites so professionals can service their clients in a safe and secure environment. Founded in 2007 by beauty expert and celebrity hairstylist Gina Rivera, who has family roots in the industry dating back to 1929, the Phenix suites concept has reinvented the salon industry. The company began franchising in 2012 and today has more than 350 salons across 33 states with continued plans to expand internationally. Recognized 10 years in a row on Entrepreneur’s Franchise Top 500 list, Phenix Salon Suites is acknowledged as an industry leader with franchise opportunities available in a number of key markets throughout the United States. Phenix Salon Suites is awarding our scalable, semi-absentee opportunity to motivated entrepreneurs. With no salon experience required, franchisees earn reliable revenue from leasing customizable suites to salon and lifestyle professionals. ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - franchise development (topic) - Beauty & Wellness (sector) - Entrepreneur (publication) - international expansion (topic) - U.K. (location) - beauty industry (topic) - Phenix Salon Suites (company) - Europe (location) - Gina Rivera (person) - salon suites (topic) - Brian Kelley (person) --- Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20230428_phenix_salon_suites_promotes_john_gillespie_to_international_managing_direc.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/19ff2366-f351-4083-9079-34d0d3c818e9).