Kyla Pavlina returns to CrossFit CPO

Kyla Pavlina has returned to CrossFit as chief people officer, according to a May 20 report by The Barbell Spin. The appointment puts Pavlina back inside the company after she previously served as CrossFit’s head of human resources from 2013 through 2019. The Barbell Spin said the move is the first major hire under Chief Executive Officer Bruce Edwards since his own return to the company this month. CrossFit had not posted a separate announcement on its public announcements page as of Thursday. ### When was Pavlina last at CrossFit? The Barbell Spin reported that Pavlina led human resources at CrossFit from 2013 through 2019. That places her earlier tenure in the same stretch when Edwards served as chief operating officer, according to CrossFit’s April 28 announcement on his return as CEO. Pavlina is now coming back a little more than six years after leaving the company, The Barbell Spin said. (thebarbellspin.com) CrossFit’s own materials describe Edwards as a longtime member of the community who held executive leadership roles at the company from 2013 to 2019. That overlap gives the hire a familiar management link at a time when CrossFit is reshaping its leadership team. ### What does the chief people officer job cover? The Barbell Spin identified Pavlina’s new title as chief people officer, a senior role typically responsible for human resources, recruiting, talent development and broader employee strategy. (thebarbellspin.com) The report did not include a detailed company statement laying out her remit, but the title signals responsibility for people operations at the executive level. (crossfit.com) Kyla Pavlina’s background outside CrossFit has centered on people leadership roles. A speaker profile for a 2026 human-resources conference described her work in people analytics and leadership alignment, while other professional profiles list chief people officer roles at health and technology companies. Those outside postings support the view that CrossFit brought back an executive with HR leadership experience, though CrossFit itself has not yet published a full biography tied to the appointment. (thebarbellspin.com) ### Why is this hire drawing attention now? Bruce Edwards started as CrossFit’s CEO on May 4, 2026, the company said in an April 28 announcement. The Barbell Spin said Pavlina’s return is his first major hire since rejoining the company, making the appointment an early personnel decision under the new chief executive. (leap-hr-lifesciences-west.com) CrossFit has made other executive additions in recent years, including a chief financial officer in 2024 and a chief marketing officer in 2023, according to prior Barbell Spin reports. Pavlina’s appointment adds another C-suite role as the company moves through the 2026 season under a refreshed leadership group. ### Is this tied to CrossFit’s competition calendar? (crossfit.com) CrossFit’s public competition schedule shows the 2026 CrossFit Games will be held from July 24 to July 26 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The Games site says masters, teenage and adaptive athletes will also compete in San Jose during the same week, with some events at the San Jose Convention Center. (thebarbellspin.com) The timing means Pavlina is returning during a period when CrossFit is preparing for one of its largest annual public events. CrossFit’s next visible milestone remains the Games in late July, while any fuller company description of Pavlina’s responsibilities would most likely appear through its announcements page or related corporate updates. (crossfit.com) (games.crossfit.com)