Chris Hemsworth: Hollywood superstar’s Centr app shuts Melbourne office, lays off 15 workers

The fitness app founded by actor Chris Hemsworth has shut its Melbourne office and laid off 15 Australian staff as it shifts the majority of its operations to the United States.

Centr has maintained headquarters in both Melbourne and California since its launch, but a company spokesperson confirmed to 9News the Melbourne office will no longer operate. Only a handful of Australian employees will continue working remotely.

“As Centr continues to scale globally, we’ve made the strategic decision to consolidate operations in the US to improve operational and geographic efficiency,” the spokesperson said.

“This transition affects 15 roles, with a few team members continuing remotely as part of the US-based team. Centr remains focused on continued growth across its digital platform, performance-grade equipment, and global partnerships.”

Nick Robinson, Centr’s digital general manager, said the company “will continue to drive towards business goals” through operational streamlining and the recruitment of leading talent.

The Melbourne office had previously served as Centr’s central hub for content, customer service, and sales and marketing across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, before a prior round of layoffs saw around 20 staff lose their jobs.

Founded in early 2019 by Mr Hemsworth, Centr has grown from a fitness and wellness app to also selling exercise equipment and boasts hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

In 2022, it was valued at around $290 million when acquired by HighPost Capital, the private equity firm co-founded by Jeff Bezos’s younger brother, Mark.

Mr Hemsworth remains the face of the business, which promotes itself as having “Chris’s vision as our foundation.”