Florine Mark

Florine Mark, the wellness influencer known for her entrepreneurial savvy and warm personality who was once the leading franchise holder of Weight Watchers International, was remembered Friday as a remarkable person who lived life on her terms but always put family first. The Detroit native and former president and CEO of Weight Watchers Group Inc. died unexpectedly at her home early Friday morning October 13 2023 of an unknown cause, said her son-in-law, Hannan Lis. She was 90. Born and raised in the Motor City, Mark spent more than 50 years as the leading franchise holder of Weight Watchers International. She pioneered a franchise in Michigan in 1966. Under Mark's leadership, the family business would later expand to 13 states, Canada and Mexico, reaching a membership of more than 10,000 and employing 4,200 people, according to the Detroit Historical Society. In 2003, some of the franchises were sold to Weight Watchers International, but Mark retained all operations in Michigan and Northern Ontario, Canada, under the WWG. Some 18 years later, Mark and her family entered an agreement to sell the entire franchise in 2021, but she remained a consultant following the move. Mark was active with the Jewish Federations of North America, Business Leaders of Michigan, C200 and served on the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She served as an adviser and board member of numerous philanthropic and civic organizations. For seven years, she was the chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Detroit, Chicago Branch.