Dave Letele announces he is leaving NZ Muscle

<p>Dave Letele has announced he is "stepping back" from NZ Muscle – just a week after <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/14/dave-letele-takes-over-nz-muscle-to-save-35-jobs/" target="_blank">taking over as chief executive</a> with a shareholding in the business.</p> <p>The company had hit strife after a YouTube video from a former employee claimed it had questionable practices. NZ Muscle had responded by <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/06/26/nz-muscle-creatine-recalled-amid-investigation-into-safety-standards/" target="_blank">recalling some products</a>.</p> <p>The Commerce Commission and Ministry of Primary Industries had also begun their own investigations into the matter.</p> <p>Today, Letele said in a post to Instagram: "I've decided to step back from NZ Muscle."</p> <p>"I came in with the best of intentions, to help a business front up and fix things properly. I've realised I can't help in the way it needs, and the right thing is to be honest about that.</p> <p>"I wish the team well, there are good people there working hard to get it right.</p> <p>"Back to the work I've always done. Thank you to everyone who backed me."</p> <p>On Tuesday last week, Letele took over the brand from founder Dion Roosenbrand.</p> <p>At the time, he told RNZ: "The better I can turn it around, it's only going to help myself and my family. It hasn't even been 24 hours, I haven't yet met all the staff so I'll be doing that later today and getting my teeth stuck in."</p>