Dave Letele announces he is leaving NZ Muscle

Dave Letele has announced he is "stepping back" from NZ Muscle – just a week after taking over as chief executive with a shareholding in the business.

The company had hit strife after a YouTube video from a former employee claimed it had questionable practices. NZ Muscle had responded by recalling some products.

The Commerce Commission and Ministry of Primary Industries had also begun their own investigations into the matter.

Today, Letele said in a post to Instagram: "I've decided to step back from NZ Muscle."

"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.

"I wish the team well, there are good people there working hard to get it right.

"Back to the work I've always done. Thank you to everyone who backed me."

On Tuesday last week, Letele took over the brand from founder Dion Roosenbrand.

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."