Change afoot at European Outdoor Group
A reshuffling of the European Outdoor Group (EOG) board at its annual general meeting has led to five individuals stepping down and an equivalent number of new board members taking their place, one of whom has been given dedicated sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) duties.
Former board members Guillaume Meyzeng (Salomon), Benjamin Thaller (Outdoor Sports Valley), Matthias Zaggl (WL Gore), Michel Gogniat (Ternua) and Martin Riebel (Schwan-Stabilo Outdoor) all handed over their responsibilities.
They were replaced by Marie-Laurie Piednoir (global sustainability director, Salomon), Céline Brunel (executive director, Outdoor Sports Valley), Achim Löffler (consumer fabrics business leader, WL Gore), Andrew Shand (EMEA and Australasia chief executive, Helinox) and Stefanie Rieder-Haas (chief supply chain officer, sustainability and quality at Ortovox).
Ms Rieder-Haas will hold the position of CSR and sustainability responsible.
“Our five new members bring great knowledge and experience to the role and, alongside their continuing colleagues, ensure that the EOG board includes representation from the whole European outdoor sector,” commented EOG president, Matt Gowar (pictured), himself only appointed towards the end of 2022. “Last year, we noted that the gender balance on the board needed to improve, and I am pleased that this has happened.”
Other updates reported during the meeting included the addition of 17 associated members over the year previous and another in January. This followed the decision to reorganise fee tiers to permit applicants from the wider outdoor value chain, first agreed in early 2022, to make the group less dependent on trade show income.
These associated members, which now total 18, thus complement EOG’s 120-strong primary membership. An audited annual report covering last year's key activities and achievements was also presented.
“This increasing critical mass from every part of Europe adds more weight and impact to what we can achieve as an organisation on behalf of our industry,” said former EOG president Mark Held, who originally helped found the EOG in 2003 alongside Rolf Schmid.
New board member Mr Löffler recently shared his thoughts on Gore-Tex’s development of a non-fluorinated membrane with WSA magazine. Learn more in the Newcomers section of our latest issue, available to read here.
EOG's current president, Matt Gowar. Courtesy.
