Home > About the OIA > Board
search our members
We have over 120 members offering a range of services.
get outdoors
explore the UK outdoor services with our interactive mapping.
Board
Please see below for a list of the OIA Board members
OIA (UK) Board:
Corry Taylor
Chairman
Corry Taylor is Managing Director of Bradshaw Taylor Ltd, a specialist distributor of brands to the Outdoor, Ski and Country markets in the UK and Europe.
A keen skier, cyclist, runner and hill walker, Corry has been Chairman of the OIA for the last 2 years.
Chris Tiso
Vice-Chairman
Chris Tiso, CEO of Tiso Group, a leading UK retailer of outdoor clothing and equipment. Operates 27 outlets through four brands (George Fisher, Graham Tiso, Blues and Alpine Bikes) across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North of England. Independent and family owned business founded and still based in Edinburgh in 1962.
A keen sailor and hillwalker, Chris has been OIA Vice Chairman since October 2009.
Brian Smith
Brian has been the Chief Executive of HF Holidays since January 2007, joining the OIA Board later that year.
A keen walker and traveller, he has brought years of senior management experience to his role and to the outdoor industry
Frank Bennett
Frank is Sales Director at Lyon Equipment and has been involved with the OIA for many years. Frank has extensive background in the outdoor industry.
A keen climber, skiier, walker etc. since 1967, he has been employed in the outdoor industry as man and boy since 1969. OIA board member since October 2009.
Ken Reeve
Buying Director at Cotswold Outdoor trading from over 60
stores.
Keen hillwalker and OIA Board member since October 2009
Matt Kemp
Matt is UK Country Manager at Berghaus, and has been with the brand for the past three years. Prior to joining Berghaus, Matt had spent more than 20 years in the outdoor industry.
Matt has been an outdoor enthusiast for more than 30 years, and a keen advocate of the wider participation of the consumer audience in outdoor activity, Matt is also acutely aware of, and concerned for, the environmental impact of the same. Matt joined the OIA Board in March 2011.
John Coppock
John is the co-founder of Itchy Feet, an independent travel store for active travel, for over 12 years, and been involved in a non-executive capacity with the OIA for 7 years.
John has travelled extensively all over the world. He joined the OIA Board in October 2009.
Anthony Greasby
Anthony started Countryside Ski & Climb back in 1978 and has built the company into one of the UK’s premier independent retailers. Anthony is a keen multi-activity outdoor enthusiast. He has particularly strong skills relevant to independent outdoor retailers in the IT, purchasing, logistics and business strategy fields. More recently he has increasingly focused on the environmental and ethical impact of the outdoor industry’s business activities.
OIA Board member since March 11
Michelle Dickinson
Michelle is Head of Marketing for Burton McCall, part of the Bollin Group, which is a multi channel sales, marketing and distribution company managing world-class brands including Maglite, Victorinox, Bridgedale, Sea to Summit, Aladdin and Stanley.
As a keen traveller, she has been lucky enough over the years to share and enjoy some of the most breathtaking outdoor landscapes with her family. Michelle joined the OIA Board in March 2011.
Stephen Newlands
Stephen has been Managing Director of AMG Group since October 2002. Stephen is a keen cyclist and skier, regularly participating in cycle trips, mainly on trails around Scotland. He is also an ex-trainer for the British Assoc of Snowsports Instructors, ISIA ski Instructor and general all round outdoor enthusiast!
Co-opted OIA Board member since September 2011
Cameron McNeish
Through his highly successful BBC2 television programmes, Wilderness Walks, and his long running editorship of TGO (The Great Outdoors) magazine Cameron has long been recognised as one of Britain’s best known outdoor commentators. Cameron is also an experienced radio and television journalist and presenter.
Cameron was co-opted onto the OIA Board in December 2011 and heads up the new membership catagory for Independent Outdoor Professionals.
OIA (UK) Executive team
Andrew Denton
CEO
Andrew has been working in the outdoor sector since 1984, starting his career in outdoor education and then moved on to a series of senior management and ownership roles in major businesses such as Rohan, Mountain Equipment, Sprayway, The Peaco Group and the Outdoor Sports Company (OSC).
A keen outdoor activist, Andrew is an accomplished mountaineer, mountain biker, ski mountaineer and triathlete. OIA CEO since August 2011.
Louise Ramsay
Communications Director
Louise has worked in the outdoor industry for the last 15 years accross various management roles and has been with the OIA since March 2009.
Louise is a keen outdoor and fitness enthusiast.
Catriona Rice
Membership and Admin Manager
Catriona has previously worked within various customer orientated, marketing and advertising and membership roles before joining the OIA in October 2009.
Her passions include, walking, cycling, wild swimming (when brave enough) and painting.
OIA (UK) Ambassadors:
Nick Anderson
UK Sales Agent for twenty years in the Outdoor Trade; ten years in Scotland with Berghaus then Mountain Equipment before moving South in 2002 and working with Haglöfs for three years before settling with Snugpak, Reusch, Boblbe-e, Ardblair Sports Importers and Heidi Skis. Two years spent working as the de facto Country Manager for the French brand Millet.
Outdoor interests include mountaineering, telemark skiing, adventure racing, swimming, running and cycling.
Gus Sanderman
Been in the trade for 21 years, covered retail, warehousing, tech training and sales repping. Craigmhor Outdoors has been going for 7 and a half years, looks after Scotland and the far north of England for Haglofs outdoor equipment, Wigwam socks, SOLE foot health, Genuine Guide Gear backcountry equipment, Shewee and have just signed up with Lost Arrow climbing equipment (and the OIA of course!)
Main interests are mountain biking, backcountry skiing, outdoor cooking, climbing trees and historic rallying!
Lee Taylor
