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Association News

Martin Binnendijk joins the Board of the Outdoor Industries Association

Martin Binnendijk joins the Board of the Outdoor Industries Association

Published: 31/03/2010

 Martin Binnendijk, chief executive officer of Hi-Tec, has been co-opted onto the Board of the Outdoor Industries Association. During the same meeting at which Martin was co-opted, Mark Held stepped down from his role as a director of the OIA Board to concentrate on developing the European Outdoor Group. Mark will continue to be actively involved in the OIA’s lobbying working group.

Martin Binnendijk has almost 30 years experience in business. He started his career in his family’s business in the wholesale supplies of leather goods, which included a small retail shop. After studying marketing in The Hague, Martin joined Avery Dennison in Holland in 1985 as product manager. He moved to UK in 1994 to run a production unit supplying automotive parts (for the likes of Rover, Ford, Mini and others) and was made general manager in 1995. In 1997, he took up a role heading up three businesses for Avery Dennison in Boston, USA, before moving to Los Angeles in 2000 to run a large office products division for the same company. Then, in 2002, Martin was persuaded by Frank van Wezel to return to the UK to run Hi-Tec.

Martin Binnendijk comments:
“I am absolutely delighted to be co-opted to the OIA Board. The many recent changes and new initiatives that the OIA has embraced have already made it a more relevant and effective body for our industry. I can’t wait to become more actively involved and do my bit to continue to drive the outdoor industry forward.”

Louise Ramsay, chief executive of the OIA, adds:
“Mark Held has been instrumental in the recent regeneration of the Outdoor Industries Association. Everyone on the Board thanks Mark for his invaluable contribution, which certainly doesn’t come to an end now that he has stepped down. I am particularly grateful for all his input and guidance since I joined the organisation.

“I am delighted that Martin Binnendijk has agreed to join the Board. He brings a wealth of experience to the OIA and has clearly expressed his desire to contribute to the association’s key aims and objectives. I look forward to working with him on a range of important projects for the benefit of the UK’s outdoor sector.”