European Outdoor Group EOG About

Our ongoing market research insights programme for the outdoor sector provides timely data and analysis, including the groundbreaking State of Trade project.

Our 3 Pillars of Activity

We believe that the outdoors industry is fundamentally built upon the success of three essential priorities: conducting business in an ethical and sustainable manner, preserving the outdoors, and getting people active in nature.
For this reason the EOG has helped to found and continues to support the It's Great Out There Coalition, and the European Outdoor Conservation Association

Business

Doing Business Right.
We undertake market leading research, organise and support trade shows and industry events, sustainability and social responsibility initiatives, work to support conservation and encourage and enable European citizens to get active outdoors and, last but not least, we represent our sector to the European Commission, NGO’s and other stakeholders.

Nature

Preserve the Outdoors.
In June 2006, the European Outdoor Conservation Association (formerly the EOG Association for Conservation) was created following a desire by the Outdoor Industry to collectively ‘put something back’ into the environment that it cared about so passionately - as well as depended on for its livelihood.

Activity

Get People Outside
The Its Great Out There Coalition was set up in 2017 to work in partnership with European, national and regional authorities, all of the outdoor recreation industries, non-profit associations, other organisations, and directly with the public, with the aim to motivate, activate and advocate outdoor activity for all.

History

Recognising the need for a cohesive, cross-border approach to representation of the outdoor sector, the European Outdoor Group was founded in 2003 by 19 of the world’s largest outdoor companies. ‍The association grew steadily to include retailers, national associations, and technology providers. At any one time, the EOG manages or supports projects that are of great importance to the sector, in areas such as market research, CSR and sustainability, events and shows, outdoor retail, engaging with politicians and legislators, promotion of outdoor activities to the general public, and more. Now totalling over 100 members, the combined strength of our members delivers an extremely powerful force to represent the European outdoor industry in a constructive and positive manner.

What Does the EOG do?

We believe that the outdoors industry is fundamentally built upon the success of three essential priorities: conducting business in an ethical and sustainable manner, preserving the outdoors, and getting people active in nature. For this reason the European Outdoor Group has helped to found and continues to support the It’s Great Out There Coalition, and the European Outdoor Conservation Association. All of our work is aligned around these three 'pillars', and our strategies and plans are designed to support our members’ collective vision for the outdoor sector.
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We undertake a wide range of activities, including market insights, corporate social responsibility and sustainability initiatives, outdoor retail collaboration, organising and supporting industry events and trade fairs, and representing our sector and its interests to the European Commission, other formal institutions, NGOs, and other stakeholders.

Industry Progress

Co-operation with national trade associations and European decision makers

Group Membership

Group Membership is selective and managed by a select panel of member representatives.

Retail

Representation and collective action among the retail network

CSR & Sustainability

Coordination and promotion of sustainable industry practices

Events & Shows

Trade shows, Industry workshops, and networking events

Market Insights

Sustained, in depth, and representative market insights

European Outdoor Group Team

Arne Strate

General Secretary European Outdoor Group

Dr Katy Stevens

Head of CSR and Sustainability

Dr Jane Turnbull

Sustainability Project Manager

Dan Thompson

Head of Marketing and Communications

Peter Ottervanger

Head of Retail

Penny Taylor

Head of Events

Scott Nelson

Programme Manager

Pauline Shepherd

Head of Market Research and Insights

Chris Lines

PR and Event support

Dr. Verity Hardy

Sustainability Project Manager

Benjamin Thaller

Board Member and OSV Executive Director

David Camps

Board Member and CEO Original Buff

David Ekelund

Board member and CEO Icebug

Guillaume Meyzenq

Board Member and VP Salomon Footwear

Jan Lorch

Board member and CSO Vaude

Mark Held

President European Outdoor Group

Martin Riebel

Board Member and CEO Schwan STABILO Outdoor GmbH

Matt Gowar

EOG Vice President and CEO Equip Outdoor Technologies UK Ltd.

Matthias Gebhard

Board Member and Managing Director: Bergfreund

Matthias Zaggl

EOG Board Member and Business Leader W.L. Gore & Associates

Michel Gogniat

EOG Treasurer and Sales Director at Ternua

Paolo Bordin

Board Member and General Manager AKU

Our members represent a wide cross section of the Outdoor sector.

Our members are brands, retailers and NGO’s from around the world.

Member directory

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