Ortovox USA has appointed Dale Bard as its chief operating officer. Bard has served as a consultant and brand manager for Chouinard
Equipment, Black Diamond, and Patagonia; he has been the U.S. sport
division sales manager for Petzl; and has worked as the international
sales manager for Five Ten.
Bard is also a legend among American rock climbers and alpinists. Bards first descents include the Cocaine Chutes above Tioga Pass. He is also an avid skier. In addition to being the subject of a Climbing Magazine feature profile
recounting his unique life of adventure, Bard was a sponsored athlete
for La Sportiva USA as well as other leading brands.
who ticked fearsome first descents along the East Side of the Sierra Nevada during winters spent away from his beloved Yosemite Valley.
“Dale is one of those rare individuals who has excelled equally in the vertical world and the business world. He is an immensely talented and respected individual who brings instant credibility, industry presence as well as a skill set that meshes perfectly with our team,” shared Ortovox USAs CEO, Marcus Peterson.
As COO, Bard will assemble a national sales rep force while managing Ortovox USAs distribution network. Additionally, he will work to increase sales of Ortovox backpacks and merino wool softgoods, building upon Ortovoxs reputation for avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes.
“While it was the commitment to technical innovation and quality that drew me to Ortovox it was the people already in place, both in the United States and Germany that sealed it for me,” said Bard. “I couldnt be more excited about the prospect of not only being part of the Ortovox family but also to be able to help get even more people turned onto our unsurpassed products.”
