Ortovox USA has appointed Dale Bard as Chief Operating Officer. Bard, a legend among American rock climbers and alpinists, brings a wealth of experience ideally suited to this newly created position-experience gained both in the outdoor corporate arena as well as from the field.


Bard is best known for putting up many demanding and visionary rock climbs throughout California and other farther flung mountain ranges since the 1970s. Lesser known is the fact that he is an avid and highly competent skier who ticked fearsome first descents along the East Side of the Sierra Nevada during winters spent away from his beloved Yosemite Valley. Bard’s first descents include the classic and ever titillating Cocaine Chutes above Tioga Pass.


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. In business, the colorful and irrepressible Bard has served as a consultant and brand manager for Chouinard Equipment, Black Diamond, and Patagonia; he has been the US sport division sales manager for Petzl, and, has worked as the international sales manager for Five Ten.


“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 USA’s CEO Marcus Peterson.


As COO, Bard will assemble a national sale rep force while managing Ortovox USA’s distribution network. Additionally, he will work to increase sales of Ortovox backpacks and merino wool softgoods-building upon Ortovox’s leading position in 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. I couldn’t 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,” enthused Bard when considering his new challenge.