A seasoned businessman with a lifelong passion for the outdoors, Andrew Denton is CEO of the Outdoor Industries Association, a non-for-profit organisation that represents and promotes the UK outdoor recreation industries. Denton himself is perhaps best known as the founder and co-owner of the Mountain Equipment brand, which he eventually sold in 2003. He has also held a series of senior management and ownership roles for businesses such as Rohan, Sprayway and the Outdoor Sports Company. He now holds several prominent international roles and is involved in numerous projects as an investor, non-executive director and consultant – all relating to the outdoors. Denton is a council member for IPSO representing the UK outdoor recreation industry, and secretary general of IT’S GREAT OUT THERE, industry association the European Outdoor Group’s non-profit coalition to promote and develop outdoor activity across the continent. On a national scale, he is a member of the council of UK Active. More locally, Denton is also chair of Sheffield: The Outdoor City, a local authority-driven community project to present and promote Sheffield as the UK centre for outdoor recreation.
