Biography

Melanie was born and raised in the Austrian Alps and from the day she could walk she was an avid mountaineer, skier and outdoor enthusiast. She completed her degree with honours at the University of Oxford in Economics, Philosophy and Politics (temporarily switching her skies for semi-professional rowing). After two years as a management consultant in London and New York working with FTSE200 and Blue Chip clients, she joined the British subsidiary of the European Outdoor Retailer Group >>Yonderland<< as a Strategy Manager. Working closely with C-suite and senior management her responsibilities included the development of a 5-year strategic plan to optimize future growth, various M&As, market rollouts and channel-, price- & product-optimisation. Since 2021 she has taken on the international role of Head of Sustainability creating a cohesive and ambitious environmental sustainability program encompassing better products, carbon neutrality, optimised waste management and protection of our outdoor spaces. Once recovered from her ongoing knee injury, you will find her back on the slopes or in the high peaks of Nepal and Kyrgyzstan.