German mountaineering apparel and equipment brand Ortovox has appointed Stefan Kohlbauer as managing director, effective from March 1. Kohlbauer had previously held the role of Ortovox’s sales and marketing manager for two and a half years. He hails from Austria, and previously worked as sales manager at Sport Eybl & Sport Experts and at Esprit, two retailers specialised in sportswear.

Martin Riebel, CEO of Schwan-Stabilo Outdoor GmbH, had taken charge in the interim of the operational running of Ortovox during the transition phase.

“Stefan Kohlbauer is a highly experienced industry expert with a deep understanding of the brand and its markets, and a clear vision of the future of Ortovox. His focus on healthy growth, sustainability, innovation and collaborative partnerships will further strengthen our brand. I am particularly pleased that we were able to hire an internal candidate for this important position,” Riebel said in a press release.

Kohlbauer said that “Ortovox stands for superior quality, distinctive design, innovation and responsibility – not only in our products, but also in the collaborative attitude within our staff and with our partners. It is a special honour for me to help shape the future of this unique brand. I am looking forward to continuing this success story with the Ortovox team, our partners and our retailers.”

Ortovox, which will be celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, has introduced several key innovations in the world of mountaineering and mountain sports. The latest was an avalanche safety airbag developed in partnership with Arc’teryx in 2022. The LiTRIC airbag weighs 1.1 kg and can be deployed at least twice thanks to its electronic control system. LiTRIC received an ISPO Award and a Red Dot Design Award in 2022.