Two new directors were welcomed to the OATA board at the trade association’s Annual General Meeting, held on December 4.
Mark Smith of Pets at Home and Jeremy Gay of Fishkeeping News join the 15 other voluntary directors who make up the association’s board.
OATA’s board of directors is currently made up of 17 people intended to represent the whole of the industry, from wholesalers and manufacturers to importers and retailers. There is still one vacancy on the Board, which is usually made up of 18 people.
Ben Bowles of Pets at Home has left the board, along with Ben Windeatt of Pets Choice, who stepped down prior to the AGM. EcoMarines’ Laura Carlin continues in the second year of her two-year stint as chair before she hands over to Dr Donna Snellgrove of Mars Petcare, who is current vice chair.
OATA chief executive Dominic Whitmee said: “We are very grateful to all those business people who volunteer their time to sit on our Board and offer their thoughts and expertise on our work programmes.
“The OATA team could not achieve what we do without their help and we look forward to hearing contributions from our two new Directors.”
The complete OATA board of directors now comprises:
Laura Carlin, EcoMarines
Robert Edgecock, Independent Aquatic Imports Ltd
Caroline Everett, Anglo Aquatic Plants Co Ltd
Jeremy Gay, Fishkeeping News
Neil Hardy, Neil Hardy Aquatica Ltd
Paul Hughes, Advanced Aquarium Consulting
Phil Jones, Kingston Koi Company
Simon Langdale, Maidenhead Aquatics
Philip Lawton, Kidsgrove Tropicals
Rob Peck, The Coral Centre
Max Pedley, Ornamental Aquatics Wholesale
Brian Schaff, TMC
Mark Smith, Pets at Home
Pete Smith, Aquasense (UK) Ltd
Dr Donna Snellgrove, Mars Petcare
Matt Stevenson, Seneye
Maurits van de Pol, Aquadistri UK Ltd
