POC Taps Ryan Barnes for North American Snow Sales Manager

Former elite ski coach to join POC North America from The Clymb

Park City, UT (January 28, 2015) -- POC, a leading manufacturer of skiing and cycling helmets, apparel and accessories, has tapped Ryan Barnes, previously a senior buyer at The Clymb, to head its North American snowsports sales force.

Barnes, a former head coach at Mt. Hood Academy and sports marketing and promotions manager with Salomon, joins the Swedish brand ahead of the SIA SnowShow. During his years with Salomon, Barnes rebuilt the race program in the U.S. and provided support to the free-ride team, including former X Games champions Simon Dumont, Sammy Carlson and Peter Olenick. Prior to joining the French ski brand, the University of Oregon graduate coached FIS athletes and participated in special coaching projects with the U.S. Ski Team.

“We are happy to welcome Ryan to the North American team,” states Jonas Söderqvist, interim managing director of POC North America. “With Ryan’s background in the ski and sporting goods industries, within products, marketing and sales, we are confident that his experience and knowledge will add great value to our brand—especially in supporting and aligning with our sales representative force moving forward.”

After joining theclymb.com as business development manager in August 2011, Barnes built relationships across hundreds of brands in the snow, fitness and electronics categories as a major contributor to the online retailer’s explosive growth. He most recently served as senior buyer.

“With safety at its core and a reputation for thoughtfully designed, unique product, I love what POC stands for,” states Barnes. “There are plenty of challenges in snow specialty today and we’ll need to be very strategic in growing the category while maintaining that premier sense of the brand. POC has tons of momentum right now and I’m looking forward to showing the Winter 2015-16 collection to retailers in January.”

In addition to its work with the non-profit High Fives Foundation, which promotes the use of helmets and protection by freestyle skiers, POC sponsors Olympian Aaron Blunck, iconic adventure snowboarder Jeremy Jones, and Olympic champion Julia Mancuso.

To schedule an appointment to the POC product line at the SIA SnowShow in Denver, January 29-February 1, please email brian.holcombe@backbonemedia.net.

About POC: 

POC is a Swedish company with a strong mission to do the best we can to possibly save lives and to reduce the consequences of accidents for gravity sport athletes and cyclists. 

More information at www.pocsports.com

Source POC by press release ©