Owner
Andi founded Exped 30 years ago together with his wife Heidi after coming back from their 2 year trip mostly in the Canadian wilderness and a short stint at an outdoor retailer in Zurich. As a gear and computer freak with a keen eye for detail, he is responsible for all things around innovation and production, especially for his own gear categories like mats, hammocks, bivy bags and ponchos. And together with Betti takes care of all things digital and our IT systems. He is an avid outdoor professional and has now added kite surfing on water and snow to his outdoor activities of choice.
Rumor has it that Heidi, Andis wife, is the Exped mama. Truth is, it’s true. As longterm General Manager all issues big and small flew through her hands. She spent months in the Canadian wilderness and later on an uninhabited island in the Great Barrier Reef together with her husband before founding Exped. Nowadays she and Andi disappear off to Asia in the winter months to supervise production of the Exped products. In between productions they head for Vietnam and the neighboring countries with their canoe and hammocks.
Corporate Management
She started off in sales at an outdoor retailer, than worked as a rep. and in-house for Wild Roses, one of the first women’s only outdoor brand. She went then on to sharpened her skills in various communications and marketing departments.
Her numerous intrepid tandem trips to far corners of the world took place a while back, but now she enjoys time with her family in Scandinavia and Central Europe. She also climbs, in the gym for workout and outdoors for pleasure.
Hubi is our travel expert and has probably been to most places in the world either on foot or on the back of some truck, bus or boat. He seems to like the more exotic destinations like Tajikistan, unusual locomotion like a rubber dinghy or cooks on a „super-fast“ stove à la Hubi: a candle. So sometimes it takes a bit longer for him to turn up again, as his longest non-stop trip took a mere 3 years.
He grew up in different countries but always went to American schools so we use him as translator.
As father of two, rock and snow junkie and mountain biker he’s always out to find the right work and life balance. If his not out chasing the powder in winter and leaving chalk trails in the rocks during summer Marc develops our backpacks and drybags. Marc joined Exped back in 1992 as buyer and then became product developer in 2001.
Product Management
Eicke was infected early on with the outdoor virus. Thanks to his extensive hands-on experience and his previous career in outdoor retail, he definitely knows what good outdoor gear is all about. His travels led and still lead him to exciting places. Always with his camera with reach, but above all the openness and curiosity to experience foreign cultures. Countless nights on his travels were spent in a warm sleeping bag, the longest of which lasted 4 months in a row.
Like many other Exped employees, Eicke's method of choice for his daily commute to work is his bicycle.
With his construction training and industrial design studies Jakob has the technical background and likes to tinker with everything that has to do with outdoor. Ideas often come or mature during a long hike or on a trail run in the nearby forest. He loves to be outdoors, be it on skis, bikes or on foot. Also likes to climb or boulder on all fours. Wherever possible, his family is there too. There is nothing more beautiful than to share your passion with your loved ones.
As an avid outdoor enthusiast and mountainbiker Lukas enjoys and spends a lot of time outdoors. Loves to spend nights out in tents, test new products and adapt them himself to his needs. Lukas is an industrial designer by trade and a natural born tinkerer.
Mat found his way to Exped after working as a scientist testing and developing performance clothing and technical textiles. He enjoys rolling or sliding down mountains in both summer and winter whether by skis, snowboard or mountain bike. If there is really no option to use a lift he has also been known to climb or ski tour up them, too. When the snow is melting and the trails are too wet, he can also be found on, in, and sometimes under the water – be it with white water kayak, kite board or fishing waders.
During her studies as an industrial designer she started climbing, mountaineering and ski touring intensively. This led to her positive monkey-index (arm reach longer than body height). In the meantime, as mother of two kids, her priorities have shifted to more mundane things like camping, damming creeks and building fires. Her expertise in backpacks comes from personal use and years of professional experience as a pack designer.
Customer Service / Repairs
Bea is a Canada and Scandinavia fan and enjoys her relaxing holidays up in the north and its nature, people and language. Since going on dog sledge tours in Finland and Sweden through the beautiful snowy landscapes she has a fascination for huskies and wolves. In winter you will find indoors playing curling and in the summer outdoors possibly with her saxophone.
True to the motto "It tastes best outdoors", there must always be some space left in your backpack for culinary surprises. The menus prepared over a fire are refined with little treasures nature supplies that the alpine vegetation ecologist finds during her ascent. She finds her flow not only on her treks but also regularly in yoga.
Sales
Claudia gehört zum "Urgestein" der Exped und hat die Westschweiz schon von 1989 bis 1997mit viel Power und Leidenschaft betreut. Nach 12-jährigem Unterbruch stand sie zu unserer Freude wieder auf der Matte und bereist die Fachhändler in der Swiss romande sowie das Tessin.
Claudia is an Exped veteran and had her first tour of duty as rep. between 1989 and 1997. She then took a 12 year sabbatical and came back full of energy to support her clients with fervor.
Marketing / Backoffice
Our accounts are in her firm hands and all aspects of our finances under her sharp eyes. Here a little taste: as Hubi went off on his vacations to Tajikistan she told him loud and clearly that she would not pay ransom – no matter what!
It’s more than a hobby when she spends her time off travelling around with her three cycle road racing sons supporting them wherever she can.
Kurt has his roots in alpine sports activities: be it the high peaks in our Swiss Alps, or some in South America and Asia, Kurt has climbed many and trekked and ski toured to countless others. But he also seems to enjoy the lower altitudes of the Far East, since he met his German wife in Thailand. He may not be as active anymore in the vertical world but still enjoys getting out there and engaging in all kinds of outdoor activities.
Comfortable hiking, enduring trekking, ambitious mountaineering and climbing: The main thing is to be out in the countryside - with your eyes always directed to the edge of the path to admire the flora and fauna. Together with her husband, she sailed by Mini-Transat for three months from Germany to the Arctic Circle. Meanwhile with family she enjoys every free minute a small house with large garden and chickens. That preferably barefoot.
