The aquatic industry trade body OATA has welcomed a new director to its Board. Philip Lawton, of Kidsgrove Tropicals and Water Garden Centre in Stoke-on-Trent, joined five other directors who were voted back onto the board at the AGM.

The trade association also said goodbye to Matthew Bubear, of CASCO Europe, who has stepped down from his place on the board after three years. 

The other returning Board members are Richard Hale of Berry Ring Herpetological & Aquatic Supplies Ltd, Dave Pool of FishScience Ltd, Neil Hardy of Neil Hardy Aquatica Ltd, Kevin Barton of ALF (Aquatic Distributors) Ltd and Jane Flaherty of J.M.C Aquatics. 

“We’re very pleased to welcome Philip to the board. He’s been attending board meetings for the past year through our New Blood scheme and we’re sure he’ll prove a useful addition,” said OATA’s new Chairman Mark Evenden, who took over the top seat from James Allison at the AGM.

“We’d also like to thank Matthew for all his input to OATA over the past three years, which has been greatly valued. 

“And we’re very pleased that another industry stalwart has taken up our New Blood scheme and we look forward to seeing Barry Allday, of The Goldfish Bowl in Oxford, at our meetings. If any OATA members are interested in seeing what goes on at our board meetings we’re always happy for people to come along and they can call the office for more information.” 

OATA’s Board of Directors is made up of 18 people who represent the whole of the industry, from wholesalers and manufacturers to importers, pond and aquarium consultants and retailers. Before each AGM, six directors step down and nominations are invited. There were seven nominations which sparked the vote.

The complete OATA Board of Directors is now made up of: 

• James Allison, Aquapic Solutions 
• Kevin Barton, ALF (Aquatic Distributors) Ltd
• Pete Carey, Pets at Home
• Robert Edgecock, Independent Aquatic Imports Ltd
• Mark Evenden, Devotedly Discus Ltd
• Jane Flaherty, JMC Aquatics Ltd
• Richard Hale, Berry Ring Herpetological and Aquatics Supplies Ltd
• Neil Hardy, Neil Hardy Aquatica Ltd
• Simon Langdale, Maidenhead Aquatics
• Philip Lawton, Kidsgrove Tropicals
• Ruth Low, Gordon Low Products Ltd
• David Pool, FishScience 
• Kevin Rose, Lynchford Aquatics Ltd
• Andrew Stagg, NT Laboratories Ltd
• Paul West, Tropical Marine Centre
• Peter Wheeler, Aquajardin Ltd
• Ben Windeatt, Tetra
• Mark Winter, Aqua Pacific UK Ltd