Nicolas has been a mountaineer, adventurer and all-round athlete all his life, with extreme achievements in skiing (heavily involved in the freeskiing movement with brands such as Salomon and Rossignol), raid adventures and running races around Mont Blanc. Nico, as we call him, will inspire you to believe that anything... Read more
Ben Talks HOKA Footwear Origins, Iconic UTMB Race, and MORE with Co-Founder Nico Mermoud
Humans of HOKA: The Founders
Nicolas has been a mountaineer, adventurer and all-round athlete all his life, with extreme achievements in skiing (heavily involved in the freeskiing movement with brands such as Salomon and Rossignol), raid adventures and running races around Mont Blanc.
Nico, as we call him, will inspire you to believe that anything is possible. His positive energy to bring seemingly impossible ideas to life is absolutely infectious. Nico’s latest venture, Hoka (which means “to fly” in Māori), created in 2009, was an unprecedented feat. Hoka first gained attention in the running industry by producing shoes with oversized midsoles, dubbed “maximalist” shoes, in contrast to the minimalist shoe trend that was gaining popularity at the time. Due to its immense success, Hoka was purchased by Deckers Brands, the parent company of UGG, Teva and other footwear brands, for an undisclosed sum on 1 April 2013. The company is now worth tens of billions.
Hoka is constantly in the press, with an article in Men’s Health magazine a few months ago claiming that “when it comes to combining high comfort with lightweight materials, the shoemaker is in a league of its own”.
Nicolas holds several patents and played a key role in the early days of companies such as Rossignol and Salomon. In his speeches, Nicolas shares his “Start from Zero” approach to thinking, questioning assumptions and challenging conventional wisdom. His amazing story and storytelling captivate audiences and inspire them to make big things happen in their organisations – to create magic in spite of the obstacles.
Today, Nicolas spends much of his time building his next start up. More on that soon, but for now it’s a secret! When he has time, Nicolas enjoys speaking at events and sharing his experiences of achieving the impossible. He inspires people with stories of the unexpected mindset required to overcome challenges and achieve success. Nicolas gives audiences a new framework for thinking about the obstacles they face and motivates them to take action.
When he’s not working or speaking, you can find Nicolas enjoying the outdoors and spending time with his family.
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You can book Nicolas Mermoud through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Nicolas's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Nicolas Mermoud's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Nicolas tailored to your event.
Nicolas Mermoud speaks on Business & Management, Entrepreneurial, Innovation & Creativity, Leadership, Motivation. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Nicolas to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Nicolas Mermoud for events worldwide, subject to Nicolas's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Nicolas Mermoud is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Nicolas can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Nicolas Mermoud on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Nicolas can offer.
Nicolas Mermoud delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Nicolas Mermoud's areas of expertise include Business & Management, Entrepreneurial, Innovation & Creativity, Leadership, Motivation. To get a clear sense of Nicolas's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Nicolas Mermoud can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Business & Management, Entrepreneurial, Innovation & Creativity, Leadership, Motivation is relevant. Details of Nicolas's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Nicolas Mermoud is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Nicolas Mermoud, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Nicolas's current availability for your dates.