Vipe Desai
Board of Directors
Vipe Desai is the Executive Director of the Surf Industry Members Association (SIMA), where he champions the mission of supporting the surf industry’s dynamic growth through fearless innovation and sustainability. With more than three decades of experience, Vipe is a seasoned business strategist, philanthropist, and an award-winning board executive. In addition to his role at SIMA, Vipe serves on several nonprofit and corporate boards and his dedication to environmental advocacy has earned him multiple Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition. Born in Bombay, his family immigrated to Los Angeles where two decades later, Vipe began his career as the owner of a one of the action sports industry’s leading surf and snowboard shops. He holds a BA in Business Writing from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, where he balanced his studies with his love for surfing. A late bloomer to music, Vipe was introduced to 80’s hair metal with his first cassette tape by way of Motley Crue’s Too Fast For Love album released in 1981.
