MOOGOO CEO ALREADY A FAN OF PRODUCT
MOOGOO founder Craig Jones has hired an ex-Domino’s executive to replace him as CEO after finding the job drained him of time and energy to focus on product development.
Burleigh Heads-based MooGoo began in 2005 after Mr Jones, a former pilot, developed a cream in his Gold Coast kitchen to help his mother with her psoriasis.
The company’s name comes from the cream used by farmers to heal the udders of dairy cows.
It has since grown enormously in the skin care market and expanded to include vegan and make-up ranges. Sales have also increased by 50 per cent online across Australia, Ireland and the UK following the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns.
“The business was getting too complicated for me,” Mr Jones said. “I think 40-odd people to manage, lots of subcontractors and various parts of the business.
“I was the founder and I don’t think necessarily a founder … is good at detail, managing people sometimes, so I needed somebody who was better at the job than I was.
“I felt the business was so complicated that it was draining the energy I needed to be creative and have fun, which is something you need when you are designing new products.”
It happened that at the same time former Domino’s CMO Melody Livingstone was looking to move to the Gold Coast and work for MooGoo after using its products to help clear up her skin.
“We did not advertise for the position,” Mr Jones said.
“Melody reached out first … with an email saying, ‘I want to work for you’.
“It just so happened in the back of my mind I was thinking that we needed a new CEO.”
Ms Livingstone said she was attracted to the role by her desire to grow her skill set.
“I’ve worked across a lot of departments in my lifetime and it's a great way to expand my skill set,” she said.
“I’m learning a lot in terms of the intricacies of what we can and can’t do.”
Mr Jones, who retains ownership of the business, said he would give Ms Livingstone the scope and authority to make her own decisions.