Maxine Horne

Funder Name: Maxine Horne
Funder Type: Individual
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Funder Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxine-horne-06314a42/
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I'm a Non-Executive Director of ASX-listed Vita Group (VTG), business consultant, coach and mentor as well as a professional speaker.

As the founder of Vita Group, a leading Australian retailer with a rich history of providing personalised customer service, I firmly believe that culture is a core part of strategy and that team members must be the priority. My mantra is: “Every action should be aimed at team members first and subsequently through them, at your customers”. It is this firm belief that gave rise to the core Vita Group value of “Our people and customers are everything.”

Vita Group was founded in 1995 with one store under the brand of Fone Zone. I grew the business to more than 160 Fone Zone stores and also led the group to secure Telstra’s only Master License, moving on to owning and operating 100 plus Telstra-branded stores for more than a decade. Under my 26-year stewardship, Vita has made the most of opportunities and evolving markets, including the creation of Vita Enterprise Solutions, Sprout Accessories, SQD Athletica and Artisan Aesthetic Clinics.

Following the sale of Vita’s Telstra stores in November 2021, I stepped down from my role as Vita’s Chief Executive Officer to pursue other activities continuing my own personal and professional growth.

I’m proud to be in the rare position of being one of few female founders who has taken a start-up business – requiring flexibility, tenacity and entrepreneurialism, to am ASX publicly listed company – requiring structure, discipline, compliance, risk mitigation and governance and continued as the CEO to lead that company for many years. This has equipped me with a unique and comprehensive skillset that covers establishing, operating and growing a business, along with what is required to lead a successful corporate organisation.