Movember Co-Founder Moves On

The Australian co-founder of the global multi-million dollar men’s health Not for Profit Movember, Adam Garone, is standing aside as CEO to take on a new ambassadorial role while the new CEO will run the organisation from a London base.

Adam Garone said after 13 years as CEO of the Movember Foundation he had made the difficult decision to stand down. In that time the organisation has raised $850 million for research and advocacy around men’s health issues.

“I’m not leaving the organisation, rather I’m going to spend this next chapter at Movember doing what I’m most passionate about, creating and building new fundraising products and as the chief advocate for men’s health,” Garone said.

“Standing down as CEO and relinquishing control has been the biggest decision of my career.But I know it’s time.”

The now global Movember campaign in November is recognised for its disruptive approach to fundraising and getting men to take action for their health. During Movember, men are challenged to grow a moustache or make a commitment to get active.

“As the organisation has matured, so too has the role of CEO. It has become more corporate and managerially focused on financials, HR, risk, putting out fires, and stakeholder management. It’s a very demanding role and over time it does wear you out,” Garone said.

“As an entrepreneur I’m most passionate and happy when I’m creating and building new products and challenging the status quo. I know I can deliver far more value to the organisation and to the state of men’s health in this capacity.”

He said co-founding and leading the Movember Foundation had been an intensely personal experience.  

“Throughout the journey there has been no separation between business and personal life – work is life and life is work. You are surrounded and intertwined in a mix of stories from men tragically succumbing to suicide, to men being diagnosed and battling cancer,” he said.  

“Unlike most entrepreneurs we didn’t start Movember to become wealthy, there is no equity, no bonus, no payout. We started the Movember Foundation to have an impact and to leave a legacy.”

Garone announced that UK-based Owen Sharp had been appointed as his successor: “He will lead an international team of 100, reporting to the board.”

Sharp has been with the organisation for seven months as COO, in addition to heading up the men’s cancer portfolio, having previously been the CEO of Prostate Cancer UK.

Chairman of the board John Hughes said Garone had made a huge contribution to the Movember Foundation and men’s health issues.

“We are excited to retain his marketing and advocacy skills to assist us to broaden the ambitions of Movember,” Hughes said.

He said Sharp would take over as CEO on 1 June, based out of the London office but working closely with the foundation’s head office in Melbourne and two other offices in Toronto and Los Angeles.