Good Good’s CEO and president are out on Wednesday within the newest twist on the beleaguered YouTube golf collective, based on a memo seen by Business Insider.
Nahid Giga, one of many firm’s founders and an early investor, will step in as interim CEO, based on a memo shared with staffers by Alex Puchala, who leads finance and operations at Good Good.
Outgoing CEO Matt Kendrick, additionally certainly one of Good Good’s founders, had publicly blasted Callaway after the golf firm ended its partnership with the YouTuber group over a controversial advert it made in a partnership with Callaway.
In the memo, Puchala known as it a tough day for Good Good. “Matt helped build something extraordinary that exceeded all expectations and continues to bring countless new fans to the sport.”
The president, Joe Flannery, a sports activities trade vet, had been appointed to take over a lot of the enterprise operations and had been on the job just a few days when the advert broke.
A Good Good spokesperson stated that, even with the current controversy, the corporate has seen development in retail gross sales and within the variety of followers on social media. It’s additionally maintained investor confidence, the spokesperson stated. It additionally sees a possibility to have interaction retailers once more.
The advert behind the firestorm
The advert that triggered the firestorm confirmed certainly one of Good Good’s cofounders, Garrett Clark, working towards a feminine member of the group, Alexis Miestowski, and pushing her to the bottom. Standing over her, he stated, “Do not touch my new driver,” earlier than selecting it up himself and hitting a shot.
The fallout was quick and extreme. Retailers pulled Good Good merchandise from cabinets, and the golf group stepped away because the title sponsor of a fall PGA Tour occasion.
Kendrick informed Front Office Sports that he did not view the advert earlier than it ran and that the advertising and marketing workforce oversaw it. Good Good’s advertising and marketing head, Jeff Lefkovits, and a second advertising and marketing workforce worker have been let go. Callaway’s content material head departed, based on stories. Good Good beforehand apologized for the advert’s content material.
It’s been a putting flip of occasions for what had been thought of a creator financial system success story. The firm, whose bread and butter is high-energy golf movies, had constructed a string of retail partnerships and raised $45 million final 12 months.
The diversified enterprise that had made Good Good a creator success story additionally uncovered it to companions who did not have the abdomen for dangerous information.
Good Good had a brand-friendly picture and had rolled out a marketing campaign, “There’s More to Golf,” earlier this 12 months to advertise inclusivity and attain new audiences.
Creator financial system watchers have stated Good Good could come back if it doubles down on its core viewers and leans on humor — in a self-deprecating method — to regular the ship.
Here’s the memo from Puchala:
Good Good Team — I needed you to listen to this information immediately from me. Effective at present, Matt has determined to step down as CEO of Good Good and Joe has chosen to half methods as nicely. This is a tough day for your entire Good Good household. Matt helped construct one thing extraordinary that exceeded all expectations and continues to deliver numerous new followers to the game. What started as a small group of mates enjoying golf is now a rising world group. To guarantee stability by way of this transition, Nahid Giga, Good Good co-founder and certainly one of our first traders, will step in as interim CEO, efficient instantly. Garrett and the creator workforce will hold doing what they do greatest, making nice content material and partaking our followers who’re wanting to see and hear from us. I’ll stay COO and CFO, and will proceed to supervise day-to-day operations. We’re inspired by the continued assist of the Good Good group, and we stay targeted on transferring ahead and constructing the subsequent chapter of the corporate. My door is at all times open if in case you have any questions, or just want to speak. Onward, Alex