Coming to the industry in 2009 from a medical sales background, John (now the CEO of Blue Dragon Assets) founded the Mammoth brand to “improve lives through science-backed innovation”, and subsequently scaled the business from concept to multi-million pound entity, working across the UK, Europe and the UAE. He is perhaps best known for his bedding ranges, which promise performance-enhancing sleep and wellness.
How might a child describe what you do?
I lead people who are smarter than me towards a belief and vision that is truly authentic, for the greater good.
What’s the biggest long-term challenge you face?
Simply preparing for uncertainty. We’ve been at the sharp end of a very challenging period – stores closing through Covid, supply chain issues due to global shortages and also a recession. The challenge is simply to be better prepared and more resilient to these events and learn from each experience.
If you had 10 x your working budget, what would you spend it on?
Executing our growth strategy quicker. At Mammoth we know where we are heading and I’m hugely excited about what the future holds. More working budget just allows us to accelerate our plans. Or maybe I’d buy the Mammoth Jet!
What would be the title of your autobiography?
Put your back into it.
What does ‘work/life balance’ mean to you?
Balancing all your wellness pillars and passions.
Who’s been your most influential professional mentor?
A colleague called Simon Arms-Reardon – he’s a former FD who is no-nonsense, cuts through the bull and has helped me to understand how numbers can tell a story. His insights have really helped me to build on both my mathematical and creative strengths, as well as helping me to better understand human behaviour.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Trust the process. And understand the difference between what you can influence and what you can’t change.
What’s been your best day in business to date?
The day I did a consultation with Professor Stephen Hawking as the owner and clinical expert at Mammoth.
What’s the biggest myth about our industry?
That we’re just selling stuff to fill rooms. To me, we’re offering choice and we’re selling lifestyles. In our case, that’s healthier lives. I genuinely believe that creating better products and educating people to change behaviours can help them lead longer, happier lives.
Where do you see the industry going in the next 5-10 years?
A greater globalisation of the industry. I think the UK will need to embrace what is on offer from elsewhere in the world. You can’t hold back the tide, and working against it is wasted energy.
What question do you wish we’d asked? How would you have answered?
Q: If you could fly a rocket up to the stratosphere and round the world to gain a better perspective on our planet and our role within it, where would it land, and who would be your co-pilot?
A: It’s a secret …
This interview featured in July's issue.
