Ooni has evolved significantly as a company since their founding. They went from creating a new outdoor cooking category to massive growth then right into navigating tariffs and macroeconomic pressures. Looking at their financials, they’ve done it successfully too through selling down inventory and paying down debt.
Over the past year, they’ve entered a new phase as a company. They’ve expanded into an adjacent product category which will help them mature, and they’ve brought on new executive leaders.
As part of the maturation process, Ooni has also brought on some new board members. Today, they announced they rounded out their board with a new Chair, Jim Rowan. He brings a ton of experience as the former CEO of both Volvo Cars and Dyson. He also served as the COO of Blackberry.
Since the early days of Ooni we made the strategic decision to have a board of advisors, to bring together world-class experience that would challenge, support and steer us into the next level. Today we are so excited to bring this group of global stars into Ooni. We leaned into our value of ambition and had a rigorous process to find these board advisors and our new Chair. Jim is an exceptional leader, and we’re delighted to have him as Chair. Alongside Ruth and Scott, he brings a huge amount of experience and perspective to Ooni at a really exciting time in our journey. I would also like to take this opportunity to give heartfelt thanks to Paul Ross for his wisdom and expertise in Chairing Ooni through the last 8 years of phenomenal growth. Having decided this is the right moment for him to hand over the reins with Ooni’s next chapter well underway, we are immensely grateful for everything he has done for the business.
Darina Garland, Founder of Ooni
It’s a good addition for Ooni because what strikes me about Jim Rowan’s background is all the companies that he led have very distinct identities. Volvo has a strong association with safety, and Dyson with growth and innovation.
They’re also companies that have an aspirational future state for Ooni. Under Jim’s leadership, the Ooni Board will work with the executive team to map out Ooni’s 10-year strategy. The north star of that work is continuing to make the right decisions for the global community of Ooni customers.
What excites me about Ooni is the scale of the
Jim Rowan, Chair of Ooni’s Board
opportunity ahead. This is a brand that has created its own category and built extraordinary
loyalty, but is still early in its growth story. Having spent much of my career scaling design-led
consumer businesses globally, I’m delighted to be appointed as Chair to lead the brand through
this next chapter of growth by staying true to brand purpose and continuing to innovate
world-class products.
Jim Rowan is succeeding Paul Ross, who is stepping down after eight eventful years. Paul was instrumental in guiding Ooni through the category defining growth they’ve experienced.