Maxine Horne

Maxine Horne's Biography

Self-made multi-millionaire and one time Australia’s highest-paid female CEO, Maxine Horne has been inducted into the Queensland Business Hall of Fame and in 2024 joined the panel on Shark Tank Australia.

As the founder of Vita Group in 1995 with the brand of Fone Zone and its very first retail store opening in Pacific Fair on the Gold Coast Maxine Horne grew the business to more than 160 Fone Zone stores and also led the group to secure the position of Telstra’s only Master Licensee, moving on to owning and operating 110 plus Telstra-branded stores for more than a decade.

Under Maxine’s 26-year stewardship Vita Group made the most of opportunities and evolving markets, in addition to the creation of Fone Zone there was also Vita Enterprise Solutions, Sprout Accessories, SQD Athletica, Artisan Aesthetic Clinics and Cosmedcloud. Maxine employed more than 1,600 staff and annual revenue in excess of $700 million.

In 2021, Vita Group sold its telco stores and the business of Sprout Accessories to Telstra Group Limited. Vita Enterprise Solutions and SQD Athletica were also sold to separate purchasers. In 2023, the remaining businesses of Artisan Aesthetic Clinics and Cosmedcloud were sold to Sonic Healthcare Limited.

Maxine is 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 become the CEO of an ASX200 publicly listed company – requiring structure, discipline, compliance, risk mitigation and governance.

Maxine’s creation of award-winning team member and customer service programs has underpinned the success of Vita Group as a business leader. She provides intensive customer service training for staff, as well as incentives and a rewarding internal career path. Maxine drives her team to be the best they can be, personally and professionally – and she provides the culture and systems to achieve this. She knows from experience that creating the right culture in the business will drive an exceptional experience for customers.

Maxine’s presentations are energetic, insightful, thought-provoking and delivered with the laughter that has characterised Maxine’s corporate career.

To enquire about Maxine Horne for your next event contact Helene Greenham directly – helene@platinumspeakers.com.au

Speaking Topics Include

Think Smart, Run Hard

The Fone Zone success story

People Power – The power of human capital

Getting the business culture right

Exceptional Customer Service is an imperative