Jeremy Moon, founder and CEO of the New Zealand merino apparel company, wins award for Manufacturing, Design and Innovation.
Jeremy Moon, founder and CEO of Icebreaker, the New Zealand company that pioneered the outdoor merino wool apparel category, has been awarded the World Class New Zealand Award for Manufacturing, Design and Innovation.
Sponsored by Kea New Zealand, the annual World Class New Zealand Awards honor seven New Zealanders who have significantly contributed to the country’s growth and development, as well as its international reputation. The awards include seven categories, ranging from business and academia to the creative arts.
In awarding Moon the Manufacturing, Design and Innovation category award, the judging panel noted “With a business model based on innovation and design, Icebreaker has grown into an iconic international brand for New Zealand.”
“This award is a tribute to all the great people – from the sheep farmers to our staff and retailers to our loyal customers – who have helped Icebreaker grow over the past 17 years,” says Moon. “It also illustrates that it's possible to grow an ethical global business from New Zealand.”
Moon directs all major operating and business strategies from the company's global headquarters in Wellington, New Zealand. His leadership has seen the company grow rapidly, with sales more than doubling over the past four years.
A leading contributor to sustainable business practices and on the role of design and innovation in business, Moon was named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2008 for his services to business. In 2011, with other New Zealand business leaders, he helped found Pure Advantage, a nonprofit organization that aims to protect and restore New Zealand’s pure, environmentally responsible image, which – according to the Pure Advantage founders – is in rapid decline due to neglect and is affecting the bottom line for the country’s tourism and export sales.
Moon and the other World Class New Zealand Award winners were presented with the World Class New Zealand Tall Poppy statuette at a gala dinner at The Langham Hotel in Auckland last night.