Co-founder, Cuckoo, on customer feedback, skiing mishaps and mosquitos

What was your first-ever job? My first summer job was working for my father’s car business in customer service.

What’s been your worst job interview? A telephone interview for a job in the City - I blabbed on for a good few minutes before having to ask the interviewer to repeat the question because I had forgotten it.

What was the first single you bought? Backstreet Boys - Everybody.

How do you describe your job to your mates? I’ve started a business selling delicious on-the-go bircher muesli pots.

What is the most rewarding part of your job? Seeing Cuckoo on the shelf, and getting feedback emails from people who have come across it and love it.

What is the least rewarding part? Distribution costs - particularly when a new customer wants to stock Cuckoo and we are unable to get products to them due to the cost.

What is your motto? Try not to dwell on mistakes but learn from them instead.

What’s your nickname? Maxi - it’s a nickname from school.

If you were allowed one dream perk what would it be? I would have an office café where Yotam Ottolenghi was our chef so I could eat his food for lunch every day.

What’s your favourite movie and why? I saw Up the other day - it had all the emotions and life ­lessons needed to make a great movie.

What’s been the most embarrassing moment in your life? The first and last time I went down a ski park and skied the rails, I was following my brother down and just about landed one jump but fell flat on my face on the second and broke my collarbone - very unnecessary!

Do you have any phobias? Mosquitos - I can never fall asleep if I hear one buzzing around.

If you could change one thing in grocery what would it be? It would relate to distribution - as a small company with a chilled, fresh product it is very costly to get our products to customers.

What luxury would you have on your desert island? A Kindle so I could finally catch up on all the reading I wish I spent more time doing.

What animal best reflects your personality and why? A lion because I work hard but when I am not doing that I like to lounge, play and relax.

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