The Person Behind Exsto that nobody really knows.

People often ask me who started Exsto.

The easy answer is...

Me ( Mike)

The truthful answer?

It was us.

If you've followed Exsto for any length of time, you'll know Mike you know my face.

I'm the one talking into the camera, sending emails, standing at events, running around photoshoots and generally coming up with ideas that sound brilliant for about five minutes... until Jade reminds me what they'll actually involve.

She's never wanted to be the face of Exsto.

Which is exactly why I think she deserves this story.

We met when we were just fifteen years old.

We've grown up together.

She's watched me chase a rugby career.

She was there when I broke my neck and my world fell apart.

She helped me build Exsto Gym.

And when another one of my "crazy ideas" came along — starting a sports apparel company in a world dominated by billion-pound brands — she didn't laugh.

Well... she probably questioned my sanity.

But once I committed...

She did too.

That's Jade.

She might spend an hour trying to convince me not to jump.

But if I jump...

She's already halfway down building something to catch me.

People often ask me what Jade does at Exsto.

I genuinely don't know how to answer that question.

Because the real answer is...

Everything.

She's the definition of a jack of all trades.

One minute she's talking to a manufacturer.

The next she's checking samples.

Then she's organising an event, answering customer emails, solving a problem I didn't even know existed, before somehow remembering we promised snacks for a school club after work.

She has about ten million thoughts in her head at any given time.

She's brutally honest with me.

Exceptionally professional with everyone else.

She'll tell me when an idea is ridiculous.

She'll tell me when a product isn't good enough.

She'll tell me when I'm wrong.

Which, according to her...

Is surprisingly often.

The funny thing is...

People sometimes assume I'm the dreamer and Jade is the sensible one.

They're only half right.

I'm the one who starts the fire.

Jade is the one who makes sure it doesn't burn the house down.

The biggest sacrifice Jade has ever made wasn't giving up weekends.

Or working late nights.

Or packing orders until midnight.

It was something much bigger.

She gave up her own individual dreams without ever asking me to give up mine.

Somewhere along the journey...

My vision quietly became our vision.

And I don't think she even noticed it happening.

There have been times when Exsto has been unbelievably close to ending.

Moments where shutting the doors genuinely felt like the easier option.

People don't see those moments.

They see the launches.

The events.

The photos.

The wins.

They don't see the conversations after the girls have gone to bed.

The worry.

The uncertainty.

Or the moments Jade somehow found another idea.

Another event.

Another contact.

Another reason to keep going.

Truthfully...

Exsto is still here because she refused to let us quit.

Out of everything Jade has achieved though...

Business isn't what makes me proud.

Watching her be a mum does.

Our daughters, Mia and Maisie, absolutely adore her.

They see someone who works incredibly hard, somehow keeps the household running, trains, supports me, and still manages to get them to school, clubs and everything else life throws at us.

Mostly on time...

Which is probably as good as any parent can hope for.

If you know Jade personally, you'll know she's fiercely loyal.

She'll move mountains for the people she loves.

But if you lose her trust...

Well...

Let's just say there isn't really a return policy.

People often say to me, "You've built an incredible business."

Every single time I hear that, I know the sentence is missing one word.

You've.

Because I didn't.

We did.

Exsto has never been my story.

It's ours.

And while I'll probably always be the loud one standing in front of the camera...

The reason this company has become what it is has very little to do with who's in front of it.

It has everything to do with the woman quietly making sure every promise we make is actually kept.

Thank you, Jade.

Not just for believing in Exsto.

But for believing in me long before anyone else did.