5 Astonishing Facts About Derek Maxfield: From Younique Founder To CEO Of Komigo And Recent Controversy
Derek Maxfield is one of the most transformative figures in the world of direct sales and social commerce, a true visionary who has constantly adapted his business model to the digital age. As of December 2025, his career is marked by two major milestones: the founding of the global beauty brand Younique and the recent launch of his new social selling platform, Komigo. This article dives deep into his biography, his entrepreneurial journey, the landmark buyback of his first company, and the surprising, high-interest controversies that have recently put his new venture in the global spotlight.
This comprehensive profile provides the latest, most current information on Maxfield’s career, detailing his foundational role in pioneering social commerce, his philanthropic efforts, and the fresh, unique details surrounding his latest business endeavors and the unexpected media scrutiny that followed.
Derek Maxfield: A Comprehensive Biographical Profile
Derek Maxfield is an American entrepreneur, software developer, and philanthropist, best known for co-founding the direct sales company Younique. His career is characterized by a strong focus on leveraging technology to empower independent business owners.
- Full Name: Derek Maxfield
- Primary Occupation: Entrepreneur, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Key Companies Founded: Younique (Co-Founder), Komigo (Founder & CEO)
- Co-Founder of Younique: Melanie Huscroft (Sister)
- Philanthropic Involvement: Founding Board Member of Saprea (formerly The Younique Foundation), Maxfield Family Foundation
- Education: Graduated from Brigham Young University and Boise State University
- Current Role: CEO of Komigo
- Notable Career Milestones: Pioneer of social commerce in the direct sales industry; successfully bought back controlling stake of Younique from Coty.
- Residence/Base: Lehi, Utah, United States
The Genesis of a Social Commerce Empire: The Younique Story
Maxfield’s initial foray into the beauty and direct sales world was a game-changer. His background as a software developer, rather than a traditional cosmetics executive, gave him a unique perspective that would revolutionize the industry. He recognized the untapped power of social media to drive sales and build communities.
Pioneering Direct Sales in the Digital Age
Younique was co-founded by Derek Maxfield and his sister, Melanie Huscroft, in 2012. The company was revolutionary because it was the first direct sales company to operate almost exclusively through the use of social media platforms.
Maxfield coined the term "social commerce" to describe this new model, where independent distributors, known as "Presenters," would market products and host virtual parties directly through platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
This digital-first approach eliminated the need for traditional in-home parties, making the business accessible to a much wider audience and quickly propelling Younique into a global brand. The company’s focus on high-quality cosmetics and a powerful digital strategy created a massive, devoted sales force.
The Coty Partnership and the Historic Buyback
The success of Younique attracted the attention of major industry players. In 2017, the global beauty giant Coty, Inc. acquired a 60% controlling stake in Younique, valuing the company in the hundreds of millions.
However, the partnership was short-lived. In 2019, Maxfield and Huscroft made a significant move, buying back the controlling stake from Coty. This move was a powerful statement of independence, allowing the original founders to regain full control of their vision and strategy. The buyback allowed Maxfield to steer Younique back to its core principles and further innovate its technology-driven sales model.
Komigo: Maxfield’s New Frontier in Social Selling
Following the Younique buyback, Derek Maxfield shifted his focus to a new venture that directly addresses the challenges and opportunities of the modern social selling environment: Komigo.
Simplifying the Social Selling Process
Maxfield announced the public debut of Komigo, a new platform designed specifically to simplify social selling for entrepreneurs. Recognizing the complexity and fragmentation of marketing across multiple social media channels, Komigo aims to provide a unified, streamlined solution.
As the Chief Executive Officer of Komigo, Maxfield is leveraging his decades of experience in the space, particularly his deep understanding of technology and direct sales. The platform is positioned as the next evolution of social commerce, helping independent sellers manage content, inventory, and customer relationships more efficiently.
The Unexpected Controversy Surrounding Komigo
In a surprising turn of events that thrust his new company into the national spotlight, Komigo’s corporate assets became a topic of high-profile media scrutiny. Following a tragic, high-profile shooting incident, news outlets reported that a private jet linked to the shooter was registered to Komigo, the software company owned by Derek Maxfield.
The immediate connection of his new company to a sensitive public event created a sudden need for clarification. Maxfield, wanting to "set the record straight," went into detail to deny any claims of involvement or knowledge of the situation. He clarified that the jet was a corporate asset and that the company had no prior connection to the individuals involved in the incident. This situation highlighted the unexpected ways a successful entrepreneur's business assets can be drawn into public controversies.
Philanthropy and the Maxfield Family Legacy
Beyond his business ventures, Derek Maxfield is also deeply committed to philanthropy, often working alongside his wife, Shelaine Maxfield.
The Mission of Saprea
One of Maxfield's most significant contributions is his role as a founding board member of Saprea, formerly known as The Younique Foundation. Saprea is a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse.
Maxfield has channeled substantial resources and attention through his corporate and personal efforts to support the organization's mission of providing healing retreats, resources, and prevention education. This commitment demonstrates a core value of using the success of his business to address critical social issues.
Empowering Global Entrepreneurs
Through the Maxfield Family Foundation, Derek and Shelaine Maxfield are actively involved in supporting entrepreneurial education globally. They have partnered with organizations like the Academy for Creating Enterprise to empower aspiring entrepreneurs in developing nations, such as Brazil. This initiative focuses on teaching business skills and providing resources to help individuals achieve economic self-reliance, further cementing Maxfield's legacy as a proponent of independent business ownership.
Beyond Business: The Other Derek Maxfield
For those searching for Maxfield's details, it is important to note the existence of another prominent figure with the same name, which often leads to confusion online.
A separate Derek Maxfield is a recently retired professor of history and political science, known for his expertise in the American Civil War. This academic, formerly an Associate Professor at a New York college, is an author and recipient of the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in 2019.
While both men share a name and a dedication to their respective fields, the entrepreneur Derek Maxfield remains the central figure in the world of social commerce and the CEO of Komigo.
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