With the disclosure of his $300K salary, Luca Lavigne’s quick ascent to the roles of Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Mamamia has come under intense scrutiny. His rapid rise at the age of 27 within the family-run Australian media company, which was started by his mother, Mia Freedman, has generated a lot of discussion. Some contend that the pay is a sign of workplace nepotism, particularly in a company that has long been criticized for having a lower wage structure, while others view it as the logical advancement of a committed professional.
At Mamamia, a company that has been a significant voice in Australian media, especially on issues of women’s rights and empowerment, the situation has caused internal conflict. Mamamia’s challenge is to navigate the realities of familial influence and corporate governance while maintaining its image as a forward-thinking and progressive company. At a time when the business is trying to diversify its sources of income, Luca’s pay has highlighted the intricate relationships between merit, workplace equity, and family ties.
Full Name | Luca Lavigne |
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Date of Birth | 1997 |
Position | Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Product Officer (CPO) |
Company | Mamamia Media |
Salary | $300,000 (2025) |
Education | Sydney Grammar School (2015) |
Previous Roles | Content Producer (2016), Business Development Manager (2018-2021), Head of Product (2021-2024) |
Family | Son of Mia Freedman (Founder of Mamamia), Married to Jessie Stephens (Mamamia Editor) |
Employees have complained that the Lavigne family is becoming more and more influential within the business. At Mamamia, where her husband Jason Lavigne is the CEO, Mia Freedman has long been a driving force. Some staff members believe that the family’s rising prominence is now overshadowing the effort and commitment of the rest of the team because their son holds two high-level positions and receives a sizable salary. These workers, many of whom have contributed to Mamamia’s success for a long time, have expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s compensation structure, claiming it does not adequately compensate them for their contributions and hard work.

Luca Lavigne’s quick ascent raises concerns about the dynamics of family-run businesses in the framework of Mamamia’s internal organization. Family members frequently hold important positions in these organizations, but their pay is frequently questioned, especially when it appears out of proportion. The controversy is only heightened by Luca’s past, which includes brief positions as a kitchen assistant and bartender prior to joining Mamamia in 2016. However, his contributions to Mamamia have been crucial to the company’s growth into new media domains like digital goods and podcasts. For many employees, however, the question still stands: does a comparatively brief tenure in the field justify such a high salary With the fall in traditional advertising revenue, the media landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, especially in digital publishing. Mamamia has had to change to remain relevant, just like a lot of other businesses in the industry. Luca’s dual responsibilities as CPO and COO are thought to be essential to Mamamia’s plan for handling this change. He has played a key role in propelling the business’s transition to digital-first content, which has helped Mamamia stay ahead of the competition. However, as employees start to wonder if the company’s values match its actions, the internal division brought on by the salary leak poses a threat to the company’s morale.
Notwithstanding the conflict, Luca’s ascent within Mamamia can also be seen as a mirror of how the media landscape is evolving. The role of family in digital publishers is being reexamined as they attempt to strike a balance between the demands of content creation and the need for profitability. Some believe that Luca’s pay is commensurate with his work, while others believe it sets a bad example for the business. The conflict goes beyond a single high salary; it also raises the more general question of whether media organizations, particularly those that support social causes, can also implement meritocracy and pay equity.