Good Good’s CEO and co-founder has left the US golf brand just days after a defiant social media post over an ad the company made for Callaway that drew accusations of misogyny.

Callaway sacked Good Good last week over the ad, which depicted a man pushing over a woman and was accused of making light of violence against women.

CEO Matt Kendrick responded by writing on X: “Interesting that @CallawayGolf asks us to make an ad then approves it then asks us to take the fall then drops us in a coordinated media blitz and covers it up by giving a million dollars away thinking everyone will be ok with it.”

Kendrick and president Joe Flannery have now left Good Good, with board member Nahid Giga stepping in as interim CEO. Fellow co-founder Garrett Clark, who appeared in the ad, is still with the company.

“This is a difficult day for the entire Good Good family,” head of finance and operations Alex Puchala told staff in a memo. “Matt helped build something extraordinary that exceeded all expectations and continues to bring countless new fans to the sport.”

Puchala added that Good Good was “encouraged by the continued support” of its fans and “focused on moving forward and building the next chapter of the company”.

Good Good makes golf clothing and equipment as well as creating content. It has over 1m subscribers to its YouTube channel and works with brands and broadcasters.

Its ad for a new Callaway driver provoked immediate and far-reaching backlash, which its withdrawal and repeated apologies from both the club maker and Good Good failed to quell.

Vice president of brand and marketing Jeffrey Lefkovits and Callaway director of content and production Alex Upegui both left their roles amid the controversy.