Brooklyn Brewery today announced that longtime beer industry veteran Dave Duffy would join the company as the vice president of business development, a newly created position at the 29-year old company.
Duffy — whom over the last 20 years has held various sales and marketing positions with Boston Beer Company, New Belgium Brewing and Great Divide, among other organizations — had most recently been working with First Beverage Group.
Duffy will “help guide the company through its next stage of growth,” according to a press release, and oversee its U.S and global sales initiatives. He’ll also focus on “corporate strategy, sales & marketing, and special projects,” the release noted.
“We’re delighted to have Dave join us as we enter into a new chapter of aggressive growth initiatives”, Brooklyn president Robin Ottaway said via the release. “As our brewery consultant for the last three years, he’s already added a ton of value and has a clear view of what we need to do to get to the next level.”
Duffy founded Colorado Craft Advisors, a beverage-focused consultancy focusing on sales and marketing solutions for suppliers and distributors in 2012, and was working with First Beverage as an affiliate advisor prior to selling his company to the advisory firm last June.
“I hit the lottery by having a chance to work with and learn from the awesome folks at First Beverage Group”, Duffy said in the release. “Their investment banking team has a true love of the craft beer space and is peerless in their ability to help folks find creative ways to fund growth. And I hit the lottery again- I get to work with Brooklyn Brewery that’s doing some game-changing things in the beer industry.”
Duffy officially began with Brooklyn Brewery today. National sales manager Chris Rom and national chain manager John Boegel, as well as marketing director Ben Hudson will all report to Duffy, the company said.
“With all the projects we have to execute, Dave is the perfect addition for us at a key time,” Brooklyn CEO Eric Ottaway added. “His multi-tier experience with 30+ national, regional, and local breweries will give us insight into how best to position and differentiate Brooklyn Brewery in arguably the most competitive and dynamic time period we’ve seen.”