Lagunitas Brewing Company’s chief marketing officer Paige Guzman has parted ways with the Heineken-owned craft brewery.
Lagunitas announced Guzman’s departure today, as well as the appointment of Laguinitas head of brand Hannah Dray as interim CMO. A “thorough search for a dynamic and seasoned leader” to permanently fill the position is underway, Lagunitas CEO Dennis Peek said in a statement shared with Brewbound.
“We would like to express our gratitude and best wishes to Paige as she embarks on to the next phase of her career,” Peek said. “And personally acknowledge her contributions to our company and the development of our diverse portfolio of beer and beyond beverage brands.”
Guzman has held the title of CMO since 2020. Prior to Lagunitas, she had several extended stints at other bev-alc giants, including Constellation Brands and Beam Suntory.
Dray joined the Lagunitas team in January. She has more than a decade of experience at Heineken under her belt, holding various brand and marketing leadership positions at the Dutch brewing company, including overseeing and “accelerating the successful Dos Equis brand core and innovation agenda,” a spokesperson told Brewbound.
The CMO move follows the departure of Lagunitas head of sales Tony Amaral, who was scooped by Firestone Walker earlier this month and is now serving as chief sales officer for the Paso Robles, California-based craft brewery.
Amaral spent approximately seven years at Lagunitas, taking the role of head of sales in April 2021.
The leadership changes at Lagunitas follows three consecutive years of production declines at the Petaluma, California-based brewery, including a -4% decline in 2022, to 860,000 barrels, according to the Brewers Association.
In the last 13 weeks (ending June 17), Lagunitas IPA, its top-selling brand in NIQ-tracked off-premise channels, recorded a -14.1% decline in dollar sales and -17.8% decline in volume (case sales), according to data shared by 3 Tier Beverages. The No. 2 Lagunitas brand Little Sumpin Sumpin recorded a -18.3% decline in dollar sales and -21% decline in volume in the period.