Athletic Adds Chief Sales Officer
Non-alcoholic beer maker Athletic Brewing Company has hired Alex Boerger as its chief sales officer.
“The hiring of Alex Boerger (CSO) and Andrew Katz (CMO) to run our commercial teams in sales and marketing has Athletic poised and ready for our next level of growth,” Athletic co-founder Bill Shufelt said in an email to Brewbound. “Our Athletic teammates have done an incredible job building great relationships throughout the U.S. market over the past three years, and we’re excited that Alex and Andrew will bring perspectives of operating at a much larger scale both domestically and internationally to our midst. Alex comes from running chains at a highly respected organization and culture at Heineken, and we anticipate that translating really well to our efforts at Athletic.”
Boerger worked for nearly six years at Heineken USA, most recently as VP and GM of national accounts. Heineken’s 0.0 non-alcoholic beer is the top-seller in off-premise retailers, while Athletic’s portfolio is the top-selling craft NA beer brand.
Lion Group Names New CEO
Lion Group has appointed former Diageo exec Sam Fischer as its next CEO. Fischer will succeed existing CEO Stuart Irvine in July 2022.
“Sam brings 30 years of global leadership experience, deep expertise in alcohol beverages and FMCG businesses and a strong track record in driving business growth,” Lion Chairman Sir Rod Eddington said in a press release.“Sam joins Lion at a pivotal time, as our industry continues to navigate the impacts of the pandemic and Lion delivers a new mid-term plan to return to sustainable growth. His drive for performance and proven ability to lead with purpose and conviction will be invaluable as Lion enters this next chapter.”
Fischer will join Lion after serving as president of Diageo’s Asia Pacific and Global Travel division. He also was a member of the Global Diageo Executive Committee. Fischer also brings 15 years of experience at Colgate-Palmolive in Australia, Europe and Asia.
Irvine spent nine years leading Kirin-owned Lion Group.
Two Roads Hires VP of Sales
Stratford, Connecticut-based Two Roads Brewing Co. has hired Brian Corrie as its next vice president of sales, the company announced today.
Corrie most recently served as a northeast regional business manager for Bell’s Brewery for the last four years. He’s worked with the craft brewing industry for more than 15 years, previously working in sales roles for nearly 12 years at New Belgium Brewing Company.
“Now is the right time to bring in a craft beer veteran with a strong track record to take our brands to a new level of growth” Two Roads CEO Brad Hittle said in a press release. “Brian brings strategic prowess along with a deep knowledge of our market footprint and strong leadership skills to mentor and motivate our sales team.”
Corrie will be tasked with helping Two Roads grow its distribution footprint.
Two Roads noted that Corrie’s hiring follows the addition of Brian Duprey as senior director of national accounts in July 2021. Duprey previously served as Bell’s national accounts off-premise key accounts team leader. In 2020, the company hired Brian Hollinger, the former VP of operations at Dogfish Head, as general manager of brewery operations.
“I’m so excited about our leadership team,” Hittle added. “They are dedicated, experienced, and strong leaders who will quickly make a positive impact on Two Roads and on our customer’s businesses.”
American Cider Association Announces Election Results
The American Cider Association (ACA) announced the election of Christine Walter of Bauman’s Cider in Gervais, Oregon, and David Glaize of Old Town Cidery in Winchester, Virginia, to its board of directors.
Walter will serve as a director-at-large, while Glaize will be the southern chair, acting as a liaison to the ACA’s southern members and the board of directors.
Additionally, the ACA revealed the results of its 2022 board officer elections, as Eleanor Leger of Eden Specialty Ciders in Vermont was reelected as president and Brooke Glover of Swilled Dog in West Virginia won another term as vice president..
Dave Takush, head cidermaker of Oregon’s 2 Towns Ciderhouse, will join the trade group’s executive committee as secretary, while John Behrens of Michigan’s Farmhaus Cider will transition to treasurer for 2022.
Retiring directors include Paul Vander Heide of Michigan’s Vander Mill Cider and David Thornton of North Carolina’s James Creek Cider House.
Ray Stout to Lead Illinois Craft Brewers Guild
The Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (ICBG) has hired Ray Stout as its executive director following the departure of Danielle D’Alessandro last fall.
Prior to joining the ICBG, Stout held director of operations roles at two labor unions, the SEIU Local 73 in Chicago for nearly three years, and the Vermont State Employees’ Association from 2012-2019.
“In my heart, I’m an organizer,” Stout told Brewbound. “That’s what I’m really trying to bring to this position – the ability to bring people together to create power.”
Stout began his role in mid-November, just before the ICBG’s annual Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers. The guild represents about 225 of the state’s nearly 300 craft breweries, Stout said.