FIFCO USA Taps Dan Hennessy as Chief Sales Officer
FIFCO USA has appointed former Molson Coors executive Dan Hennessy as its new chief sales officer, effective February 8.
Hennessy, a nearly 15-year beer industry veteran, supplants Josh Halpern, who parted ways with the company in early January.
During his nearly 15-year stint at Molson Coors, Hennessy worked in several commercial leadership roles, last serving as chief commercial officer for Molson Coors International from January 2019 to January 2020. More recently, he worked as senior VP and general manager of Serta Simmons Bedding.
“Dan’s commercial background and track record of success in sales, trade, and consumer marketing leadership roles, make him uniquely qualified to help us achieve the next level of high performance,” FIFCO USA CEO Rich Andrews said in a press release. “We’re excited to have him join our team in this critical leadership role.”
In the new role, Hennessy will oversee the company’s “sales operations, including wholesaler relations, chain account and channel management, trade marketing and execution across the distribution network.”
“When FIFCO USA approached me with this position, it was too good to pass up,” Hennessy said in the release. “Working in an industry that I love and for a company focused on growth, presented the right opportunity at the right time. I’m looking forward to collaborating with the team to reach our full potential together.”
Brewers of Pennsylvania Names Adam Harris Executive Director
The Brewers of Pennsylvania (BOP) has appointed Adam Harris as executive director of the state guild. Harris, a former state lawmaker who served as chair of the state’s House Liquor Control Committee, has served as the guild’s deputy director since 2019.
As executive director, Harris will be the “main point of contact for industry advocacy and government affairs” on both the state and federal levels, while also leading the guild’s membership, operations and professional development efforts.
“His thorough understanding of our evolving needs as an organization and demonstrated leadership in the legislative arena will help elevate Pennsylvania craft beer for years to come,” BOP president Chris Lampe said in a press release.
Harris served as a member of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives for 16 years, where he chaired the House Liquor Control committee. He is credited with “much-needed pro-consumer/pro-beer reforms to the state’s antiquated liquor laws,” the BOP said in a release. Among those reforms: allowing beer wholesalers to sell 6-packs on down to single units and growlers. The BOP awarded Harris its “Legislative Champion Award” in 2017.
“I am excited to lead BOP efforts and ensure the Pennsylvania beer community remains a thriving, economic impact for the Commonwealth,” Harris said in the release.
Dan LaBert, who served as executive director for nine years, announced his intentions in December 2018 to step down from the role in 2020.
JuneShine Adds Todd Karnig as Chief Commercial Officer
San Diego hard kombucha maker JuneShine has hired former Stone Brewing VP of sales Todd Karnig as chief commercial officer.
Karnig will join JuneShine’s leadership team, and be responsible for driving the company’s sales and certain marketing initiatives, as well as setting its commercial strategy.
“We’ve reached a scale and pace that demands a veteran commercial leader, someone who has walked this path before, and can help lead us as we continue growing our business, both in a commercial capacity and as a leader in general,” JuneShine co-founder and CEO Greg Serrao said in a press release. “I am confident Todd will do that.”
“Not many companies have done as many things right in their first 2.5 years as JuneShine,” Karnig added. “It’s a great brand being built by an extremely talented team and I am grateful to get an opportunity to lead and scale the company through a very rapid growth phase.”
Karnig led sales for Stone Brewing from August 2013 through December 2018. In his time at Stone, the company grew into a top 10 selling craft brand, peaking at an estimated 400,000 barrels in 2018, according to the Brewers Association.
After leaving Stone, Karnig joined cannabis firm iAnthus Capital Management, where he served as a senior vice president.
Karnig joins JuneShine after the company launched nationwide direct-to-consumer shipping through its website earlier this month.
Phil McFarland Joins Canopy Growth as Director of Innovation Acceleration
Phil McFarland will join Canadian cannabis company Canopy Growth as director of innovation acceleration in February.
McFarland had been consulting in the cannabis space since his departure a year ago from Half Acre Beer Company, where he had worked for nearly five years. He last served as vice president of the Chicago craft brewery.
Since exiting Half Acre, McFarland has worked for much of the last year on a freelance basis with 85-year-old Chicago brand Collins on developing a new line of cocktail flavored hard seltzers. Those products, made with real fruit juice and fruit puree, will launch in the Chicago market via Reyes on May 1.
Zach Borba Takes GM Role at AleSmith
San Diego’s AleSmith Brewing Company added Zach Borba as general manager of retail operations earlier this month.
“I’m excited to join the already awesome team at AleSmith,” he told Brewbound. “I have been a fan of their products for a long time now, and their attention to quality and putting out top notch beers is second to none. I can’t wait to get going and see how we can push the retail side of the business forward in the years to come.”
Borba comes to AleSmith after three years as general manager of Anheuser-Busch’s 10 Barrel Brewing Company outpost in San Diego, which permanently closed in December 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to joining 10 Barrel, Borba was the tasting room manager for Ballast Point Brewing for three years.
Coronado Promotes Aidan Kennedy to Marketing Director
Coronado Brewing Company has promoted Aidan Kennedy to the role of marketing director.
Kennedy, who started at the San Diego craft brewery in April 2015, had served as digital marketing manager for about four of the last six years with the company.
Coronado Brewing Company recently launched a line of hard seltzers, the company’s first packaged beyond-beer offering.
Indeed Brewing Promotes Kelly Moritz to Chief Operating Officer
Minneapolis’ Indeed Brewing Company promoted Kelly Moritz to Chief Operating Officer in October 2020.
Moritz joined the Minnesota craft brewery as a marketing assistant in 2014 and has worked as marketing director of the company since 2018. She will work with owner and CEO Tom Whisenand to “take big ideas and make them a reality and help shape Indeed’s future,” the company said in a press release.
Moritz is credited with developing Indeed’s “brand and voice over the past six years, working with local artist Chuck U and creative director Andy Kiekhafer to launch innovative brands like Flavorwave IPA and Pistachio Cream Ale,” the company said.
Moritz is now the director of the company’s leadership team.