Bell’s Brewery executive vice president (EVP) Carrie Yunker will depart from the company next month after more than two decades with the Comstock, Michigan-based brewery.
“While I will forever consider myself a Bell’s and New Belgium coworker at heart, I’ve decided to dedicate my time and attention to causes and community foundations that are close to my heart,” Yunker said in a press release. “I feel a deep sense of fulfillment from the work accomplished at Bell’s and New Belgium and am excited for their future and continued success.”
Yunker’s last day will be March 24, which is also this year’s Oberon Day, when Bell’s releases its popular summer seasonal wheat ale.
Afterwards, Yunker’s responsibilities “will be shared amongst the leadership team,” with no plans to fill her position “right away,” a New Belgium spokesperson shared with Brewbound. The New Belgium team will be “working closely” with Yunker to “identify business priorities for a smooth transition.” The company did not share which specific leadership members will be taking over the aforementioned responsibilities.
“Although this is bittersweet news, we are incredibly grateful for her leadership over the years, particularly her role in helping our two companies complete our integration, and know she will bring the same passion and dedication to her next venture,” the spokesperson wrote.
“Her passion for the beer industry, her leadership, and her commitment to the community have left a lasting impact,” New Belgium CEO Shaun Belongie added in the release. “It’s been a privilege having the chance to work with her, and I have no doubt that the organizations she’ll be working with in the future will be made better because of it.”
Yunker joined Bell’s in 2003 as a part-time receptionist while a student at Western Michigan University, and was employee No. 50 for the brewery at the time. She worked her way through the ranks, eventually becoming VP of human resources – a 20-year journey she shared during her 2022 Brewbound Live keynote speech.
She was also integral to the development of Bell’s workplace culture, making it a priority to care for and support “the humans who powered our business,” she said during her 2022 address.
Yunker was promoted to EVP – a newly created role at the time – in January 2021, as part of Bell’s founder and president Larry Bell’s transition away from day-to-day operations. At the time, Bell admitted that it was not a “super well-defined” job description, with Yunker helping manage all aspects of the company, including guiding its leadership team, and acting as a go-between for the brewery and its board of directors.
Yunker was in her leadership role when Bell’s was sold to New Belgium’s parent company Kirin-owned Lion Little World Beverages, and helped usher in a new era for the two legacy craft breweries, including integrating and consolidating the breweries’ distribution network. With the sale, Bell retired, with Yunker remaining in her position and reporting to then-New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer.
Lion’s U.S. beverage platform – now operating under the joint entity name New Belgium – is now led by Belongie, who previously served as CMO and took over for Fechheimer in late 2023.
New Belgium and Bell’s have seen several other leadership changes since, including the departure of chief sales officer Michael Corrigan and chief ESG officer Katie Wallace, and the addition of CMO Rebecca Dye Yonushonis, all in March 2024. New Belgium’s Rich Rush was promoted to CSO one month later.
Earlier this month, Dye Yonushonis also shared an open position for a director of core brands for Voodoo Ranger, New Belgium’s leading brand.
New Belgium and Bell’s produced more than 1.8 million barrels of beer in 2023 – 467,000 barrels at Bell’s (+5% year-over-year), and 1.38 million barrels at New Belgium (+12% YoY) – according to the Brewers Association (BA). Note, the breweries fell out of the BA’s definition of “craft” when they were sold to Kirin.
New Belgium now sees itself as contenders in nearly “any adult beverage” segment, Belongie shared in November, whether that’s its dominating craft beer brand family Voodoo Ranger, beloved Bell’s seasonal Oberon and its extensions, or new-to-the world innovations such as LightStrike, inspired by the sports and hydrations beverages space.
New Belgium has also taken on U.S. production, marketing and sales for Kirin Ichiban and Kirin Light, Japanese lagers previously contract brewed through Anheuser-Busch InBev. The addition this year initially adds about 100,000 barrels to New Belgium’s annual output, with extensive runway for growth, Belongie said in November.
Belongie joined the Brewbound Podcast last month to discuss New Belgium’s strategics, as well as updates on the brewery’s recovery after Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina. Listen to the full interview here.