Boston Beer Company CEO Dave Burwick will step down and retire from the company’s board of directors, effective April 1.
Michael Spillane, a Nike executive and lead director on Boston Beer’s board of directors, will supplant him.
Burwick took the reins in 2018 following the departure of long-time CEO Martin Roper. He joined Boston Beer’s board in 2005. Prior to taking the top role at Boston Beer, Burwick was the CEO of Peet’s Coffee and served as president of WW International Inc. (formerly Weight Watchers) and CMO of PepsiCo.
“Dave has positioned the company very well for ongoing success in 2024 and beyond,” founder and chairman Jim Koch said in a press release. “I can’t thank Dave enough for his partnership with me and for his contributions to Boston Beer over the past two decades.
“His steady leadership, talent, work ethic, values, guidance, and motivation have been unwavering, and I appreciate all he did to make Boston Beer a more successful company and a better place to work,” he continued.
Burwick’s tenure includes the transformation of Twisted Tea and Truly Hard seltzer into billion-dollar brands, the acquisition of Dogfish Head, and the formation of partnerships with PepsiCo and Beam Suntory.
When Burwick stepped into the role, the company’s revenue was $850 million and has grown to $2 billion, according to Koch’s remarks in the release.
Spillane’s most recent role at Nike is president of consumer creation, before which he served as president of product and merchandising, according to the release. Other roles at Nike included president and CEO of subsidiary brands Umbro and Converse.
“After nearly eight years on the Boston Beer board – and as a native of the Boston area – I’m thrilled for the opportunity to help advance Boston Beer’s long-term goals as we enter a new growth phase,” Spillane said in the release. “I am grateful for Dave’s leadership and partnership and I’m looking forward to working with Jim and so many other great people at Boston Beer to build on the strong foundation and culture that Jim, Dave and all of our coworkers have built over the course of four decades.”
Spillane joined Boston Beer’s board in 2016 and became lead director last year.