Jennifer Owen Named Full-Time CEO at North Coast
North Coast Brewing Company has appointed Jennifer Owen as the Fort Bragg, California-based craft brewery’s next CEO, the company announced on January 27.
Owen, who joined North Coast in 2018 as controller and was later promoted to CFO in 2019, had acted as interim CEO following the exit of Jeff Ottoboni, who led the brewery from December 2019 through October 2021.
Owen will maintain the CFO role, the company said.
“We have a great leadership team in place at North Coast Brewing Company and exceptionally dedicated and hard-working staff. I’m honored and excited to be entrusted by the board to help lead North Coast Brewing into a bright future,” Owen said in a press release. “I am so proud to be a part of a company that continues to hold true to B Corp values, support community, and make world-famous wonderful beer!”
North Coast, which brews Scrimshaw pilsner and Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, produced 43,609 barrels of beer, a -25% decline, in 2020, according to the Brewers Association. The company produced 45,000 barrels of beer in 2021, not including canned products, according to The Press Democrat. The brewery was late to canning its beer, and the company is adding a canning line after canning its offerings at Gordon Biersch last year, the outlet reported.
Lord Hobo Taps A-B Vet as VP of Sales
Dan Moerman, who spent 26 years in sales with Anheuser-Busch, has joined Lord Hobo as its new vice president of sales, the company announced Thursday.
“We see the appointment of Dan as another key step in strengthening our leadership team,” Lord Hobo CEO Brian Walsh said in a press release. “Dan has the right skills, right capabilities and right personality to help lead us on our growth strategy over the coming years. Dan is very well-known and respected in the beer industry. We see his deep experience, particularly in chain sales, wholesaler relations and team leadership as critical to the future development of our sales organization”.
Walsh noted that Moerman was identified by CPG search firm Protis Global. His hire follows the appointment of former Goose Island brewmaster Keith Gabbett as the company’s master brewer.
“We couldn’t be more honored to have [Moerman’s] extensive experience lead our sales force as we continue our plans for rapid growth in 2022,” Walsh said in the release.
“To be part of the growth plan that Brian, the Lord Hobo team and the board have put in place is an opportunity that I could not turn down and I look forward to a really exciting journey,” Moerman added.
Lord Hobo produced 30,075 barrels of beer in 2020, a -36% decline year-over-year as the company faced on-premise shutdowns caused by the pandemic.
Toppling Goliath Hire Chad Atherton as National Sales Director
Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. has named Chad Atherton as the Decorah, Iowa-based brewery’s new national sales director.
Atherton brings more than 20 years of experience to the role, most recently spending nearly nine years at Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. At Founders, Atherton served in several sales and marketing roles, including director of market development from September 2019 to January 2022.
Atherton’s career in craft beer started in 2010 as craft brand manager for Fleck Sales, which is now known as Iowa Beverage.
“I have admired Toppling Goliath from their early days as they emerged in the Iowa craft beer scene,” Atherton said in a press release. “They have always had a reputation for making world class liquid and creating an incredible consumer experience. I’m excited, honored, and humbled to be awarded the opportunity to be a part of the continued growth and development of Toppling Goliath.”
“Chad is a proven winner in navigating and building relationships within the three-tier system,” Curt Wymer, Toppling Goliath GM, added. “Moreover, Chad has a track record of leading successful teams, and a passion for cross-functional process improvement. We are grateful to welcome Chad to the Toppling Goliath family.”
Toppling Goliath produced 53,100 barrels of beer in 2020, an +18% increase, making it the 43rd largest Brewers Association-defined craft brewery by volume that year.