An early morning fire Wednesday at San Diego-based South Park Brewing Company and Hamilton’s Tavern caused around $1 million in damage to the businesses; Tulsa-based Osage Casinos is cutting ties with Allen, Texas-based Nine Band Brewing Company after the brewery’s founder was arrested on homicide and federal fraud charges; and more news items.

The leader of the nation’s largest state organization representing craft brewers is retiring. Tom McCormick, the executive director of the California Craft Brewers Association (CCBA), announced today his retirement from the organization.

After a year of sitting vacant, Anheuser-Busch inBev has finally filled its chief strategy officer role. The world’s largest beer manufacturer announced Monday evening the appointment of Benoit Garbe as chief strategy officer, Bob Tallett, A-B’s VP of business and wholesaler development, wrote in a letter to the company’s wholesaler partners.

The Boston Beer Company has added Dogfish Head co-founder Sam Calagione and Snap Inc. (Snapchat) chairman Michael Lynton to the company’s board of directors. Philadelphia-headquartered GoPuff, essentially an on-demand delivery service for products ranging from snacks to alcohol, recently completed a $380 million funding round that takes the company’s valuation to $3.9 billion. And more news bites.

Lagunitas Brewing Company has made a change at CMO. Brewbound has learned that the Heineken-owned, Petaluma, California-headquartered craft brewery has picked Paige Guzman to lead its marketing efforts going forward.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has begun the search process for replacing long-time CEO Carlos Brito, according to a report Monday in the Financial Times. The Financial Times, citing three sources with knowledge of the search, reported that A-B is “seriously considering” external candidates.

A new generation of leaders is taking the reins at New Ulm, Minnesota-based Schell’s Brewery, as Ted Marti steps down from overseeing operations at the 160-year-old brewery and hands the reins to his sons, according to the Mankato Free Press.

Stone Brewing’s 2020 CEO search didn’t take a year to complete. In fact, it took less than a month. The Escondido, California-headquartered craft brewery announced today the hiring of former Lagunitas Brewing CEO Maria Stipp as its next CEO.

Mark Anthony Brands has named former Jimmy John’s CMO John Shea to lead the marketing efforts for the White Claw hard seltzer brand. Shea will assume the role this month, a spokesperson confirmed to Brewbound.

After helping orchestrate one of the biggest transactions in the craft beer space in 2019 — Kirin-owned Lion Little World Beverages’ acquisition of New Belgium Brewing — Simon Thorpe is on to his next project.

Danny Brager, the long-time leader of market research firm Nielsen’s beverage alcohol practice, is exiting the company to pursue other opportunities after nearly 40 years.

Stone Brewing CEO Dominic Engels has departed the Escondido, California-headquartered craft brewery, according to an internal letter to staff from co-founder Steve Wagner and obtained by Brewbound.

The Boston Beer Company has hired marketing executive Don Lane as its new vice president of the Truly Hard Seltzer brand. Boston Beer is investing $85 million to quadruple production at its nearly 90-year-old Cincinnati production brewery, according to a press release.

Revolver Brewing co-founders Rhett Keisler and Grant Wood are stepping down from their roles leading the Granbury, Texas-based craft brewery, according to an announcement from Molson Coors Brewing Company, which acquired the brewery in 2016.