USA, MA: Harpoon Brewery names new president

Harpoon Brewery announced on October, 29 it will promote Charlie Storey, the Boston-based company’s current vice president of marketing, to the position of president.

Storey, who joined the company in 1996, will oversee marketing, retail and festival initiatives and also manage the brewery’s distribution arm. In addition, Storey will assist Harpoon co-founder and CEO, Daniel Kenary, with strategy and business development, the statement said.

“I believe Harpoon, and the craft beer segment in general, has tremendous opportunity for growth and will continue to be a driver in how U.S. consumers perceive beer,” Storey said in a press statement. “I am especially excited to be in a leadership position at an employee-owned company. It is impressive what can happen when everyone works together towards a shared goal.”

In July, Harpoon announced that six of the company’s eight shareholders would sell at least part of their ownership stakes to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). As part of the transfer, it was announced that co-founder Rich Doyle would sell his entire interest and step down as CEO, but maintain a part-time role in sales and marketing initiatives. In August, the company transferred 48 percent of its shares into the ESOP.

Harpoon added that it would also promote brand manager Chris Bonacci, who has been with the company since 2002, to assistant vice president of marketing. In his new role, Bonacci will oversee the brand team — which includes digital media, communications, design, promotion and Harpoon Helps, the philanthropic arm of the brewery.

31 October, 2014