(Press Release)

BOULDER, CO—The Brewers Association announced today that Bob Pease has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to small and independent craft brewers.

Prior to holding the title of COO, Pease was Vice President. He was hired by the Brewers Association in 1993 as the Customer Service Manager, subsequently became Operations Director, and was promoted to Vice President in 1999 and to COO in 2010.

The transition to CEO formalizes much of the responsibility that Pease has already progressively adopted. Pease holds responsibilities in the areas of personnel administration, government affairs, export development and oversight of all financial/fiduciary, operational and functional areas of the BA. He will serve as the Association’s key liaison to its board of directors.

“I’m honored to receive this promotion,” said Pease. “And I am excited to lead the Brewers Association forward, continuing our efforts to accomplish key objectives on behalf of our members.”

Charlie Papazian remains President with continued focus on Brewers Association stewardship, beer community relations and serving as an ambassador within the brewing community. Papazian is the founder of the American Homebrewers Association® and the Association of Brewers (subsequently merged into the Brewers Association), as well as the Great American Beer Festival®.

“Since 1978, I have enjoyed championing the interests of craft brewers, homebrewers and their beers. And I have been fortunate to have a dedicated, talented colleague in Bob Pease, sharing those efforts with me for many of those years,” Papazian said. “Bob has been performing many CEO-related duties for quite some time now. This title change is a natural evolution that recognizes Bob’s successively growing responsibilities here at the Brewers Association.”

“The Brewers Association and all of its members have benefited greatly from the leadership and hard work of Bob Pease,” said Gary Fish, chair of the BA Board of Directors and president of Deschutes Brewery. “I think I speak for many in the craft brewing community when I say that we look forward to Bob’s continued service to members and in protecting the interests of the broader beer and brewing community.”

The Association’s membership includes a variety of constituents. With 47 full-time employees and additional independent contract staff, the Brewers Association serves 3,864 brewery members, 1,243 brewery-in-planning members, 576 distributor members, 877 allied trade members, 66 craft beer retailer members, and more than 45,000 members of the American Homebrewers Association.

About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®Great American Beer Festival®Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America®SAVOR℠: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.