Bob Pease promoted to CEO of Brewers Association

Lots of folks got promoted last week, and this writer feels like he got left out in the cold. Sad trombone aside, the Brewers Association (BA) announced that Bob Pease has been promoted to CEO from 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,” Pease said. “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.