New Belgium Brewing hires vice president of marketing from Diageo Guinness USA

New Belgium Brewing Co. is expanding and growing, and it needs to find the right leaders to direct and manage the future. To help, New Belgium announced last week that it was adding Ruairi Twomey (awesome name, BTW) to the “Executive Leadership Team” as vice president of marketing effective March 14, 2016. Twomey has more than 15 years of experience in leadership positions in Ireland, Canada, Nigeria and most recently in New York as vice president of marketing for Diageo Guinness USA, where he drove transformational performance in the Guinness and Smirnoff Ice trademarks as well as bringing a highly innovative approach to communication, innovation, digital initiatives and sponsorships (said New Belgium).

“In typical New Belgium fashion, we have taken our time to find the ideal candidate for this position and that deliberative process has really paid off,” said New Belgium CEO and President Christine Perich. “Ruairi’s international experience, creativity and good humor will be a great fit here. We are very excited to have him join our team.”

This appointment is the most recent in a series of new leadership appointments at New Belgium as the company prepares to open its second brewery in Asheville, N.C.

“It’s a real privilege to work with such an innovative and ambitious Marketing team. Their energy, spirit and imagination has helped drive the New Belgium portfolio to the forefront of Craft Beer in the USA. It’s a really exciting time to be joining the company,” Twomey said. “In addition the beer scene in Colorado is one of the most dynamic and progressive in the US and I am really looking forward to being part of it.”

Twomey assumes marketing responsibilities at New Belgium as the brewery celebrates 25 years of producing world-class beers while expanding both its distribution footprint and product portfolio. As a 100 percent employee-owned B Corp, New Belgium continues on its mission to demonstrate that business can be a force for good.