Brewdog has made a significant leadership change with the appointment of Lisa Buckley as Chief Retail Officer.
- Lisa Buckley, formerly with Wagamama, brings extensive experience in food and hospitality to Brewdog.
- The appointment aligns with Brewdog’s strategy to strengthen its global retail operations and leadership team.
- Lisa Buckley’s appointment follows James Brown’s recent departure from Brewdog after nearly a decade.
- Despite recent operational losses, Brewdog remains focused on profitability and global expansion.
Brewdog has announced a substantial change in its leadership team by appointing Lisa Buckley as the new Chief Retail Officer. Her appointment comes at a crucial time, just days after former chief executive James Brown resigned to join an Italian restaurant chain, Prezzo. Lisa Buckley is set to take on her new responsibilities in January next year, reporting directly to the new CEO, James Arrow.
With an extensive background in the food and hospitality industry, Lisa Buckley brings a wealth of experience to her new role at Brewdog. Her previous roles include serving as the Operations Director for Wagamama in the UK and being the Managing Director at Côte Brasserie. Her impressive track record in senior roles with companies like Tragus Group and Casual Dining Group adds to her qualifications for this new position.
As Brewdog’s Chief Retail Officer, Lisa Buckley will oversee the company’s extensive global retail footprint in hospitality venues. This role is critical as Brewdog aims to enhance its brand, improve customer offerings, and drive profitability across its operations. The company’s recent financial report showed an operating loss of nearly £60m in the first half of the year, despite a slight increase in grocery sales. Co-founder James Watt described these results as ‘frustrating,’ highlighting the need for strategic leadership and innovation.
James Arrow, Brewdog’s CEO, expressed his excitement about Buckley’s new appointment, highlighting her as a key hire in Brewdog’s ambition to strengthen its leadership and expand globally. ‘I’m thrilled Lisa will be joining us,’ Arrow stated. ‘She brings an incredible array of hospitality experience and is a critical hire as we evolve as a brand, develop our crew and customer offer, scale globally and importantly drive profitability across our business.’ Arrow also noted Buckley’s shared passion for people, beer, and the environment, aligning with Brewdog’s core values.
Lisa Buckley’s appointment as Chief Retail Officer signifies Brewdog’s commitment to strengthening its leadership and global presence amidst recent challenges.
