BrewDog CEO James Brown is stepping down after two years as CEO and nine years in the company.
- James Brown joined BrewDog in 2015 and held various leadership roles, culminating in his position as CEO in 2022.
- BrewDog’s co-founder, James Watt, praised Brown for their collaborative work over the last decade.
- BrewDog is experiencing financial challenges with reported operating losses amounting to nearly £60m.
- Despite financial losses, BrewDog’s gross sales increased by 11%.
BrewDog’s Chief Executive, James Brown, is officially stepping down following a two-year term as CEO and nearly a decade-long tenure at the company. Brown entered BrewDog in 2015, initially taking the role of retail director before moving up to lead as global retail CEO by 2022.
James Watt, BrewDog’s co-founder and former CEO, expressed deep appreciation for Brown’s contributions, emphasising the highs and lows they navigated as colleagues. Watt shared on LinkedIn the memorable and joyous moments they experienced while significantly expanding BrewDog’s global presence, increasing bar locations from 30 to over 130 worldwide.
Brown, reflecting on his time at BrewDog, acknowledged the talented individuals he worked with, crediting their energy and innovation as key to the business’s evolution. He remains a shareholder and supporter of BrewDog, although he has not disclosed future plans, stating there will be more news on that soon.
The announcement of Brown’s departure coincides with BrewDog’s recent financial report indicating a nearly £60 million operating loss. This doubles the pre-tax losses seen in the previous year. Despite such fiscal challenges, the company achieved an 11% increase in gross sales, rising from £321 million to £355 million.
Watt described the current performance of the brand as frustrating, suggesting that BrewDog is in a period of recalibration to address its financial hurdles while building on its sales growth.
James Brown’s exit marks a significant leadership change for BrewDog amid challenging financial times.
