Stone Brewing announced Friday that co-founder Greg Koch will become its executive chairman after serving as CEO for 19 years.
The Escondido-based craft brewery will conduct a search for a successor to run the company on a day-to-day basis while Koch focuses on long-term and higher-level strategic planning.
“This is a natural progression once companies reach our size and complexity,” Koch said. “I see this as an opportunity to focus on future direction and projects for Stone Brewing. Most importantly, we are looking for someone who can contribute to our executive team and understands our vision for craft beer.”
The ninth-largest craft beer company in the U.S., Stone employs more than 1,100 workers and operates multiple locations in Southern California.
Stone plans to become the first American craft brewer to independently own and operate a brewery in Europe with a location in Berlin, Germany, and is also working on expanding operations to Richmond, Va.
— City News Service
