After nearly six years spent driving New Belgium Brewing’s ascent to become the craft beer industry’s undeniable leader in scale and growth, while strengthening its commitments to people-centric business practices, Steve Fechheimer announced today he will step down as Chief Executive Officer in August to explore new challenges.
“It’s been an honor to lead New Belgium for the past six years,” said Fechheimer. “This is a truly special company, co-founded by Kim Jordan, a social worker, who asked me to help stabilize the business and pursue a new era of growth – all while never wavering in our core belief that business works best when it works for the people who power it. I’m immensely proud of our team, and I’m excited for New Belgium’s next chapter built on the solid foundation we’ve established so far.”
Since joining New Belgium as CEO in 2017, Steve leveraged the company’s founding principles and unconventional “human-powered” approach to business to build a powerful case study in how to generate lasting financial performance through deep investments in the coworkers and communities who make the business run.
During his tenure, Fechheimer steered New Belgium through a series of major milestones, including:
- The sale of the company by its coworkers, who formerly owned 100% of shares, to the Lion Group in 2019 – paving the way for further growth and investments;
- Joining forces with Bell’s Brewery in 2021, a move that made New Belgium North America’s largest craft beer platform with an unrivaled portfolio including Voodoo Ranger and Fat Tire Ale, coupled with Two Hearted IPA and Oberon Ale, along with popular and innovative brands like Dominga Mimosa Sour, Hopslam, and La Folie Sour Brown Ale and an award-winning wood-aged sour program;
- The unrivaled growth of Voodoo Ranger, America’s #1 IPA brand, which has been a rare brand capable of expanding the craft beer community and inviting new drinkers into the category at a time when the craft beer industry has largely struggled.
- The emergence of Fat Tire Ale as America’s first certified carbon neutral beer, the establishment of industry-leading climate goals, and a bold relaunch of New Belgium’s iconic flagship with a new Fat Tire recipe and brand built to engage the next generation of craft beer fans in a movement to protect the only planet with beer;
- The 2023 acquisition of a state-of-the-art, 259,000 square foot production brewery in Daleville, Va., from Constellation Brands – a deal that will expand New Belgium’s existing production capacity to meet current demand and continue to grow beyond the craft category with potential future FMB, seltzer, and RTD innovations;
- The consistent strengthening of Human-Powered Business practices throughout the business, including strong and consistent action and advocacy for social and environmental change; a new governance structure to enshrine Human-Powered Business practices deep into the company’s operations; and the continued recognition of New Belgium’s ESG leadership by independent organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and B Lab, which certifies New Belgium as a leading B Corporation globally. “Steve leaves an incredible legacy, delivering strong growth while staying true to New Belgium’s Human-Powered Business model,” said Lion Group CEO Sam Fischer. “One of the hallmarks of a great leader is the strength of the team they build around them. Steve has grown an exceptional leadership team who I know will keep driving this business forward with purpose and heart to achieve great things for New Belgium’s coworkers, communities, and customers.”
Fischer added, “The United States is a priority market for Lion, and we are excited about the future ahead for our craft beer and wine businesses here. We are committed to New Belgium’s Human-Powered Business model and continuing to foster the very special culture that underpins it.”
New Belgium’s Chief Financial Officer Danielle McLarnon, with her 19-years of tenure at New Belgium, will serve as interim CEO starting Aug. 1, while a search is underway for a permanent chief executive.
New Belgium Co-Founder Kim Jordan added, “Steve was the perfect leader for New Belgium when he joined us in 2017. I’m immensely grateful for all that he’s done for the business, its coworkers, and our communities. I will miss knowing he’s leading the business every day, but I’m excited to see how New Belgium continues to evolve as the leader in craft beer and in progressive business practices.”