CEO Jeff Kozak Steps Down
Industry veteran Marty Birkel to Serve as Interim CEO
The Company Initiates a Search for a Successor
WhistlePig Whiskey today announced that Jeff Kozak is stepping down as the company’s CEO after 10 tremendous years of leadership to pursue other opportunities. Industry veteran and WhistlePig board member Marty Birkel is assuming the role of interim CEO while the Board conducts an external search for Kozak’s successor. To ensure a seamless hand over and support the transition, Kozak will continue to serve in his role as a Board advisor and take on a role as a consultant to the Company.
“It has been a privilege of a lifetime to help build WhistlePig from a small craft rye whiskey company into an internationally acclaimed whiskey brand that is known for and continues to push the boundaries of quality, innovation, and independence,” said Kozak. “I am so proud of the incredibly talented team we have built and I’m excited for them to continue to disrupt and challenge the broader American whiskey and bourbon category globally.”
“The Board of Directors is grateful for Jeff’s contributions over the past 10 years, which have helped establish WhistlePig as a distinctive leader in the super premium American whiskey category and grow our company to over $100mm in sales. We thank Jeff for his decade of service and look forward to seeing what’s next for him,” said Wilco Faessen, Co-Founder and Chairman.
“As WhistlePig enters its next growth chapter, we are excited to continue to push the boundaries of quality, innovation and independence, with the goal of becoming the American whiskey of choice for consumers around the world,” Faessen continued. “We see great opportunities ahead of us, including in route to market with our recently established national partnership with Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits, as well as on the product and brand equity building and awareness side, and believe that we have all the ingredients in place for this next chapter of the company’s growth and success.”
Birkel has served on the WhistlePig Board of Directors since 2019. He has deep experience working in the spirits industry, including holding senior management positions at Constellation Brands and Gallo.
To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook, X and Instagram.
About WhistlePig Whiskey
Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey makers driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye and Bourbon. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimentation and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com.
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