WhistlePig seeks new leader as CEO steps down
Vermont-based distillery WhistlePig has begun searching for a new CEO after Jeff Kozak announced he would be stepping down after 10 years in the role.
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.
Birkel has served on the WhistlePig board of directors since 2019. His experience working in the spirits industry includes holding senior management positions at Constellation Brands and Gallo.
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.”
Co-founder and chairman Wilco Faessen said: “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 US$100 million in sales. We thank Jeff for his decade of service and look forward to seeing what’s next for him.
“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 added. “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.”
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