Bart Watson Named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Brewers Association

From The Brewers Association:

Established industry voice to lead the Brewers Association beginning in 2025

Boulder, CO  (Dec. 17, 2024) —The Brewers Association—the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers—announced today the appointment of Bart Watson to president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the trade association. As the current vice president of strategy and membership and the former chief economist of the Brewers Association, Bart is a well-known and respected voice in the industry.  zzubreebym

“Bart’s in-depth understanding of the craft beer industry and landscape and his decade-plus of experience within the Brewers Association makes him uniquely poised to step into the president and CEO role on day one with a strategic vision and plan,” said Leah Cheston, board chair. “The board of directors is excited for the next chapter and looks forward to working with Bart to chart the path forward for our members and our industry.”

The Brewers Association Board of Directors confirmed Watson’s selection at their December 12 board meeting in Atlanta after conducting a national recruitment process via executive search agency Kittleman & Associates. His start date as president and CEO will be January 6, 2025. Watson will succeed Bob Pease, who will retire from the organization on January 3. 

In his new position leading the Brewers Association, Watson will address legislative and regulatory issues impacting independent craft breweries and producers, champion their voice in the media and across industries, oversee the development of events and resources to benefit member businesses and support the board’s ongoing development as a strategic governing body.

Before joining the Brewers Association in 2013, Watson was a visiting assistant professor at the University of Iowa Department of Political Science, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Berkeley Roundtable on the international economy, and a University of California Berkeley School of Public Health lecturer. He is a graduate of Stanford University and holds master’s and PhD degrees in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.

"I am honored to be chosen to lead the Brewers Association, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by the leaders before me,” said Watson. “Craft has been going through a difficult period and I am committed to finding ways to help our members navigate those challenges. Our members are incredibly innovative and adaptable entrepreneurs, and I’m ready to work with them and for them to support their businesses and bring excitement back to the category.”

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About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association (BA) is a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 5,600-plus U.S. breweries and more than 27,000 homebrewers. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events, including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference™ & BrewExpo America®, Homebrew Con™, National Homebrew Competition, and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® and Zymurgy® magazines, and Brewers Publications® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association®. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 13672 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.