17 years after co-founding Scottish multinational brewery and pub chain BrewDog, CEO James Watt will step down from his position and assume a new role of ‘captain and co-founder.’
According to The Guardian, Watt informed the company board of his plans to step down last year, and COO James Arrow will take the reins as CEO. Watt will still own a 21-percent stake in BrewDog, and will remain active in company affairs and brand direction as a non-executive member.
“For almost 2 decades pretty much every second of my waking existence has been focused on this amazing business,” Watt wrote in a LinkedIn post. “During my time at the helm of BrewDog, there have been highs and lows, up and downs, crazy successes and incredibly hard challenges. When I look back on the last 17 years (119 Dog Years) my overwhelming feeling is one of gratitude.”
BrewDog, started by Watt and Martin Dickie in a garage in Fraserburgh, was founded on anti-establishment ideals before rising to become one of the biggest names in the modern beer landscape. In addition to owning a distillery, cidery, several breweries, and hotels, it currently operates as the parent company of over 100 bars across the globe. As of 2012, the brand established its new headquarters in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
BrewDog — and Watt himself — have drawn criticism in recent years. In June 2021, an open letter signed by over 100 former employees accused Watt of creating a “culture of fear” in the workplace.
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